Bill > HB1225

This bill, called the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act, aims to prevent intimidation, threats, and coercion in election-related activities. It addresses a documented history of election intimidation in Colorado, particularly targeting voters of color, and responds to recent incidents of threats and harassment against election workers. The bill creates legal protections that broadly define voting-related activities, including voter registration, ballot casting, and vote counting. It establishes a presumption that carrying a visible firearm near voting activities is inherently intimidating, with specific exceptions for law enforcement and security guards. The law allows aggrieved individuals, election officials, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General to bring civil enforcement actions against intimidators, with potential remedies including injunctions and attorney's fees. Importantly, plaintiffs do not need to prove intentional intimidation to prevail, though intent can be considered when determining appropriate relief. The bill supplements existing anti-intimidation laws and seeks to protect both public safety and individual voting rights by creating a legal framework that discourages and provides recourse for election-related intimidation.