On Wednesday, the Colorado Supreme Court rejected Governor Polis’s attempt to allow mail and email signature collection. The marks the first court-ordered reversal of an action taken by Polis in response to coronavirus.
Colorado has been in litigation for months regarding signature collection for ballot initiatives hoping to quality for the November ballot. Colorado Concern filed the lawsuit. We’ve discussed the group and the various measures they, and other Colorado business owners, would be opposed to in previous posts. Polis originally won in district court, but the case was appealed.
Colorado Concern President and CEO Mike Kopp released the following statement regarding the ruling:
“Launching this litigation was a difficult choice, because there are so many important issues we are working closely with the Governor on, literally in real time. But the underlying principle was too important – protecting the integrity of the initiative process is just as important in a pandemic as it is during a time of calm. Yes, the executive has emergency powers in a public health crisis, but those powers do not come at the expense of fundamental rules that protect the integrity of our laws. We are glad the Supreme Court agreed. We’re eager to get back to work with the Governor on the many issues that unite us. Colorado is always at its best when we are working together.”
Initiative proponents must collect about 124,000 signatures from registered voters by August 3rd. The thirty-day extension comes from an Executive Order from Polis on May 17th.
