Colorado Amendment D, Designate Judges to Twenty-Third Judicial District Measure (2022)
| Colorado Amendment D | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2022 | |
| Topic State judiciary | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Colorado Amendment D, the Designate Judges to Twenty-Third Judicial District Measure, was on the ballot in Colorado as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 8, 2022. The measure was approved.
A “yes” vote supported this constitutional amendment to:
|
A "no" vote opposed directing the governor to reassign judges from the 18th Judicial District to the new 23rd Judicial District and requiring the judges to establish residence by January 7, 2025. |
Election results
|
Colorado Amendment D |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,502,866 | 67.38% | ||
| No | 727,409 | 32.62% | ||
Overview
What did Amendment D change?
- See also: Constitutional changes and Judicial districts in Colorado
As of 2022, the 18th Judicial District was comprised of Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln Counties. In 2020, the Colorado State Legislature passed House Bill 1026 (HB 1026), which was designed to remove Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln Counties from the 18th Judicial District and create a new 23rd Judicial District for the three counties on January 7, 2025. Under the bill, the 23rd Judicial District was set to be comprised of eight judges while the 18th Judicial District was set to have seven judges removed, meaning the number of district court judges in the state was set to increase by one.[1]
Amendment D required the governor, by November 30, 2024, to designate judges from the 18th Judicial District to serve in the newly created 23rd Judicial District. Judges were required to establish residence in the 23rd district by January 7, 2025.[2]
Colorado has had 22 judicial districts since 1964. The 18th Judicial District court was established in 1964 to serve Arapahoe and Douglas counties. Twenty days after the district was established, Elbert County was added to the district. In 1969, Lincoln County was added to the district. As of 2022, the 18th judicial district was comprised of 24 judges and one chief judge: 16 in Arapahoe County (including the chief judge), seven in Douglas County, and one each in Lincoln and Elbert counties.[3]
How did Amendment D get on the ballot?
- See also: Background and Path to the ballot
In 2020, the Colorado State Legislature passed and Governor Jared Polis (D) signed House Bill 1026, which was set to remove Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties from the 18th Judicial District and create a new 23rd Judicial District for those counties, effective January 7, 2025. Under the bill, the 23rd District was set to be comprised of eight judges while the 18th Judicial District was set to have seven judges removed.[1]
Legislative sponsors wrote, "The number of judicial districts has remained at twenty-two for more than fifty years, although Colorado's population has increased by 3.5 million people during that time. The eighteenth judicial district ... has grown more than any other Colorado judicial district during that time and now has a population exceeding one million people. No other judicial district has a population exceeding 750,000 people, and no other judicial district has approached the rate of growth of the 18th judicial district."[1]
The constitutional amendment was introduced as House Concurrent Resolution 22-1005. It was approved in the House on April 18, 2022, by a vote of 60-2 with three members excused. The amendment was passed unanimously by the Senate on April 26, 2022.[2]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[2]
| “ | Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning judges of the newly created twenty-third judicial district, and, in connection therewith, directing the governor to designate judges from the eighteenth judicial district to serve the remainder of their terms in the twenty-third judicial district and requiring a judge so designated to establish residency within the twenty-third judicial district?[4] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article VI, Colorado Constitution
The measure added a subsection 5 to Section 10 of Article VI of the Colorado Constitution. The following underlined text was added:[2]
Section 10. Judicial districts - district judges - repeal.
(5) Pursuant to the creation of the Twenty-Third Judicial District, no later than November 30, 2024, the Governor shall designate district judges from the Eighteenth Judicial District to serve as district judges in the Twenty-Third Judicial District. No later than January 7, 2025, each district judge designated pursuant to this section shall establish residence in the Twenty-Third Judicial District. Each district judge designated pursuant to this section, at the completion of the last term for which the judge was last elected or appointed, is eligible to seek retention in the Twenty-Third Judicial District. A vacancy in any judicial office in the Twenty-Third Judicial District occurring after January 7, 2025, shall be filled as provided in Section 20 (1) of this Article VI.[4]
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2022
Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 30, and the FRE is -13. The word count for the ballot title is 62.
Support
Supporters
The following officials sponsored Amendment D in the state legislature.
Officials
- State Sen. Rhonda Fields (D)
- State Sen. Bob Gardner (R)
- State Rep. Mike Weissman (D)
- State Rep. Kevin Van Winkle (R)
Arguments
Official arguments
The following is the argument in support of the measure found in the Colorado Blue Book:[5]
|
Opposition
Arguments
Official arguments
The following is the argument in opposition to the measure found in the Colorado Blue Book:[6]
|
Media editorials
- See also: 2022 ballot measure media endorsements
Ballotpedia lists the positions of media editorial boards that support or oppose ballot measures. This does not include opinion pieces from individuals or groups that do not represent the official position of a newspaper or media outlet. Ballotpedia includes editorials from newspapers and outlets based on circulation and readership, political coverage within a state, and length of publication. You can share media editorial board endorsements with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Support
Opposition
You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Campaign finance
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Ballotpedia has not identified political action committees registered to support or oppose this measure. If you are aware of one, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Background
Creation of 23rd Judicial District
In 2020, the Colorado State Legislature passed and Governor Jared Polis (D) signed House Bill 1026, which was set to remove Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties from the 18th Judicial District and create a new 23rd Judicial District for those counties, effective January 7, 2025.[1]
Under the bill, the 23rd District was set to be comprised of eight judges while the 18th Judicial District was set to have seven judges removed.[1]
Creation of the 18th Judicial District
- See also: Colorado 18th Judicial District
The 18th Judicial District court was established in 1964 to serve Arapahoe and Douglas counties. Twenty days after the district was established, Elbert County was added to the district. In 1969, Lincoln County was added to the district. Going into the 2022 election, the district was comprised of 24 judges and one chief judge: 16 in Arapahoe County (including the chief judge), seven in Douglas County, and one each in Lincoln and Elbert counties.[7]
Judicial districts in Colorado
- See also: Colorado District Courts
District courts in Colorado are trial courts of general jurisdiction that handle civil, criminal, and probate cases. Denver is the only district in Colorado that has a separate probate court. Colorado has had 22 judicial districts since 1964. District boundaries generally are aligned with county borders, however, most districts are comprised of multiple counties; only four counties are their own judicial district (Pueblo County, the 10th; Weld County, the 19th; Boulder County, the 20th; and Mesa County, the 21st district).[8]
Information on specific judicial districts is available by using the links below.
