A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning vacancies in the general assembly.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
Sections 1 and 2 of the bill change the number of committeepersons elected at a political party's precinct caucus from 2 to 4.
Current law requires the political party central committee of most jurisdictions to select a vacancy committee to fill vacancies in the central committee and in the district and state offices held by members of the political party. Current law also requires a vacancy committee to consist of, at a minimum, the members of the central committee of a jurisdiction. Section 2 requires that a vacancy committee selected by a state senatorial central committee or state representative central committee to fill a vacancy also consist of, at a minimum, any county commissioners who are members of the political party and reside within the state senatorial or state representative district. Section 2 also provides that if a vacancy in the office of precinct committeeperson is filled, the new appointee shall not participate in the vacancy committee process to fill a vacancy in the general assembly until, at the earliest, 91 days after appointment.
Current law provides that vacancies in the general assembly are filled by vacancy committee selection until the next general election after the vacancy occurs, when the vacancy is filled by election. Section 4 modifies the way that vacancies are filled by election when the vacating member of the general assembly is affiliated with a major political party by requiring that, if the vacancy occurs on or after July 31 of an even-numbered year and before July 31 of an odd-numbered year, the vacancy must be filled by vacancy committee selection until the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November of the odd-numbered year following the vacancy, when the vacancy must be filled by a major political party at the odd-year November election (major political party vacancy election). The candidate elected in the major political party vacancy election serves until the next general election. If a vacancy in the general assembly occurs on or after July 31of an odd-numbered year and before July 31 of an even-numbered year and the vacating member is affiliated with a major political party, the vacancy is filled pursuant to current law.
The only candidates who may run in a major political party vacancy election are candidates who are members of the same political party and of the same representative or senatorial district represented by the former member of the general assembly whose seat is vacant. The only voters who may vote in the major political party vacancy election are voters who are unaffiliated or are members of the same political party as the former member of the general assembly whose seat is vacant and who reside in the same representative or senatorial district represented by the former member of the general assembly whose seat is vacant.
A candidate must be placed on the ballot for a major political party vacancy election if the candidate:
- Files a nominating statement signed by 30% of the district vacancy committee members with the secretary of state and the candidate's major political party before 5p.m. on the seventieth day preceding the major political party vacancy election; or
- Submits to the secretary of state, at least 75 days prior to the major political party vacancy election, a notarized candidate's statement of intent and a petition signed by at least 200 electors who are affiliated with the same major political party as the candidate and are eligible to vote in the district for which the candidate is to be elected.
No other candidates are placed on the ballot. If a vacancy committee member signs a nominating statement after having signed another nominating statement filed for the same office in the same major political party election, the vacancy committee member's later signature does not count towards the thirty percent of applicable vacancy committee member signatures required. If an eligible elector signs a petition after having signed another petition submitted for the same office in the same major political party election, the elector's later signature does not count towards the two hundred elector signatures required.
Section 4 also requires vacancy committee meetings to fill vacancies in the general assembly to be accessible in real time by live streaming video or audio that is recorded and accessible to the public. Section 3 provides that a political party may, by vote of the party's state central committee, forego a major political party election and choose to nominate a candidate by assembly or convention instead.
Section 5 defines a vacancy contender for the purpose of campaign finance regulations as any person who seeks to be selected by a vacancy committee to fill a vacancy in the general assembly (vacancy contender) and adds vacancy contenders to the definition of candidate.
Section 6 establishes contribution limits for a candidate committee established in the name of a candidate who is a vacancy contender and provides deadlines by which a candidate committee established in the name of a vacancy contender may expend contributions.
Section 7 requires disclosures for contributions related to vacancy contenders and requires those disclosures to be filed on the Monday of each week during the period in which the vacancy committee is selecting a vacancy contender to fill the vacancy in the general assembly.
