HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 - RESO 17 - Oppose SB25-001CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 17
SERIES OF 2025
TITLE: A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION OF SENATE BILL 25-001,
COLORADO VOTING RIGHTS ACT
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge strongly believes in the fundamental right of every eligible citizen to participate in free and fair elections as a cornerstone of
democracy; and
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge typically coordinates elections with Jefferson
County, which serves as a model for election accessibility, transparency, and security,
ensuring that all eligible voters can participate easily and with confidence in the electoral process; and
WHEREAS, there are already several federal civil rights laws that provide protection against discrimination, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which
specifically prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or membership in a minority
language group; and
WHEREAS, the State of Colorado’s Constitution Article XX, Section 6 explicitly
grants municipalities the authority to regulate “all matters pertaining to municipal elections”, affirming local control over election administration; and
WHEREAS, the Colorado Supreme Court has consistently upheld that municipal
elections are a matter of solely local concern, rejecting claims that they fall under state or mixed state and local jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, SB25-001 seeks to impose strict regulations on how municipalities administer their elections by increasing municipal liability and significantly limiting a
municipality’s ability to defend or adjust its election policies and practices; and
WHEREAS, SB25-001 requires all municipal elections to align with partisan state and federal election calendars, thereby eroding the nonpartisan character of local
elections and potentially delaying recall petitions and undermining timely accountability in local governance; and
WHEREAS, SB25-001 imposes several unfunded mandates related to polling
locations, data reporting, and language access requirements that go far beyond the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and
ATTACHMENT 1
WHEREAS, SB25-001 jeopardizes the established mechanisms of transparency
and accountability that ensure Wheat Ridge citizens’ confidence in the right to vote and
participate in free and fair elections.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, as follows:
Section 1. The City of Wheat Ridge opposes SB25-001, as it undermines local control over municipal elections, imposes unfunded mandates, encourages wasteful and
unnecessary legal challenges, and disrupts the longstanding nonpartisan nature of local
elections. Furthermore, the City believes that SB25-001 is unconstitutional, as it infringes upon the rights of municipalities guaranteed by the Colorado Constitution. The City hereby urges the Colorado State Legislature to vote against SB25-001 and directs its staff to actively lobby against its passage.
DONE AND RESOLVED this 24th day of March 2025
ATTEST:
_________________________________________ Margy Greer, Sr. Deputy City Clerk
_________________________________________
Bud Starker, Mayor