Week 13: Disenfranchising Constituents Based on Party Affiliation!

Dear Colorado Voter,

Thirteen weeks done, 25 more weeks until Election Day. Thanks for joining me on this journey!

I often hear people talk about "disenfranchising" voters so let's discuss the concept. First, a definition. In elections, disenfranchisement refers to being deprived of the right to vote.

A city council member claimed that voters are disenfranchised in odd-year elections, pointing to low voter turnout. I pushed back. Those voters may choose not to vote in an odd year because they don't find any of the contests interesting, but as long as a person is allowed to vote, that person is not disenfranchised.

One of my priority issues is The Right to Vote, and it was a main motivator for me to jump into the Secretary of State contest.

In 2025 two bills passed the state legislature that disenfranchise voters based on party affiliation! This form of disenfranchisement is apparently unprecedented in the U.S. I believe the bills are unconstitutional.

An elected official should strive to serve all the constituents, and all the constituents who are registered voters should be able to vote when the government conducts an election to fill the office. I and other volunteer lobbyists with the League of Women Voters worked tenaciously to change the bills to allow everyone to vote – without success. A year earlier I had published similar ideas in this Colorado Sun guest opinion: https://coloradosun.com/2024/01/27/opinion-colorado-vacancy-committee-elections/

HB25-1319 took effect immediately and affects county commissioners in counties with 50,000 active voters. HB25-1315 affects all state legislators but won't hold any unconstitutional "elections" until 2027. One of the early SoS candidates was a co-sponsor of these bills. When I discussed these bills with the other early SoS candidate, all I got was a shrug. I can't stand by idly while these two bills give a stamp of approval to the government to disenfranchise voters!

In 2024 U.S. Representative Ken Buck resigned. A special election to fill his seat was held. Every registered voter could vote. In contrast, in November 2025 El Paso County District 5 had a commissioner "election" and disenfranchised anyone who wasn't a Republican or unaffiliated.

If you agree that the government shouldn't disenfranchise registered voters, please support my candidacy!

With enthusiasm and purpose,

Celeste