2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 1 - ELECTIONS (§§ 1-1-101 — 1-46-106) › GENERAL, PRIMARY, RECALL, AND CONGRESSIONAL VACANCY ELECTIONS (§§ 1-1-101 — 1-17-101) › Article 5 - NOTICE OF AND PREPARATION FOR ELECTIONS (§§ 1-5-101 — 1-5-908) › Part 6 - AUTHORIZATION AND USE OF VOTING MACHINES AND ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS (§§ 1-5-601 — 1-5-623) › Section 1-5-621 - Compliance - definitions

(1)
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon filing of a complaint, the secretary of state shall investigate the complaint and may review or inspect the electronic or electromechanical voting system of a political subdivision at any time, including election day, to determine whether the system complies with the applicable requirements of this part 6 or deviates from a certified system.
(2)
A voting system provider or a designated election official using an electronic or electromechanical voting system shall give notice to the secretary of state within twenty-four hours of a malfunction of its system in preparation for or during an election. The notice may be verbal or in writing. For purposes of this section, "malfunction" means a deviation from a correct value in a voting system.
(3)
Upon receipt of the notice sent pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the secretary of state shall determine whether further information on the malfunction is required. At the written or verbal request of the secretary of state, the voting system provider or designated election official shall submit a report to the secretary of state's office describing the reprogramming or other actions necessary to correct the malfunction of the electronic or electromechanical voting system. The report shall indicate whether permanent changes are necessary to prevent similar malfunctions in the future. The report shall be submitted within thirty days after the date of the request by the secretary of state. Failure to submit the report within the required period shall be grounds to decertify the system. A copy of the report shall be attached to the most recent certification of the system on file in the secretary of state's office. The secretary of state shall distribute a copy of the report to all political subdivisions that use the system.
(4)
If the secretary of state determines after inspecting an electronic or electromechanical voting system or reviewing the report submitted pursuant to subsection (3) of this section that the system does not comply with applicable standards or deviates from a certified system, the secretary shall by written order:
(a)
Specify actions to remedy the defect in the electronic or electromechanical voting system and direct the designated election official or voting system provider, as appropriate, to perform such actions;
(b)
Prohibit the use of the electronic or electromechanical voting system or any part of the system by a political subdivision that adopted the system for use in an election until the actions to remedy the defect are performed and approved by the secretary of state;
(c)
Limit the use of the electronic or electromechanical voting system or any part of the system to circumstances or conditions stated in the order; or
(d)
Decertify the electronic or electromechanical voting system.
(5)
Upon decertification of an electronic or electromechanical voting system, the secretary of state shall notify all political subdivisions that use the system and the providers of the system that the certification of the system for use and sale in this state is withdrawn. The notice shall be in writing and shall indicate the reasons for the decertification of the system and the effective date of the decertification.
(6)
Within thirty days after receiving notice from the secretary of state of the decertification of an electronic or electromechanical voting system, a political subdivision or provider of a voting system that is decertified may request in writing that the secretary of state reconsider its decision to decertify the electronic or electromechanical voting system. Upon receipt of the request, the secretary of state shall hold a public hearing to reconsider the decision to decertify the system. Any interested party may submit testimony or documentation in support of or in opposition to the decision to decertify the system. Following the hearing, the secretary of state may affirm or reverse the decision.
(7)
The secretary of state shall amend or rescind an order issued under this section if the secretary of state determines that the electronic or electromechanical voting system has been modified to comply with applicable standards or no longer deviates from the certified system.
L. 2004: Entire section added, p. 1352, § 14, effective May 28.
For the legislative declaration contained in the 2004 act enacting this section, see section 1 of chapter 334, Session Laws of Colorado 2004.