Early results: all of Denver's city ballot measures are passing. Here's how each got there

Denver voters were on track Tuesday night to approve every measure on the city ballot, according to early, unofficial returns. Denverite reported Wednesday that Denverites are set to approve all six local measures, counting the Denver Public Schools tax, 4A.

Why it matters: three of the five city questions, 2H, 2I and 2J, change the city charter, which only voters can do. 2K approves a 20-year utility franchise, which also needs voters. And 311 writes a new ban into city law without a Council vote.

The numbers, and when they were reported

The Denver Gazette's count, in a story last updated at 8:34 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 (Gazette):

• 2H, auditor's wage enforcement: 86.35% yes
• 2J, Civil Service Commission: 79.79% yes
• 2K, Xcel Energy franchise: 69.12% yes
• 311, force-feeding birds and foie gras: 66.22% yes
• 2I, two-year budgets: 65.49% yes

Axios Denver reported nearly the same shares with results as of 10 p.m.: 86%, 80%, 69%, 66% and 66%.

All results here are unofficial. The Denver Elections Division keeps counting ballots, including ones that voters cure after signature problems, and audits continue until certification and canvass on Nov. 24, according to the Elections Division. Current numbers are on the city's results page.

We have separate stories on 2K and 2I, and on 4A. Here is the record behind the other three.

2H: The auditor and wage laws

2H writes into the charter that the Auditor's Office may enforce wage and workplace laws the Council passes (city's 2H page).

Our records: Council Bill 26-0687, sponsored by Amanda Sawyer and former Council member Sarah Parady, passed 11-0 on July 13, with Kevin Flynn and Shontel Lewis absent. At a May 19 committee hearing, Sawyer and Auditor Timothy O'Brien explained that the office has enforced prevailing wage since the 1950s and gained minimum wage and wage theft enforcement starting in 2016 (video at 2:30). Of the five, 2H drew the largest share of yes votes.

The vote comes while O'Brien is in a separate dispute with the mayor's office over budget records, as we reported. 2H does not address that dispute.

2J: The Civil Service Commission

2J updates charter sections on the commission that hires Denver police officers and firefighters, removes a citizenship requirement for commissioners, and lets the Council add duties by ordinance (city's 2J page).

Our records: Council Bill 26-1048, from Amanda Sandoval and Jamie Torres, passed 12-0 on Aug. 10. A companion, 26-1055, updates the city code to match if voters approve, so the Council has already done its part. Sandoval told the Council she had worked on the measure since May 2025 (video at 28:24).

311: The foie gras ban

311 bans force-feeding birds and the sale of products made that way, starting July 1, 2027, 5280 summarized. Violations could bring fines of up to $5,000 or license loss, Hoodline reported.

Our records: No Council vote put 311 on the ballot; it qualified by petition. Our transcript search found no Council discussion of it. The same group's two 2024 measures, a fur sales ban and a slaughterhouse ban, failed with 42.4% and 36.3%, according to Ballotpedia. Council member Darrell Watson wrote a Westword op-ed urging a no vote.

Our earlier explainer has more background.

What's next

• Nov. 24: Certification and canvass. Results become official.
• July 1, 2027: 311's ban takes effect, if the result holds.