Colorado Lawmakers Pass Bill to Expand Voting Deadlines Amid Nationalization Threats
Colorado lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday that would give voters more time to vote and drop off their ballots amid President Donald Trump’s threats to nationalize elections. Democrats in the state House passed House Bill 1113 in a 41-22 vote, sending the measure to the Senate over Republican opposition.
Lawmakers typically undertake election reforms just about every year, largely to adopt technical changes sought by county clerks and the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. This year’s version includes similar tweaks. But HB-1113 would also extend several key voting deadlines.
The bill would require that drop boxes accept ballots for 22 days before an election, rather than the current law’s 15-day window. Ballots could be mailed to voters up to 29 days ahead of Election Day, up from 22 days now. At a minimum, clerks would have to mail ballots out at least 25 days ahead of time, up from 18 days in the current law.
“Colorado’s elections are the gold standard in part because we continuously update our laws to guard against new threats to our democracy,” Rep. Emily Sirota, a Denver Democrat, said in a statement. She’s sponsoring the bill with Rep. Jenny Willford. “Coloradans deserve to cast their ballot without barriers, and this bill safeguards against federal interference in our elections and makes it easier to vote.”
The changes come ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and follow Trump’s escalating calls for the federal government and Republicans to “take over” and “nationalize” elections. Colorado officials have criticized Trump’s rhetoric in the past and defended Colorado as a model for election administration nationwide.
In addition to expanding various voting timelines, HB-1113 would also allow people who live in transitional housing — like halfway houses — to vote. As Colorado’s ballots grow longer and longer, the legislation would also allow voters to take written materials into polling places for their own reference. Voting centers that run out of supplies would be required to stay open past the 7 p.m. poll closing time.
Colleges would be required to provide more information about voting to their students in the days before Election Day. HB-1113 would repeal a provision of state law that allows a registered voter to challenge the eligibility of other voters.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it needs a committee vote and two floor votes before moving to Gov. Jared Polis for passage into law.
Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.
