Opinion ID: 2632998
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Role of the Title Board and Standard of Review

Text: In order to facilitate the initiative process, the General Assembly has determined that the Title Board bears the initial responsibility for ensuring that the proposal comports with the single-subject/clear title requirement. See In re Proposed Initiative for 1999-2000 # 25, 974 P.2d at 465; In re Proposed Initiative for 1999-2000 # 29, 972 P.2d at 260. Specifically, Colorado law provides that the Title Board must: (1) not permit the treatment of incongruous subjects in the same measure, § 1-40-106.5(1)(e)(I); and (2) prevent surreptitious measures and apprise the people of the subject of each measure by the title in order to prevent surprise and fraud from being practiced upon voters. § 1-40-106.5(1)(e)(II). We recognize the challenging nature of the Title Board's task, as the implementation of the single-subject/clear title mandate often requires the balancing of competing interests. [2] Our review of actions taken by the Title Board is of a limited scope. For example, we will not rewrite the titles or submission clause for the Board, and we will reverse the Board's action in preparing them only if they contain a material and significant omission, misstatement, or misrepresentation. In re Proposed Initiative for 1997-1998 # 62, 961 P.2d at 1082. This prohibition requires us to engage all legitimate presumptions in favor of the propriety of the Title Board's actions when reviewing proposed initiatives. See, e.g., In re Proposed Initiative Automobile Insurance Coverage, 877 P.2d 853, 856 (Colo.1994); Say v. Baker, 137 Colo. 155, 159, 322 P.2d 317, 319 (1958). Therefore, when determining whether a proposed initiative comports with the single-subject/clear title requirement, we may not address the merits of a proposed initiative, nor [may] we interpret its language or predict its application if adopted by the electorate. In re Proposed Initiative for 1997-1998 # 64, 960 P.2d at 1197; see also In re Proposed Initiative Petitions, 907 P.2d at 590; In re Petition on Campaign & Political Fin., 877 P.2d 311, 313 (Colo.1994). Our inquiry is limited to determining whether the constitutional prohibition against multiple subjects and unclear titles has been violated. See In re Proposed Initiative for 1997-98 # 30, 959 P.2d 822, 824 (Colo.1998); see also § 1-40-106.5(2) (providing that article V, section 1(5.5) is to be liberally construed, so as to avert the practices against which [it is] aimed and, at the same time, to preserve and protect the right of initiative and referendum); In re Proposed Initiative for 1999-2000 # 29, 972 P.2d at 265 (reviewing previous version of Initiative # 104 and holding that this court need not review the entirety of a party's contentions regarding the alleged unconstitutionality of a proposed initiative after determining that the initiative contained multiple subjects in violation of Colorado's Constitution).