Colorado Municipal Clerks Association
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Municipal Elections
Statutory municipalities, as well as numerous home rule municipalities, conduct their elections pursuant to the Colorado Municipal Election Code. The clerk is the chief election officer and makes all interpretations and initial decisions as to controversies arising under the Municipal Election Code. However, in municipalities with election commissions, the commission performs the duties of the clerk. For a variety of election information, including a checklist of actions required before, during, and after elections, municipal clerks may wish to refer to CML’s biennial publication, The Election Book.
For towns, the regular election is held the first Tuesday in April of even-numbered years. For cities, the regular election is held the first Tuesday of November of odd-numbered years. For “any other municipality,” presumably referring to home rule or special territorial charter municipalities, the regular election of officers, and any other regularly scheduled election at which all qualified electors may participate, is included in the statutory definition of a regular election. By statute, the date on which new municipal officers take office as the result of the regular elections is calculated somewhat differently for cities than for towns. For statutory cities, C.R.S. § 31-4-105 provides that the terms of new officers commence “at the first meeting of the governing body following the survey of election returns, unless the governing body provides by ordinance or resolution that terms shall commence on the first Monday after the first Tuesday in January following their election.” This provision establishes a definite date on which the new council-members are sworn in and formally take office.
Resources:
Colorado Secretary of State - Elections