HB 1203

                               Second Regular Session
                            Seventy-fifth General Assembly
                               STATE OF COLORADO
                                                                         REENGROSSED
                                                              This Version Includes All Amendments
                                                               Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0593.04 Rebecca Bayetti x4348  HOUSE BILL 26-1203
                                 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Marshall and Bacon, Clifford, Garcia, Jackson, Joseph, Mabrey, Martinez, Nguyen,
 Rutinel, Smith, Velasco, Woodrow, Lindsay, Sirota
                                SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Benavidez and Liston, Hinrichsen
House Committees  Senate Committees
State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs
                                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
101CONCERNING  THE MODIFICATION OF  COUNTY COMMISSIONER
102ELECTIONS.
                                            Bill Summary
               (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
       passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that  3rd Reading Unamended
       applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at  March 16, 2026
                                                                                                       HOUSE
       http://leg.colorado.gov.)
              Currently, in a county with a population of 70,000 or more, the
       board of county commissioners (board) may consist of 3 or 5
       commissioners. If the board consists of 3 commissioners, the county is
       divided into 3 districts, with one commissioner elected from each district
       by voters in the district or voters of the whole county. Alternatively, the
                                                                                                       Amended 2nd Reading
                                                                                                           March 13, 2026
       board may consist of 5 commissioners, in which case the county may be
                                                                                                              HOUSE
             Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
         Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
               Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
divided into 3 or 5 districts, and the commissioners may be elected
pursuant to numerous methods, including by district, at large, or by some
combination of both methods.
        The bill eliminates this discretionary system and instead requires
any county with a population of 70,000 or more (covered county) to elect
5 commissioners by one of the following 2 methods:
        !      5 commissioners resident in 5 districts elected only by
               voters resident in those districts; or
        !      5 commissioners elected at large using a ranked voting
               method.
        The board of a covered county is required to adopt a resolution
designating the 2 alternative methods of electing the 5 county
commissioners no later than its first regularly scheduled meeting in the
calendar year 2027 or its first regularly scheduled meeting in the month
following becoming a covered county. The board is required to refer the
resolution to the electors of the county at the first general election
following its adoption for those electors to select their preferred method
of electing the 5 commissioners. A covered county that already elects its
commissioners according to one of the 2 alternative methods of election
is not required to pass a resolution.
        A home rule county that elects more than half of its county
commissioners by district or using a ranked voting method is exempt
from the requirements of the bill.
        The bill also makes conforming amendments.
1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-4-205, amend (3)
3 as follows:
41-4-205. County commissioners.
5(3) (a) In each county having a population of seventy thousand or
6  more, the board of county commissioners may MUST consist either of
7 three members, any two of whom shall constitute a quorum for the
8 transaction of business, or of five members, any three of whom shall
9 constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; EXCEPT THAT THE
10 REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSIST OF
11 FIVE MEMBERS DOES NOT APPLY TO A HOME RULE COUNTY THAT ELECTS
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1 MORE THAN HALF OF ITS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BY A DISTRICT METHOD
2 OF ELECTION, SUCH THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE RESIDENT IN
3 DISTRICTS AND ARE ELECTED BY VOTERS RESIDENT IN THOSE DISTRICTS.
4(b) If the board consists of three commissioners, they shall MUST
5 be elected as provided in subsection (2) of this section and as provided in
6 section 30-10-306.7 (5), C.R.S. BY DISTRICT ONLY, IN WHICH THE THREE
7 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESIDENT IN THREE DISTRICTS ARE ELECTED BY
8 VOTERS RESIDENT IN THOSE DISTRICTS.
9(c) In any county having a population of seventy thousand or
10 more, the membership of the board of county commissioners may be
11 increased from three to five members pursuant to section 30-10-306.5,
12 C.R.S., or decreased from five to three members pursuant to section
13 30-10-306.7 (2)(a)(II), C.R.S. SECTION 30-10-306.8.
14
15SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-4-801, amend
16 (2)(e) introductory portion, (2)(e)(II) introductory portion, (2)(e)(II)(B),
17 and (2)(f) as follows:
181-4-801. Designation of party candidates by petition.
