2026 Denver & Colorado Ballot Measure Recommendations

Would require state and local law enforcement to notify ICE within 72 hours of charging someone who has no documents on them proving citizenship or lawful presence, if they are accused of a violent crime or have a prior felony conviction. The notice comes before any court decides guilt. Because it amends the state constitution, it would override Colorado laws that currently limit ICE's reach. Backed by Advance Colorado.

A citizen-initiated constitutional amendment establishing a right to buy and sell natural gas in Colorado.

Amendment 83 establishes a right in the Colorado Constitution to fish and hunt certain wildlife, and establishes hunting and fishing as the preferred means of managing fish and wildlife populations.

Would end Colorado’s signature-based mail ballot verification, instead requiring voters to supply the last four digits of a Social Security number, a driver’s license number or a state ID number for a mail ballot to count. In-person voting would be unchanged. Backed by the Coalition for American Prosperity and Growth.

Would require future ballot initiatives and referred measures to be written at an eighth-grade reading level, and would prevent the legislature from requiring specific wording that could interfere with that standard. Backed by Advance Colorado.

Would require any mid-decade or off-cycle redistricting to be approved by both the Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission and the Colorado Supreme Court, and would prohibit maps drawn purposefully to favor one political party. Backed by Advance Colorado.

With Amendment 87 — the Income Tax Fairness Act, giant corporations and households earning over $500,000 pay their fair share for our schools, health care, and child care.

Referred to voters by the legislature (SB26-135). A statutory change addressing state funding for public K-12 education.

Prop 132 won't help the drug crisis. The extreme penalties in this measure will cost more lives and cost Colorado taxpayers at least $433 million to make private prison corporations richer. And here's the kicker: Prop 132 doesn't provide a single dollar to pay for it.

We believe families — not politicians — should have the freedom to decide what is best for them and their kids. That's why we're opposing Anti-transgender Propositions 134 & 135.

Would direct revenue from taxes on sporting goods and outdoor equipment — estimated at roughly $175 million a year — to conservation and wildfire mitigation, exempting it from TABOR limits. Backed by The Nature Conservancy and other environmental groups.

Would strengthen the Denver Auditor’s oversight powers, including subpoena authority, so audits of city agencies can compel the records they need. Endorsed by the Denver Democrats Central Committee.

Would move Denver to a two-year budget cycle, giving the city and the public more time to plan and weigh in on how money is spent. Endorsed by the Denver Democrats Central Committee.

Charter amendments affecting Denver’s Civil Service Commission, which oversees hiring and discipline for the police and fire departments. Endorsed by the Denver Democrats Central Committee.

Renews Denver’s franchise agreement with Xcel Energy, which sets the terms under which the utility operates in the city and what it pays Denver to do so. Endorsed by the Denver Democrats Central Committee.

Shall the voters of the City and County of Denver adopt an ordinance prohibiting the force-feeding of birds and, in connection therewith, prohibiting the sale of products derived from force-feeding birds, including foie gras?

Denver voters will be asked to vote on a mill levy override for Denver Public Schools. if approved, this will generate $44 million to directly support teachers, staff and students across the district.

Referred by the Front Range Passenger Rail District Board, covering funding for the Front Range Passenger Rail — the Colorado Connector. Appears only on ballots within the district, which includes Denver along with all or part of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Douglas, El Paso, Huerfano, Jefferson, Larimer, Las Animas, Pueblo and Weld counties.