Suffrage and Elections

This chapter describes Article VII of the Colorado Constitution, which deals with suffrage and elections. Section 1 defines persons entitled to vote as citizens over eighteen who have resided in the state as provided by statute, and it authorizes the general assembly to require registration. In 1893, Colorado was one of the earliest states to include women in the electorate. The chapter relates the history of the issue from its discussion in the constitutional convention. Section 7 gives the General Assembly authority to set dates for general elections except for the date specified in Article X Section 20. Section 8 provides for secret ballots, powers of election officials, and election contests. Section 10 denies the vote to felons during their terms of imprisonment and parole but not after. Section 12 provides for laws governing election contests.