Concerning a process by which a registered elector may choose not to receive a mail ballot packet for elections that the county clerk and recorder conducts by mail ballot.
Summary
SB 26-106 creates a voluntary opt-out process for registered electors who do not want to automatically receive a mail ballot packet for elections conducted by mail by their county clerk and recorder. The bill directs the secretary of state to adopt rules by March 1, 2027, establishing how voters can opt out and later resume mail ballot delivery, with options to do so online, in person, or by paper form. It also requires public-facing communications explaining that the choice is voluntary and preserves a voter’s ability to vote in person at a voter service and polling center or request a mail ballot for a specific election.
The bill applies to elections on or after November 2, 2027, and requires counties to stop mailing ballot packets to electors who have opted out. It also requires counties to maintain updated suppression files and statewide voter registration records so ballot mailings reflect each elector’s choice. In addition, the bill adds a process for opted-out voters to request a mail ballot by the eighth day before an election, ensuring that opting out does not eliminate access to mail voting altogether.
Impact
The bill would amend Colorado’s election code to create a new statutory framework for mail ballot opt-out, affecting provisions governing mail ballot elections, voter service and polling centers, and state reimbursement for election costs. It would require changes to statewide voter registration systems, county ballot-printing and mailing procedures, and election administration rules adopted by the secretary of state. Counties would also have to report opt-out numbers and avoided mailings, and the secretary would publish cost-savings data on the state website. The practical effect is to reduce automatic ballot mailings for some voters while preserving all existing voting methods and adding a new administrative reporting and tracking requirement for counties and the state.
Sentiment
The bill’s stated purpose is cost savings and operational efficiency, and its framing suggests support for voter choice and reducing wasted mail ballots. The legislative declaration emphasizes that many voters do not use mailed ballots and that counties face rising printing and postage costs, so the bill is presented as a practical election-administration reform. However, the bill was postponed indefinitely in the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs, indicating that it did not advance and likely faced sufficient concern or lack of support to stop it at committee.
Contention
The main point of contention is the balance between reducing election costs and preserving Colorado’s universal mail ballot system. Supporters appear to view the opt-out as a voluntary, reversible way to cut waste and county expenses without reducing access, while opponents or skeptics may have been concerned that the change could confuse voters, create administrative complexity, or weaken the convenience of automatic ballot delivery. The bill itself tries to address those concerns by requiring clear public communications, multiple opt-out/resume methods, and explicit preservation of in-person voting and on-demand mail ballot requests.