19(2) The signature requirements for the petition are as follows:
20(e) Where the electors of the county have voted to increase WHEN
21 A COUNTY HAVING A POPULATION OF SEVENTY THOUSAND OR MORE
22 INCREASES the membership of the board of county commissioners from
23 three to five pursuant to section 30-10-306.5, C.R.S., or to decrease the
24 membership of the board from five to three pursuant to section
25 30-10-306.7, C.R.S., TO COMPLY WITH SECTIONS 1-4-205 (3) AND
26 30-10-306.8, for the next two primary elections immediately following an
27 election at which the voters have approved the change in the membership
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1 of the board, the signature requirements for the petition are as follows:
2(II) Where any one or more commissioners to be elected to the
3 board of county commissioners will be voted on only by the electors
4 residing in a particular county commissioner district, the determination of
5 the required number of signers must begin with a calculation of the
6 average of all votes cast in each commissioner district in the county
7 during the prior two contested or uncontested primary elections for the
8 political party's candidates in the county commissioner districts that held
9 a primary election in either of those elections. Upon a determination of
10 the average, that number must then be divided by the total number of
11 commissioner districts in the county where commissioners are voted on
12 only by the electors residing in the district. whether three or five After
13 completing this calculation, every petition must require signers equal in
14 number to twenty percent of the number realized. If no primary election
15 was held in either year, the calculation must be based on the most recent
16 preceding general election for which the party had a candidate on the
17 ballot, and every petition must require signers equal in number to the
18 following calculation:
19(B) Divide the number found in sub-subparagraph (A) of this
20 subparagraph (II) SUBSECTION (2)(e)(II)(A) OF THIS SECTION by the total
21 number of commissioner districts in the county where commissioners are
22 voted on only by the electors residing in the district. whether three or five
23(f) Following the first two primary elections that are conducted
24 after a change in the membership of the board of county commissioners
25 pursuant to section 30-10-306.5 or 30-10-306.7, C.R.S. SECTIONS 1-4-205
26 (3) AND 30-10-306.8, in accordance with the requirements of paragraph
27 (e) of this subsection (2) SUBSECTION (2)(e) OF THIS SECTION, the
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1 signature requirements for a petition for a county commissioner candidate
2 who is affiliated with a major political party must follow the procedures
3 specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) SUBSECTION (2)(a) OF
4 THIS SECTION.
5SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-4-802, amend (2)
6 introductory portion, (2)(b)(II), and (2)(c); and repeal (3) as follows:
71-4-802. Petitions for nominating minor political party and
8 unaffiliated candidates for a partisan office.
9(2) Where the electors of the county have voted to increase WHEN
10 A COUNTY HAVING A POPULATION OF SEVENTY THOUSAND OR MORE
11 INCREASES the membership of the board of county commissioners from
12 three to five pursuant to section 30-10-306.5, C.R.S., or to decrease the
13 membership of the board from five to three pursuant to section
14 30-10-306.7, C.R.S., TO COMPLY WITH SECTIONS 1-4-205 (3) AND
15 30-10-306.8, for the next two general elections immediately following an
16 election at which the voters have approved a THE change in the
17 membership of the board, the signature requirements for the petition to
18 select candidates who do not wish to affiliate with a major political party
19 are as follows:
20(b) Where any one or more commissioners to be elected to the
21 board of county commissioners will be voted on only by the electors
22 residing in a particular county commissioner district, every petition must
23 require signers equal in number to the lesser of either:
24(II) The number realized by first determining two percent of the
25 average of all votes cast in each county commissioner district for which
26 there was a race on the ballot during the most recent general election, and
27 then dividing that number by the total number of commissioner districts
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1 in the county where commissioners are voted on only by the electors
2 residing in a district. whether three or five
3(c) Following the first two general elections that are conducted
4 after a THE change in the membership of the board of county
5 commissioners, pursuant to section 30-10-306.5 or 30-10-306.7, C.R.S.,
6 the signature requirements for a petition for a county commissioner
7 candidate who does not wish to affiliate with a major political party must
8 follow the procedures specified in: subparagraph (VI) of paragraph (c) of
9 subsection (1)
10(I)   SUBSECTION (1)(c)(VI) of this section, IF THE COUNTY
11 COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED BY DISTRICT ONLY AS DESCRIBED IN
12 SECTION 30-10-306.8 (3); OR
13(II) SUBSECTION (1)(c)(VII) OF THIS SECTION, IF THE COUNTY
14 COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED BY A COMBINATION OF AT-LARGE AND
15 BY-DISTRICT VOTING METHODS AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 30-10-306.8 (4).
16(3) Following the first two general elections that are conducted
17 after a change in the membership of the board of county commissioners
18 pursuant to section 30-10-306.5 or 30-10-306.7, C.R.S., the signature
19 requirements for a petition for a county commissioner candidate who does
20 not wish to affiliate with a major political party must follow the
21 procedures specified in subparagraph (VI) of paragraph (c) of subsection
22 (1) of this section.
23SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 30-10-306, amend
24 (1) and (2) as follows:
2530-10-306. Commissioners' districts - vacancies - definitions.
26(1) Each county HAVING A POPULATION OF LESS THAN SEVENTY
27 THOUSAND must be divided into three compact districts by the board of
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1 county commissioners. Each district must be as nearly equal in population
2 as possible based on the redistricting population data prepared by staff of
3 the legislative council and office of legislative legal services, or any
4 successor offices, in accordance with section 2-2-902. In no event shall
5 there be more than five percent deviation between the most populous and
6 the least populous district in each county, at the time such district
7 boundaries are adopted. Each district must be numbered consecutively
8 and must not be subject to alteration more often than once every two
9 years. One county commissioner must be elected from each of such
10 districts DISTRICT by the voters of the whole county. If any county
11 commissioner, during his or her THEIR term of office, moves from the
12 district in which he or she THEY resided when elected, his or her THE
13 COMMISSIONER'S office thereupon becomes vacant. All proceedings by the
14 board of county commissioners in formation of such districts not
15 inconsistent with this section are confirmed and validated.
16(2) Each county having a population of seventy thousand or more
17 that has chosen to increase the members of the board of county
18 commissioners from three to five must be divided into three or five
19 districts. by the board of county commissioners according to the method
20 of election described in section 30-10-306.5 (5) or (6) or section
21 30-10-306.7. When applicable, the board of county commissioners shall
22 divide the county into districts in accordance with the final redistricting
23 plan approved in accordance with section 30-10-306.4. The districts must
24 be as nearly equal in population as possible based on the redistricting
25 population data prepared by staff of the legislative council and office of
26 legislative legal services, or any successor offices, in accordance with
27 section 2-2-902. In no event shall there be more than five percent
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1 deviation between the most populous and the least populous district in
2 each county, at the time such district boundaries are adopted. Each district
3 must be numbered consecutively and is not subject to alteration more
4 often than once every two years; except that, notwithstanding subsection
5 (3) of this section, the board may alter the districts to conform to precinct
6 boundaries that are changed in accordance with section 1-5-103 (1), based
7 on the division of the state into congressional districts or an approved
8 plan for redistricting of the members of the general assembly when
9 necessary to ensure that no precinct is located in more than one district.
10 County commissioners are elected at large or from districts according to
11 the method of election described in section 30-10-306.5 (5) or (6) or
12 section 30-10-306.7 SECTION 1-4-205 (3)(b) OR SECTION 30-10-306.8 (3)
13 OR (4). If any county commissioner required to be resident in a district
14 moves during his or her THEIR term of office from the district in which he
15 or she THEY resided when elected, his or her THE COMMISSIONER'S office
16 thereupon becomes vacant. All proceedings by the board of county
17 commissioners in formation of such districts not inconsistent with this
18 section are confirmed and validated.
19SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 30-10-306.5
20 and 30-10-306.7.
21SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 30-10-306.8 as
22 follows:
2330-10-306.8.       Methods      of   election    for   five   county
24 commissioners in a county with a population of seventy thousand or
25 more - elections - redistricting.
26(1)    IN ANY COUNTY HAVING A POPULATION OF SEVENTY
27 THOUSAND OR MORE, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
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1 COMMISSIONERS MAY BE INCREASED FROM THREE TO FIVE MEMBERS
2 PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1.5) OF THIS SECTION. IF THE BOARD CONSISTS
3 OF FIVE MEMBERS, THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
4 COMMISSIONERS MUST BE ELECTED BY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:
5(a) BY DISTRICT ONLY, AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS
6 SECTION; OR
7(b) BY A COMBINATION OF AT-LARGE AND BY-DISTRICT VOTING
8 METHODS, AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (4) OF THIS SECTION.
9(1.5) (a) IN ANY COUNTY HAVING A POPULATION OF SEVENTY
10 THOUSAND OR MORE WHOSE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSISTS
11 OF THREE MEMBERS, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL
12 ADOPT A RESOLUTION INCREASING ITS MEMBERSHIP TO FIVE MEMBERS AND
13 DESIGNATING THE TWO ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF ELECTING ITS FIVE
14 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTIONS (3) AND (4) OF THIS