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
Page 3, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 3, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-3-103, amend (1)(a), (12), and (13); and add (14) and (15) as follows:
Page 3, Line 31-3-103. Party committees. (1) (a) At its own precinct caucus,
Page 3, Line 4each political party shall elect two committeepersons for each election
Page 3, Line 5precinct as provided in section 1-3-102. Each committeeperson shall hold
Page 3, Line 6the position for a term of two years after the date of the election, and each
Page 4, Line 1shall serve until a successor is duly elected or appointed and commences
Page 4, Line 2the term of office. In case of a vacancy in the office of precinct
Page 4, Line 3committeeperson, the vacancy may be filled by the members of the county
Page 4, Line 4central committee vacancy committee. If the county central committee
Page 4, Line 5vacancy committee does not fill the vacancy within thirty days of the
Page 4, Line 6vacancy occurring, the vacancy may be filled by the recommendation of
Page 4, Line 7the county chair, subject to ratification by the county central committee.
Page 4, Line 8If the county chair does not fill the vacancy within sixty days of the
Page 4, Line 9vacancy occurring, the vacancy may be filled by recommendation of the
Page 4, Line 10state chair, subject to ratification by the county central committee. The
Page 4, Line 11person selected must be a resident of the precinct in which the vacancy
Page 4, Line 12occurred. When a vacancy in the office of precinct
Page 4, Line 13committeeperson is filled in accordance with this section, the
Page 4, Line 14newly appointed precinct committeeperson shall not participate
Page 4, Line 15in the vacancy committee process described in section 1-12-203 to
Page 4, Line 16fill a vacancy in the general assembly until, at the earliest,
Page 4, Line 17ninety-one days after the newly appointed precinct committeeperson was appointed.
Page 4, Line 18(12) If a jurisdiction's central committee
of a jurisdictionPage 4, Line 19is not a state senatorial central committee or state
Page 4, Line 20representative central committee fails to select a vacancy
Page 4, Line 21committee, the central committee of the jurisdiction serves as the vacancy committee.
Page 4, Line 22(13) In selecting the members of a vacancy committee authorized
Page 4, Line 23to fill vacancies in office pursuant to this section, the jurisdiction's
Page 4, Line 24central committee
of a jurisdictionPage 4, Line 25central committee or state representative central committee
Page 5, Line 1shall select, at a minimum, the members of the jurisdiction's central committee.
Page 5, Line 2(14) If a state senatorial central committee or state
Page 5, Line 3representative central committee fails to select a vacancy
Page 5, Line 4committee, the vacancy committee is comprised of the state
Page 5, Line 5senatorial central committee or state representative central
Page 5, Line 6committee and any county commissioners who are members of
Page 5, Line 7the political party and reside within the state senatorial or state representative district.
Page 5, Line 8(15) In selecting the members of a vacancy committee
Page 5, Line 9authorized to fill vacancies in office pursuant to this section,
Page 5, Line 10the state senatorial central committee or state representative
Page 5, Line 11central committee shall select, at a minimum, the members of
Page 5, Line 12the state senatorial central committee or state representative
Page 5, Line 13central committee and any county commissioners who are
Page 5, Line 14members of the political party and reside within the state senatorial or state representative district.
Page 5, Line 15SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-4-702, amend (1) and (3) as follows:
Page 5, Line 161-4-702. Nominations of candidates for general election by
Page 5, Line 17convention. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a political
Page 5, Line 18party may choose to change from the nomination of candidates by
Page 5, Line 19primary election or by the process described in section 1-12-203 in
Page 5, Line 20the case of a major political party vacancy election to the
Page 5, Line 21nomination of candidates by assembly or convention for all offices
Page 5, Line 22including, but not limited to, United States senator, representative in
Page 5, Line 23congress, all elective state, district, and county officers, and members of
Page 6, Line 1the general assembly if at least three-fourths of the total voting
Page 6, Line 2membership of the party's state central committee votes are cast in the
Page 6, Line 3affirmative to use the assembly or convention nomination process;
Page 6, Line 4except that nominations by major political parties for candidates for
Page 6, Line 5lieutenant governor shall be made by the party's candidate for governor
Page 6, Line 6pursuant to section 1-4-502 (3). Such vote of the party central committee
Page 6, Line 7shall occur no later than October 1 of the year preceding the year in which
Page 6, Line 8an assembly or convention nominating process is to be used. For
Page 6, Line 9purposes of this vote, members of the state central committee shall not vote by proxy.
