Five days to Election Day: Denver's local ballot, how each question got there, and where to return yours
Denver voters decide an open Council seat, four city charter or franchise questions and a citizen-initiated ordinance by 7 p.m. Tuesday. Here is each one, with the Council vote that put it on the ballot.
Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. A postmark doesn't count. Denver has about 49 ballot drop boxes, open 24 hours a day through election night, and more than 40 in-person voting locations, Westword reported with a map and full list. The Denver Elections Division lists official locations and hours.
Why it matters: besides the federal and state races, Denver's ballot has six local decisions. Five of them were put there by City Council votes, and those votes were not all unanimous.
The local ballot, and how each got there
At-large City Council seat. Ten candidates are running to finish Sarah Parady's term. The top vote-getter wins outright, with no runoff, and must run again in spring 2027. Our coverage: what to know, the money in the race and what candidates said about homelessness.
2H: The auditor and wage laws. Would write into the charter that the Auditor's Office may keep enforcing wage and workplace laws the Council passes. Referred by Council Bill 26-0687 on July 13, 11-0, with Kevin Flynn and Shontel Lewis absent. Explainer.
2I: Two-year budgets. Would let the Council adopt two-year budget terms by ordinance. Referred by 26-0864 on July 20, 10-2. Flor Alvidrez and Kevin Flynn voted no; Parady was absent. Explainer.
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2J: Civil Service Commission. Would update charter language for the commission that hires police officers and firefighters. Referred by 26-1048 on Aug. 10, 12-0. Explainer.
2K: Xcel franchise. Would grant Xcel Energy a 20-year franchise to run gas and electric lines in city streets. Referred by 26-0970 on July 27, 10-2. Shontel Lewis and Parady voted no; Stacie Gilmore was absent. A year earlier, a version failed 6-7. Explainer.
Initiated Ordinance 311: Foie gras. Would ban force-feeding birds and selling products made that way. It got on the ballot by petition, so there was no Council vote. Council member Darrell Watson wrote a Westword opinion piece urging a no vote. Explainer.
Statewide amendments the Council weighed in on
The Council can't put statewide measures on the ballot, but it adopted proclamations opposing two of them. Proclamations state a position and don't change law.
- Amendment 81 (local police reporting to federal immigration authorities): opposed 11-0 on Oct. 19, Gilmore absent (26-1501).
- Amendment 82 (a constitutional right to buy and sell natural gas): opposed 11-0 on Oct. 26, Amanda Sandoval absent (26-1539). Our story.
Constitutional amendments need 55% to pass. Colorado's ballot also includes Amendment 84, on election security, which CPR News explained on Oct. 29.
Getting there and getting help
- Free transit on Election Day. RTD buses and trains are fare-free on Nov. 3. Our RTD story has the details.
- Questions about poll-site conduct. See our story on Denver's lawsuit over federal agents at polling places.
- Ballot text. The full wording of every Denver question is in the clerk's ballot information booklet.
What's next
- Nov. 2: the Council's last chance to amend the 2027 budget, the day before the election.
- Nov. 3, 7 p.m.: polls close. Results post on the Denver Elections Division site.
- After certification: the at-large winner is sworn in.