How to Become a Board Member
Regular special district elections are elections held for the purpose of electing eligible electors to the Board of Directors of the special district. Elections are held biennially, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of odd-numbered years. C.R.S. 1-13.5-111(1). A regular election may include the submission of questions to the eligible electors or any ballot issue required under TABOR. A canceled election counts as having conducted an election; the directors are elected by acclamation.
Special elections may occur in February, May (even years), October, November, and December. An election question may be asked at any election. An election issue (TABOR/$$$-related) may only be asked at a November or regular election.
Directors typically serve staggered 4-year terms. For special districts with five Board members, two directors serve until the next regular election after the organization and three directors serve until the second regular election after organization. Term limits apply to special district Board members. Art. XVIII, Sec. 11 Colorado Constitution The voters of any political subdivision may lengthen, shorten or eliminate the limitations on terms of office.
An eligible elector is an individual who is registered to vote in Colorado and is a resident of the special district (regardless of property ownership) OR an owner of real or personal taxable property (or their spouse/civil union partner) who owns property in the (natural person) name. A partnership, corporation, or trust cannot register to vote, is not a "person" in the context of voter registration, and therefore not an eligible elector. CRS 32-1-103(5).
A person may qualify as an eligible elector if they are obligated to pay taxes under a contract to purchase taxable property within the boundaries of the special district. These individuals shall be considered an owner. CRS 32-1-103(5).
A special district candidate must complete a self-nomination form, due 67 days prior to the regular election date. No earlier than January 1 and no later than the normal close of business on the 67th day before the date of a regular special district election, any person who desires to be a candidate for the office of a special district director shall file a self-nomination and acceptance form or letter signed by the candidate and by an eligible elector of the state as a witness to the signature of the candidate. An amended self-nomination form or letter may be accepted by the Designated Election Official until the normal close of business on the 67th day before an election. C.R.S. 1-13.5-303.
Alternatively, a special district candidate may complete a write-in affidavit, due 64 days prior to the regular election date.
All candidates must comply with the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) and Amendment 27 of the Colorado Constitution. Information on campaign finance may be obtained from the website of the Colorado Secretary of State.
The governing body of the local government / special district appoints a Designated Election Official (DEO) who is in charge of the election. C.R.S. 1-13.5-103(2), C.R.S. 1-13.5-108(1).
If the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of seats available, the election may be canceled, and the candidates are elected by acclamation. The earliest that this may occur is any time after the 63rd day before the election. C.R.S. 13-5-513(1). However, if the electors are to consider the election of persons and ballot issues or ballot questions, the election may only be canceled if those issues or questions have been withdrawn. No election may be canceled in part. C.R.S. 1-13.5-513(3),(4).
Additional information regarding Special District elections can be found on the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Special District Elections website.