Page 6, Line 10(3) Whichever method of candidate selection is chosen by a major
Page 6, Line 11political party as between primary election, assembly or convention, all
Page 6, Line 12of the candidates for that party at any level of office in that election year
Page 6, Line 13must be selected by such method, except that the requirements of this
Page 6, Line 14provision shall not apply to a primary for president of the United States
Page 6, Line 15if such an election is held or to candidates for a major political party vacancy election pursuant to section 1-12-203.
Page 6, Line 16SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-5-505.5, add (1)(d) as follows:
Page 6, Line 171-5-505.5. State reimbursement to counties for elections with
Page 6, Line 18state certified ballot content. (1) (d) (I) For a major political party
Page 6, Line 19vacancy election, as described in section 1-12-203 (1.5), held as
Page 6, Line 20part of an odd-year November election for which the state
Page 6, Line 21certifies any ballot content, the state shall reimburse each county as provided in subsection (1)(a) of this section.
Page 6, Line 22(II) For a major political party vacancy election, as
Page 6, Line 23described in section 1-12-203 (1.5), held as part of an odd-year
Page 7, Line 1November election for which the state does not certify any
Page 7, Line 2ballot content, the costs that the county incurs in conducting the vacancy election are borne by the county.
Page 7, Line 3SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-12-203, amend (1) and (3)(a); and add (1.5) as follows:
Page 7, Line 41-12-203. Vacancies in general assembly. (1) In the event of a
Page 7, Line 5vacancy in the general assembly caused by the death or resignation of a
Page 7, Line 6member who has been sworn into office, caused by the death or
Page 7, Line 7resignation of a member who has been elected to a seat but who has not
Page 7, Line 8yet been sworn into office, or caused by a person not taking the oath of
Page 7, Line 9office as provided in
paragraph (b) of subsection (3)Page 7, Line 10of this section, the vacancy shall be filled by the appropriate vacancy
Page 7, Line 11committee, if any, as provided in section 1-3-103 (1)(d), of the same
Page 7, Line 12political party and of the same representative or senatorial district
Page 7, Line 13represented by the former member whose seat is vacant. If the member
Page 7, Line 14was affiliated with a minor political party, then the vacancy
shallPage 7, Line 15be filled by the vacancy committee designated in the constitution or
Page 7, Line 16bylaws of the minor political party. If the member was unaffiliated with
Page 7, Line 17a political party, then the vacancy
shallPage 7, Line 18committee designated on the petition for nomination pursuant to section
Page 7, Line 191-4-802 (1)(e); except that, if the member has no vacancy
Page 7, Line 20committee, the vacancy must be filled by the governor.Except
Page 7, Line 21as otherwise provided in subsection (1.5) of this section, the
Page 7, Line 22vacancy
shallshallPage 7, Line 23(1.5) (a) Except as provided in section 1-12-208, if a vacancy
Page 7, Line 24in the general assembly occurs on or after July 31 of an
Page 8, Line 1odd-numbered year and before July 31 of the next
Page 8, Line 2even-numbered year and the former member whose seat is
Page 8, Line 3vacant was affiliated with a major political party, the vacancy
Page 8, Line 4must be filled by a vacancy committee pursuant to subsection (1)
Page 8, Line 5or (5) of this section until the next general election after the vacancy occurs, when the vacancy must be filled by election.
Page 8, Line 6(b) Except as provided in section 1-12-208, if a vacancy in
Page 8, Line 7the general assembly occurs on or after July 31 of an
Page 8, Line 8even-numbered year and before July 31 of the next
Page 8, Line 9odd-numbered year and the former member whose seat is vacant
Page 8, Line 10was affiliated with a major political party, the vacancy must be
Page 8, Line 11filled by a vacancy committee pursuant to subsection (1) or (5)
Page 8, Line 12of this section until the next odd-numbered year coordinated
Page 8, Line 13election, or if there is no coordinated election scheduled for
Page 8, Line 14the odd-numbered year following the vacancy, until the
Page 8, Line 15Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November of the
Page 8, Line 16odd-numbered year following the vacancy, when the vacancy
Page 8, Line 17must be filled by a major political party vacancy election;
Page 8, Line 18except that, if the vacancy occurs on or after July 31 of an
Page 8, Line 19even-numbered year but before ballot content is certified for
Page 8, Line 20the general election held in that even-numbered year and the
Page 8, Line 21vacant seat is scheduled to be on the ballot at the general
Page 8, Line 22election held in that even-numbered year, the vacancy is filled
Page 8, Line 23at that general election according to law. The candidate
Page 8, Line 24elected in the major political party vacancy election shall
Page 8, Line 25serve until the next general election, when the vacancy must be
Page 8, Line 26filled by election.
