By Sandra Fish, Chalkbeat Colorado
Colorado high school juniors and seniors won’t get to vote in school board elections, after lawmakers expressed concerns over constitutional and transparency issues.
The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee voted 8-1 Wednesday to postpone House Bill 1243 indefinitely, effectively killing the bill.
It would have allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote for school board members, members of the State Board of Education and in elections to increase school district taxes or to issue debt for construction.
“I really do believe in this policy,” said state Rep. Jovan Melton, an Aurora Democrat. “All of that fits within what we can do in the legislature. What I’m afraid of is the process of this bill and whether or not it’s constitutional.”
He suggested asking voters to approve a constitutional change allowing the younger voters.
The Colorado County Clerks Association and Colorado Association of School Boards opposed the measure.