15 SECTION. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL PASS THE
16 RESOLUTION AT ITS FIRST REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING IN EACH
17 DECENNIAL CENSUS YEAR.
18(b) THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL REFER THE
19 RESOLUTION REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (1.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION TO THE
20 REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY AT THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION
21 FOLLOWING ITS ADOPTION SO THAT THE VOTERS MAY CHOOSE WHETHER
22 TO INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
23 TO FIVE MEMBERS AND, IF INCREASED, WHICH OF THE TWO ALTERNATIVE
24 METHODS OF ELECTING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THE VOTERS PREFER.
25(c) IF A MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST ARE IN FAVOR OF THE REFERRED
26 RESOLUTION DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (1.5), THE BOARD OF COUNTY
27 COMMISSIONERS SHALL TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT THE INCREASED
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1 NUMBER OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED AT THE NEXT GENERAL
2 ELECTION ACCORDING TO THE METHOD OF ELECTION IN THE REFERRED
3 RESOLUTION THAT RECEIVED THE LARGEST NUMBER OF VOTES CAST.
4(2) (a) (I) IN ANY COUNTY HAVING A POPULATION OF SEVENTY
5 THOUSAND OR MORE WHOSE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSISTS
6 OF FIVE MEMBERS, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL ADOPT
7 A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE TWO ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF
8 ELECTING ITS FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTIONS
9 (3) AND (4) OF THIS SECTION. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
10 SHALL PASS THE RESOLUTION NO LATER THAN ITS FIRST REGULARLY
11 SCHEDULED MEETING IN CALENDAR YEAR 2027.
12(II) THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL REFER THE
13 RESOLUTION REQUIRED BY THIS SUBSECTION (2)(a) TO THE REGISTERED
14 ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY AT THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION FOLLOWING
15 ITS ADOPTION SO THAT THE VOTERS MAY CHOOSE WHICH OF THE TWO
16 ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF ELECTING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THEY
17 PREFER. THEREAFTER, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL
18 TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED AT
19 THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION ACCORDING TO THE METHOD OF ELECTION
20 IN THE REFERRED RESOLUTION THAT RECEIVED THE LARGEST NUMBER OF
21 VOTES CAST.
22(b) A COUNTY HAVING A POPULATION OF SEVENTY THOUSAND OR
23 MORE THAT ALREADY ELECTS ITS FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
24 ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE TWO ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF ELECTION SET
25 FORTH IN SUBSECTION (3) OR (4) OF THIS SECTION IS NOT REQUIRED TO
26 PASS THE RESOLUTION OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (2)(a) OF
27 THIS SECTION.
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1(c) (I) A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY ADOPT A
2 RESOLUTION CHANGING THE METHOD OF ELECTING THE MEMBERS OF THE
3 BOARD FROM ONE ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ELECTION PROVIDED IN
4 SUBSECTION (3) OR (4) OF THIS SECTION TO THE OTHER METHOD, AND
5 SHALL REFER THE RESOLUTION TO THE REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE
6 COUNTY AT THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION FOLLOWING ITS ADOPTION. IF
7 A MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST ARE IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION, THE
8 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL TAKE SUCH ACTION AS IS
9 NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED
10 AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR
11 ELECTION CONTAINED IN THE RESOLUTION.
12(II) ALTERNATIVELY, A PETITION SIGNED BY AT LEAST FIVE
13 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF A COUNTY
14 VOTING FOR ALL CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE AT
15 THE LAST PRECEDING GENERAL ELECTION IS SUFFICIENT TO PLACE ON THE
16 BALLOT AT A GENERAL ELECTION THE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO CHANGE
17 THE METHOD OF ELECTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FROM ONE
18 ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ELECTION PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (3) OR (4)