Page 9, Line 1(c) The only candidates who may run in a major political
Page 9, Line 2party vacancy election described in subsection (1.5)(b) of this
Page 9, Line 3section are candidates who, as of one year prior to the date of
Page 9, Line 4the major political party vacancy election, are members of the
Page 9, Line 5same political party and of the same representative or
Page 9, Line 6senatorial district as the former member whose seat is vacant.
Page 9, Line 7The only voters who may vote in the major political party vacancy election are voters who:
Page 9, Line 8(I) Are unaffiliated or are members of the same political party as the former member whose seat is vacant; and
Page 9, Line 9(II) Reside in the same representative or senatorial district represented by the former member whose seat is vacant.
Page 9, Line 10(d) A candidate must be placed on the ballot for a major
Page 9, Line 11political party vacancy election described in subsection (1.5)(b) of this section if the candidate:
Page 9, Line 12(I) Files a nominating statement on a form created by the
Page 9, Line 13candidate's political party that is signed by thirty percent of
Page 9, Line 14the applicable vacancy committee members with the secretary
Page 9, Line 15of state and the candidate's political party before 5 p.m. on the
Page 9, Line 16seventieth day preceding the major political party vacancy election; or
Page 9, Line 17(II) Submits to the secretary of state, no later than
Page 9, Line 18thirty days after their petition format has been approved or
Page 9, Line 19eighty-five days prior to the major political party vacancy
Page 9, Line 20election, whichever is sooner, a notarized candidate's
Page 9, Line 21statement of intent and a petition signed by at least two
Page 9, Line 22hundred electors who are affiliated with the same political
Page 10, Line 1party as the candidate and are eligible to vote in the district
Page 10, Line 2for which the candidate is to be elected. Part 9 of article 4 of
Page 10, Line 3this title 1 applies to petitions submitted pursuant to this
Page 10, Line 4section; except that the provisions of part 9 of article 4 of this
Page 10, Line 5title 1 that conflict with the requirements or timeline described
Page 10, Line 6in this section do not apply to petitions submitted pursuant to
Page 10, Line 7this section. Petitions must not be circulated and signatures
Page 10, Line 8must not be obtained prior to the first business day after the
Page 10, Line 9effective date of the vacancy. A petition must not be circulated
Page 10, Line 10until it has been approved as meeting the requirements of section
Page 10, Line 111-4-904 as to form. The secretary of state shall approve or
Page 10, Line 12disapprove a petition as to form no later than the close of the
Page 10, Line 13second business day following submission of the proposed petition.
Page 10, Line 14(e) If a vacancy committee member signs a nominating
Page 10, Line 15statement in accordance with subsection (1.5)(d)(I) of this
Page 10, Line 16section after having signed another nominating statement filed
Page 10, Line 17for the same office in the same major political party election,
Page 10, Line 18the vacancy committee member's signature only counts towards
Page 10, Line 19the thirty percent of applicable vacancy committee member
Page 10, Line 20signatures required pursuant to subsection (1.5)(d)(I) of this
Page 10, Line 21section on the first nominating statement submitted that contains the signature.
Page 10, Line 22(f) If an eligible elector signs a petition in accordance
Page 10, Line 23with subsection (1.5)(d)(II) of this section after having signed
Page 10, Line 24another petition submitted for the same office in the same major
Page 10, Line 25political party election, the elector's signature only counts
Page 11, Line 1towards the two hundred elector signatures required pursuant
Page 11, Line 2to subsection (1.5)(d)(II) of this section on the first petition submitted that contains the signature.
