Vote Without Fear Act Moves to Governor's Desk

Denver CO

22 March, 2022

11:07 AM

Description

DENVER, CO — Colorado's 'Vote Without Fear' act passed the Legislature and moved on to the Governor's desk Monday. The bill, which would prohibit people from "openly" carrying a firearm within 100 feet of a voting center, drop box or counting facility during any election, is meant to further protect Coloradans' right to vote. "When we protect Colorado voters from intimidation at the ballot box, we protect democracy," said Jena Griswold, Colorado's Secretary of State. "I am proud of this important legislation which will safeguard Colorado voters' right to cast a ballot without intimidation or interference regardless of their zip code, political affiliation, or race." If it is passed into law, infringement upon this firearm prohibition near voting centers could result in a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 364 days in the county jail, or both, according to the bill's summary. There are exceptions for first-time offenses. The bill's primary sponsors are Democratic representatives Tom Sullivan and Jennifer Bacon and Democratic senators Rhonda Fields and Sonya Jaquez Lewis. This bill to enforce Colorado's voting rights comes, according to state officials, on the heels of hundreds of bills and dozens of laws introduced in 2021 and 2022 across the country designed to restrict voting.