19 OF THIS SECTION TO THE OTHER METHOD. THE PETITION MUST SPECIFY THE
20 CURRENT METHOD OF ELECTION AND THE PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE
21 METHOD OF ELECTION. THE PETITION MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE COUNTY
22 CLERK AND RECORDER PRIOR TO THE NINETIETH DAY BEFORE THE NEXT
23 GENERAL ELECTION WITH A REQUEST THAT THE QUESTION BE PLACED ON
24 THE BALLOT FOR REFERRAL TO THE REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY
25 AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION.
26(3) (a) FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESIDENT IN FIVE DISTRICTS
27 MAY BE ELECTED BY VOTERS RESIDENT IN THOSE DISTRICTS, AS SPECIFIED
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1 IN THIS SUBSECTION (3). EACH COUNTY COMMISSIONER SEAT TO WHICH A
2 COMMISSIONER WAS ELECTED BY VOTERS RESIDENT IN THE DISTRICT
3 PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (3) MUST BE FILLED BY THE DISTRICT
4 METHOD OF ELECTION. IF ANY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DURING THE
5 COMMISSIONER'S TERM OF OFFICE, MOVES FROM THE DISTRICT IN WHICH
6 THE COMMISSIONER RESIDED WHEN ELECTED, THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
7 BECOMES VACANT.
8(b) IF A COUNTY ADOPTS THE DISTRICT METHOD OF ELECTION
9 PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (3) BUT IS NOT DIVIDED INTO FIVE COUNTY
10 COMMISSIONER DISTRICTS, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL
11 CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE COMMISSIONERS' DISTRICTS TO CREATE
12 FIVE DISTRICTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION
13 30-10-306 (2) AND THE COUNTY'S FINAL REDISTRICTING PLAN APPROVED
14 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 30-10-306.4.
15(c) (I) IF THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION AFTER THE VOTERS'
16 SELECTION OF THE DISTRICT METHOD OF ELECTION IS HELD IN 2028 OR ANY
17 FOURTH YEAR THEREAFTER, THREE MEMBERS RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS MUST
18 BE ELECTED TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS AT THAT GENERAL ELECTION AND TWO
19 MEMBERS RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS MUST BE ELECTED TO TWO-YEAR TERMS
20 UNTIL THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION, AT WHICH TWO MEMBERS RESIDENT
21 IN DISTRICTS MUST BE ELECTED TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS. THEREAFTER,
22 THREE MEMBERS RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS MUST BE ELECTED AT THE
23 GENERAL ELECTIONS WHICH OCCUR EACH FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FIRST
24 GENERAL ELECTION FOLLOWING THE SELECTION OF THE DISTRICT METHOD
25 OF ELECTION, AND TWO MEMBERS RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS MUST BE
26 ELECTED AT THE GENERAL ELECTION WHICH OCCURS TWO YEARS AFTER
27 THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION FOLLOWING THE SELECTION OF THE
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1 DISTRICT METHOD OF ELECTION AND EVERY FOURTH YEAR THEREAFTER.
2(II)   IF THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION AFTER THE VOTERS'
3 SELECTION OF THE DISTRICT METHOD OF ELECTION IS HELD IN 2030 OR ANY
4 FOURTH YEAR THEREAFTER, TWO MEMBERS RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS MUST
5 BE ELECTED TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS AT THAT GENERAL ELECTION AND
6 THREE MEMBERS RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS MUST BE ELECTED TO TWO-YEAR
7 TERMS UNTIL THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION, AT WHICH THREE MEMBERS
8  RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS MUST BE ELECTED TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS.
9 THEREAFTER, TWO MEMBERS RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS MUST BE ELECTED AT
10 THE GENERAL ELECTIONS WHICH OCCUR EACH FOUR YEARS AFTER THE
11 FIRST GENERAL ELECTION FOLLOWING THE SELECTION OF THE DISTRICT
12 METHOD OF ELECTION, AND THREE MEMBERS RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS MUST
13 BE ELECTED AT THE GENERAL ELECTION WHICH OCCURS TWO YEARS AFTER
14 THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION FOLLOWING THE SELECTION OF THE
15 DISTRICT METHOD OF ELECTION AND EVERY FOURTH YEAR THEREAFTER.
16(III) BY MARCH 1 OF THE YEAR OF THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION
17 AFTER THE VOTERS' SELECTION OF THE DISTRICT METHOD OF ELECTION,
18 THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL DESIGNATE THE DISTRICTS
19 FROM WHICH A COMMISSIONER IS TO BE ELECTED TO AN INITIAL TWO-YEAR
20 TERM DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (3)(c).
21(4) (a) THREE COMMISSIONERS RESIDENT IN THREE DISTRICTS AND
22 ELECTED BY VOTERS RESIDENT IN THOSE DISTRICTS AND TWO
23 COMMISSIONERS ELECTED AT LARGE.
24(b) (I) IF THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION AFTER THE ADOPTION OF
25 THE AT-LARGE AND BY-DISTRICT COMBINATION METHOD OF ELECTION SET
26 FORTH IN THIS SUBSECTION (4) IS HELD IN 2028 OR ANY FOURTH YEAR
27 THEREAFTER, TWO MEMBERS MUST BE ELECTED BY DISTRICT AND ONE
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1 MEMBER MUST BE ELECTED AT LARGE TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS AT THAT
2 ELECTION. ONE MEMBER MUST BE ELECTED BY DISTRICT AND ONE MEMBER
3 MUST BE ELECTED AT LARGE AT THAT ELECTION TO TWO-YEAR TERMS
4 UNTIL THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION, AT WHICH THOSE TWO MEMBERS
5 MUST BE ELECTED TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS BY THEIR RESPECTIVE ELECTION
6 METHOD. THEREAFTER, TWO MEMBERS MUST BE ELECTED BY DISTRICT
7 AND ONE MEMBER MUST BE ELECTED AT LARGE AT THE GENERAL
8 ELECTIONS THAT OCCUR EVERY FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FIRST GENERAL
9 ELECTION FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THE COMBINATION METHOD OF
10 ELECTION; AND TWO MEMBERS MUST BE ELECTED, ONE BY DISTRICT AND
11 ONE AT LARGE, AT THE GENERAL ELECTIONS THAT OCCUR EVERY FOUR
12 YEARS AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION THAT OCCURS TWO YEARS AFTER
13 THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THE
14 AT-LARGE AND BY-DISTRICT COMBINATION METHOD OF ELECTION.
15(II) IF THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE
16 AT-LARGE AND BY-DISTRICT COMBINATION METHOD OF ELECTION SET
17 FORTH IN THIS SUBSECTION (4) IS HELD IN 2030 OR ANY FOURTH YEAR
18 THEREAFTER, ONE MEMBER MUST BE ELECTED BY DISTRICT AND ONE
19 MEMBER MUST BE ELECTED AT LARGE TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS AT THAT
20 ELECTION. TWO MEMBERS MUST BE ELECTED BY DISTRICT AND ONE
21 MEMBER MUST BE ELECTED AT LARGE AT THAT ELECTION TO TWO-YEAR
22 TERMS UNTIL THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION, AT WHICH THOSE THREE
23 MEMBERS MUST BE ELECTED TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS BY THEIR RESPECTIVE
24 ELECTION METHOD. THEREAFTER, ONE MEMBER MUST BE ELECTED BY
25 DISTRICT AND ONE MEMBER MUST BE ELECTED AT LARGE AT THE GENERAL
26 ELECTIONS THAT OCCUR EVERY FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FIRST GENERAL
27 ELECTION FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THE COMBINATION METHOD OF
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1 ELECTION; AND TWO MEMBERS MUST BE ELECTED BY DISTRICT AND ONE
2 MEMBER MUST BE ELECTED AT LARGE AT THE GENERAL ELECTIONS THAT
3 OCCUR EVERY FOUR YEARS AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION THAT OCCURS
4 TWO YEARS AFTER THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION FOLLOWING THE
5 ADOPTION OF THE AT-LARGE AND BY-DISTRICT COMBINATION METHOD OF
6 ELECTION.
7(III) BY MARCH 1 OF THE YEAR OF THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION
8 AFTER THE VOTERS' SELECTION OF THE AT-LARGE AND BY-DISTRICT
9 COMBINATION METHOD OF ELECTION DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (4),
10 THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL DESIGNATE THE BY
11 DISTRICT AND AT-LARGE POSITIONS FROM WHICH A COMMISSIONER IS TO
12 BE ELECTED TO AN INITIAL TWO-YEAR TERM AS DESCRIBED IN THIS
13 SUBSECTION (4)(b).
14(5) ALL PROCEEDINGS BY A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN
15 ELECTING FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH
16 SUBSECTION (3) OR (4) OF THIS SECTION ARE CONFIRMED AND VALIDATED.
17(6) SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING PETITIONS FOR A RACE
18 INVOLVING A SEAT ON THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE AS
19 SPECIFIED IN SECTION 1-4-801 FOR MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY CANDIDATES
20 AND SECTION 1-4-802 FOR CANDIDATES WHO DO NOT WISH TO AFFILIATE
21 WITH A MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY.
22(7) A HOME RULE COUNTY IS EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF
23 THIS SECTION IF THE HOME RULE COUNTY ELECTS MORE THAN HALF OF ITS
24 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BY A DISTRICT METHOD OF ELECTION, SUCH THAT
25 THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE RESIDENT IN DISTRICTS AND ARE
26 ELECTED BY VOTERS RESIDENT IN THOSE DISTRICTS.
27SECTION 7. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
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1 takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
2 ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
3 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a
4 referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the
5 state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act
6 within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect
7 unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
8 November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
9 official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
                                   -16-  1203