Ballots are coming in. Here are 2H and 2J, the two Denver charter questions you may have skipped

More than 730,000 Colorado ballots had been returned by the end of Oct. 22, according to the Secretary of State. Denver mailed more than 467,000 ballots and is planning for turnout around 80%, Denver7 reported.

Denver's ballot has six local measures, according to the city's elections page. We've already covered 2I, the two-year budget, and 2K, the Xcel franchise. Here are two that get less attention, 2H and 2J. Both change the city charter, so only voters can approve them.

2H: The auditor and wage laws

What it asks. Whether to amend the charter to "expressly clarify" that the Auditor's Office may keep enforcing wage, worker protection and workplace rights laws that the Council passes, according to the official question. Axios Denver's voter guide says a yes vote would make that authority harder for future city leaders to weaken.

How it got there. Council Bill 26-0687, sponsored by Council member Amanda Sawyer and former Council member Sarah Parady. At the Governance Committee on May 19, Sawyer and Auditor Timothy O'Brien laid out the history: the office has enforced prevailing wage since the 1950s, and the Council gave it minimum wage and wage theft enforcement starting in 2016 (video at 2:30). The Council passed it 11-0 on July 13, with Council members Kevin Flynn and Shontel Lewis absent.

Context. The auditor is also in a separate dispute with the mayor's office over access to budget records. We covered it in Denver's auditor says the mayor's office is stalling his budget audit.

2J: The Civil Service Commission

What it asks. Whether to "modernize the Civil Service Commission and Department of Safety" by removing outdated charter language, letting the Council add duties to those bodies by ordinance and allowing longer probation for approved leave, according to the official question. The commission handles hiring for Denver's police and fire departments.

How it got there. Council Bill 26-1048, sponsored by Council members Amanda Sandoval and Jamie Torres. At the Governance Committee on July 21, Torres said it removes a citizenship requirement for commissioners that is still in the charter (video at 5:40). On Aug. 3, Sandoval said she had worked on it since May of last year and explained that the commission hires the city's police and firefighters (video at 28:24). It passed 12-0 on Aug. 10, along with a companion bill, 26-1055, that updates the city code if voters approve.

Axios' guide notes critics say 2J gives the Council more power to change hiring rules without a public vote.

What's next

• Oct. 26: The last recommended day to mail a ballot, per Denver7. After that, use one of the city's 29 drop boxes or a voting center.
• Nov. 3, 7 p.m.: Ballots must be received.

Also on your ballot: the at-large Council special election.