Colorado Democrats are working to strengthen voting rights following the weakening of protections by the U.S. Supreme Court. Senate Bill 1, the Colorado Voting Rights Act, passed the state Senate on a party-line vote. The bill aims to expand access to the ballot for all eligible voters and mirrors the federal Voting Rights Act by prohibiting election practices that create disparities in participation for protected groups.
The bill has drawn criticism from municipalities, citing costs and concerns about constitutionality. Municipal officials argue that it infringes on their home rule authority to regulate elections. However, supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to address racial turnout gaps and ensure fair access to the ballot for all Coloradans.
The bill includes provisions for multilingual ballots in qualifying municipalities and protections for LGBTQ+ voters. It also allows the Attorney General to take action against discriminatory election practices and expands access to voting for minority language speakers.
Despite objections, the bill has received support from advocates who believe it will strengthen voting rights and address disparities in access to the ballot. The bill will now move to the House for further consideration and potential amendments. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that all Coloradans have fair access to the ballot, regardless of race, language, or disability status.
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