Proposed Ballot Initiative

I feel that I've done enough research to see that there's a glaring weakness in our current system for making sure Presidential candidates are qualified to hold office: there are no checks or balances. Accordingly, I've decided to submit a proposed ballot initiative to the Secretary of State's office. Here is the text to the proposal I submitted:


Submission of Proposal for Review and Comment

Justin W. Riggs
5255 S. Grant St.
Littleton, CO 80121
juriggs@yahoo.com
(redacted)

(redacted for privacy)


Statement of Intent:

An email communication from the office of the Secretary of the State of Colorado states:

“Dear Concerned Voter: The Colorado Secretary of State's office, has received numerous calls and emails inquiring into the procedures undertaken to ensure that presidential candidates are qualified to be placed on the ballot. This email is intended to answer your questions regarding the qualifications of candidates for the office of President of the United States.

First, please understand that, pursuant to Colorado statute, the process of nominating and certifying presidential candidates to the ballot is party-oriented; candidates are certified to the state and, therefore, the legal responsibility for confirming citizenship (or any other qualification) lies with the certifying entity.

Any questions regarding the qualifications of a presidential candidate should be directed to the parties, who are the certifying entities in this case....

In sum, please direct any inquiries regarding the qualifications of candidates to the respective parties....

Thank you for contacting the Secretary of State's office.”

Placing the responsibility for certifying a Presidential candidate upon the party that nominated the candidate seems to create an inherent conflict of interest. While the purpose of this initiative is not to wrestle away the party’s legal responsibility, it is to provide a check and a balance upon the party by requiring the designated election official of the State of Colorado to also verify the eligibility of Presidential candidates before placing them on the ballot. The following ballot initiative is therefore proposed.

Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:

Section 501 of Title 1, Article 4, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SUBSECTION to read:

(1.5) No person except an eligible elector is eligible to be a designee or candidate for the office of President of the United States of America unless that person fully meets the qualifications of that office as stated in the Constitution of the United States of America on or before the date the term of that office begins. The designated election official shall not certify the name of any designee or candidate who fails to swear or affirm under oath that he or she fully meets the qualifications of the office by signing an Affidavit of Eligibility, and who is unable to provide proof that he or she meets any requirements of the office relating to citizenship status, age, or residency. Documents accepted as prima facie evidence of compliance with this section shall be determined by the designated official, and shall include but not be limited to: original birth records, official passports, and relevant background check forms. Fascimiles of all documents submitted by designees or candidates shall be published by the office of the Secretary of the State and made available for public review no less than 90 days prior to the general election.

------------
Step 2 is a Review and Comment Meeting. I'll let you know what I hear back.