Page 11, Line 3(g) The candidate's political party shall verify that a
Page 11, Line 4nominating statement filed pursuant to this section satisfies
Page 11, Line 5subsections (1.5)(d)(I) and (1.5)(e)of this section. The secretary
Page 11, Line 6of state shall verify that a petition submitted pursuant to this
Page 11, Line 7section satisfies subsections (1.5)(d)(II) and (1.5)(f)of this section.
Page 11, Line 8(h) The only candidates who are placed on the ballot for
Page 11, Line 9a major political party vacancy election are those described in subsections (1.5)(d)(I) and (1.5)(d)(II) of this section.
Page 11, Line 10(i) A major political party election must be certified by
Page 11, Line 11the secretary of state in the same manner as an odd-year November election is certified pursuant to section 1-5-203 (1),
Page 11, Line 12(j) Except where the provisions of articles 1 to 13 of this
Page 11, Line 13title 1 conflict with the requirements or timeline described in
Page 11, Line 14this section, articles 1 to 13 of this title 1 apply to a major
Page 11, Line 15political party vacancy election, and a major political party
Page 11, Line 16election must be conducted in accordance with articles 1 to 13 of this title 1.
Page 11, Line 17(3) (a) The vacancy committee, by a majority vote of its members
Page 11, Line 18present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose and open to the
Page 11, Line 19public, shall select a person who possesses the constitutional
Page 11, Line 20qualifications for a member of the general assembly and who is affiliated
Page 11, Line 21with the same political party or minor political party, if any, shown in the
Page 11, Line 22statewide voter registration system as the former member whose seat is
Page 12, Line 1vacant. No vacancy committee meeting shall be held until a quorum is
Page 12, Line 2present consisting of not less than one-half of the voting membership of
Page 12, Line 3the vacancy committee. No member of the vacancy committee may vote
Page 12, Line 4by proxy. All vacancy committee meetings must be accessible in
Page 12, Line 5real time by live streaming video or audio that is recorded and
Page 12, Line 6accessible to the public. The committee shall certify the selection to
Page 12, Line 7the secretary of state within thirty days from the date the vacancy occurs;
Page 12, Line 8except that, in the case of a vacancy filled pursuant to section 1-4-1006,
Page 12, Line 9the committee shall certify the selection within thirty days after the date
Page 12, Line 10of the general election affected by the vacancy. If the vacancy committee
Page 12, Line 11fails to certify a selection within thirty days in accordance with this
Page 12, Line 12subsection (3), the governor, within five days, shall fill the vacancy by
Page 12, Line 13appointing a person having the qualifications set forth in this subsection
Page 12, Line 14(3). The name of the person selected or appointed must be certified to the secretary of state.
Page 12, Line 15SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-45-103, amend(2) and (8); and add (19) as follows:
Page 12, Line 161-45-103. Definitions. As used in this article 45, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 12, Line 17(2) "Candidate"
shall havePage 12, Line 18section 2 (2) of article XXVIII of the state constitution; except that
Page 12, Line 19"candidate" also includes a candidate for a major political
Page 12, Line 20party vacancy election conducted pursuant to section 1-12-203
Page 12, Line 21(1.5) and a vacancy contender who has publicly announced an
Page 12, Line 22intention to be selected by a vacancy committee to fill a
Page 12, Line 23vacancy in the general assembly and thereafter has received a
Page 12, Line 24contribution or made an expenditure in support of the
Page 13, Line 1candidacy. A vacancy contender remains a candidate for
Page 13, Line 2purposes of this article 45 so long as the vacancy contender
Page 13, Line 3maintains a registered candidate committee. A vacancy
Page 13, Line 4contender who maintains a candidate committee after a
Page 13, Line 5vacancy committee has filled the applicable vacancy in the
Page 13, Line 6general assembly, but who has not publicly announced an
Page 13, Line 7intention to seek election to the general assembly in the next or
Page 13, Line 8any subsequent election cycle, is a candidate for purposes of this article 45.
