Blog note, Elections

Independence Institute President Jon Caldara to Vote Legally in Morse Recall

Editor’s Note:  The following is a copy of a press release sent out by the Independence Institute on September 5, 2013.

DENVER, Colo — The Independence Institute president will exercise his legal voting rights in next week’s recall election, casting a ballot in a district outside his current residence. Independence Institute president Jon Caldara’s decision to vote in the Senate District 11 recall kicks off the “Bring in the Vote” educational campaign, highlighting the significant legal changes in Colorado’s “Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act,” signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper on May 10.

Calling attention to the lax new election law sponsored by Senators John Morse and Angela Giron, both facing recall elections, Caldara announced that he has the “intention” to make his permanent home in Senate District 11, currently represented by Morse.

Under HB 1303, the “intention” to establish residence along with a few minor requirements such as being 18 years of age, living in Colorado for 22 days, and having an address in the district, permits almost anyone to “Bring in the Vote” and cast a ballot in any district.

“It is my belief that this extremely sloppy new election law was designed to legally move voters into districts where their vote is most useful. I will show how this dangerous new law works by easily and legally voting in the John Morse recall election,” explained Caldara.

“John Morse sponsored this law and worked its passage through the Senate. And now, sadly, under this law future Colorado elections will be decided by which candidate has the most buses.”

To inform voters concerning their voting rights under the new law, the Independence Institute has launched an educational website: www.BringInTheVote.com.

“Though we may disagree on issues and candidates, I hope we all will agree that all Coloradans should be fully informed of their new voting rights and how to exercise them,” Caldara said.

The Independence Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit public policy research organization based in Denver, Colo.