KUNC: A Denver judge heard arguments Thursday in a lawsuit that alleges a secret ballot system state lawmakers use to prioritize bills violates open meetings law.

Judge David Goldberg appeared skeptical of some of the arguments the legislature is using to defend the practice they call quadratic voting.

Under the system, lawmakers log on each spring to a website and anonymously use digital tokens to vote for the bills they think should get a piece of the state budget.

Supporters say the system helps make lawmaking more efficient. But critics, including the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, have raised transparency concerns, saying it illegally shuts the public out of an important part of the legislative process.

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