Page 13, Line 9(8) "Election cycle"
shall havePage 13, Line 10(a) For a vacancy committee selection process used to fill
Page 13, Line 11a vacancy in the general assembly pursuant to section 1-12-203,
Page 13, Line 12"election cycle" means the period beginning on the effective
Page 13, Line 13date of the vacancy in the general assembly and ending thirty
Page 13, Line 14days following the date upon which the vacancy committee selects an individual to fill the vacancy; and
Page 13, Line 15(b) For major political party vacancy elections held
Page 13, Line 16pursuant to section 1-12-203 (1.5), "election cycle" means the
Page 13, Line 17period beginning on the date upon which a vacancy committee
Page 13, Line 18selects a member to fill the vacancy in the general assembly
Page 13, Line 19pursuant to 1-12-203, and ending thirty days following the major political party vacancy election.
Page 13, Line 20(19) "Vacancy contender" means any person who seeks to
Page 13, Line 21be selected by a vacancy committee to fill a vacancy in the general assembly pursuant to section 1-12-203.
Page 13, Line 22SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-45-103.7, add (4.7) as follows:
Page 14, Line 11-45-103.7. Contribution limits - county offices - school district
Page 14, Line 2director - treatment of independent expenditure committees -
Page 14, Line 3contributions from limited liability companies - voter instructions on
Page 14, Line 4spending limits - definitions. (4.7) (a) A candidate committee
Page 14, Line 5established in the name of a vacancy contender may accept from
Page 14, Line 6any one person the aggregate contribution limit specified in
Page 14, Line 7section 3 (1) of article XXVIII of the state constitution
Page 14, Line 8applicable to the office the vacancy contender is seeking at any
Page 14, Line 9point during the election cycle for the vacancy committee
Page 14, Line 10selection process used to fill a vacancy in the general assembly pursuant to section 1-12-203.
Page 14, Line 11(b) A candidate committee established in the name of a
Page 14, Line 12candidate who is running for a major political party vacancy
Page 14, Line 13election may accept from any one person the aggregate
Page 14, Line 14contribution limit specified in section 3 (1) of article XXVIII of
Page 14, Line 15the state constitution applicable to the office the candidate is
Page 14, Line 16seeking at any point during the election cycle for the major
Page 14, Line 17political party vacancy election held pursuant to section 1-12-203 (1.5).
Page 14, Line 18SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-45-108, amend
Page 14, Line 19(2)(a)(I) introductory portion, (2)(a)(I)(C), (2)(a)(I)(D), and (2)(a)(I)(F); and add (2)(a)(VI) as follows:
Page 14, Line 201-45-108. Disclosure - definitions - repeal. (2) (a) (I) Except as
Page 14, Line 21provided in subsections (2)(a)(V), (2)(a)(VI), (2.1), (2.5), (2.7), and (6)
Page 14, Line 22of this section, such reports that are required to be filed with the secretary
Page 14, Line 23of state must be filed:
Page 15, Line 1(C) On the first day of each month beginning the sixth full month
Page 15, Line 2before the major election; except that no monthly report shall be required
Page 15, Line 3on the first day of the month in which the major election or major
Page 15, Line 4political party vacancy election conducted pursuant to section 1-12-203 (1.5) is held;
Page 15, Line 5(D) On the first Monday in September and on each Monday every
Page 15, Line 6two weeks thereafter before the major election or major political
Page 15, Line 7party vacancy election conducted pursuant to section 1-12-203 (1.5);
Page 15, Line 8(F) Fourteen days before and thirty days after a special legislative
Page 15, Line 9election or major political party vacancy election conducted pursuant to section 1-12-203 (1.5) held in an off-election year.
Page 15, Line 10(VI) Such reports that are required to be filed with the
Page 15, Line 11secretary of state for contributions received and expenditures
Page 15, Line 12made related to vacancy contenders must be filed on the
Page 15, Line 13Monday of each week during the election cycle for the vacancy
Page 15, Line 14committee selection process used to fill a vacancy in the general assembly pursuant to section 1-12-203.
Page 15, Line 16SECTION 8. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 15, Line 17determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 15, Line 18preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 15, Line 19the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.