| District | County or Counties |
|---|---|
| First Judicial District | Gilpin County, Jefferson County |
| Second Judicial District | Denver County, Denver Juvenile Court, Denver Probate Court |
| Third Judicial District | Huerfano County, Las Animas County |
| Fourth Judicial District | El Paso County, Teller County |
| Fifth Judicial District | Clear Creek County, Eagle County, Lake County, Summit County |
| Sixth Judicial District | Archuleta County, La Plata County, San Juan County |
| Seventh Judicial District | Delta County, Gunnison County, Hinsdale County, Montrose County, Ouray County, San Miguel County |
| Eighth Judicial District | Jackson County, Larimer County |
| Ninth Judicial District | Garfield County, Rio Blanco County, Pitkin County |
| Tenth Judicial District | Pueblo County |
| Eleventh Judicial District | Chaffee County, Custer County, Fremont County, Park County |
| Twelfth Judicial District | Alamosa County, Conejos County, Costilla County, Mineral County, Rio Grande County, Saguache County |
| Thirteenth Judicial District | Kit Carson County, Logan County, Morgan County, Phillips County, Sedgwick County, Washington County, Yuma County |
| Fourteenth Judicial District | Grand County, Moffat County, Routt County |
| Fifteenth Judicial District | Baca County, Cheyenne County, Kiowa County, Prowers County |
| Sixteenth Judicial District | Bent County, Crowley County, Otero County |
| Seventeenth Judicial District | Adams County, Broomfield County |
| Eighteenth Judicial District | Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Elbert County, Lincoln County |
| Nineteenth Judicial District | Weld County |
| Twentieth Judicial District | Boulder County |
| Twenty-First Judicial District | Mesa County |
| Twenty-Second Judicial District | Dolores County, Montezuma County |
Referred amendments on the ballot, 2000-2020
A total of 31 legislatively referred constitutional amendments appeared on the statewide ballot in Colorado from 2000 to 2020. All of the amendments were referred to the ballot during even-numbered election years. Of the 31 amendments, 17 (54.84%) were approved and 14 (45.16%) were defeated. From 2000 through 2020, the number of referred amendments on the ballot ranged from zero to six.
| Colorado legislatively referred constitutional amendments, 2000-2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Approved | Percent approved | Defeated | Percent defeated | Annual average | Annual median | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | |
| 31 | 17 | 54.84% | 14 | 45.16% | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Colorado Constitution
To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment before voters, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required in both the Colorado State Senate and the Colorado House of Representatives.
The amendment was introduced as House Concurrent Resolution 22-1005. It was approved in the House on April 18, 2022, by a vote of 60-2 with three members excused. The amendment was passed unanimously by the Senate on April 26, 2022.[2]
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Colorado
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Colorado.
| How to cast a vote in Colorado | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll timesIn Colorado, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time for those who choose to vote in person rather than by mail. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[9][10] Registration requirements
In Colorado, an individual can pre-register to vote if they are at least 15 years old. Voters must be at least 18 years old to vote in any election. A voter must be a citizen of the United States and have established residence in Colorado to vote.[11] Colorado voters can register to vote through Election Day. However, in order to automatically receive a absentee/mail-in ballot, a voter must register online, through the mail, at a voter registration agency, or driver's license examination facility at least eight days prior to Election Day. A voter that registers through a voter registration drive must submit their application no later than 22 days before the election to automatically receive an absentee/mail-in ballot. A voter can register online or submit a form in person or by fax, email, or mail.[11][12][13] Automatic registration
Colorado automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and certain other state agencies. Online registration
Colorado has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registration
Colorado allows same-day voter registration for individuals who vote in person. Residency requirementsColorado law requires 22 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.[12] Verification of citizenshipColorado does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury. All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[14] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe site Go Vote Colorado, run by the Colorado Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirementsColorado requires voters to present non-photo identification when voting in person. If voting by mail for the first, a voter may also need to return a photocopy of his or her identification with their mail-in ballot. Click here for more information. The following list of accepted forms of identification was current as of October 2025. Click here for the most current information, sourced directly from the Office of the Colorado Secretary of State.
| |||||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Colorado State Legislature, "House Bill 1026 (2020)," accessed April 18, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Colorado State Legislature, "House Concurrent Resolution 1005 (2022)," accessed April 18, 2022
- ↑ Colorado Judicial Branch, "18th Judicial District," accessed April 27, 2022
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Official Voter Information Guide," accessed October 28, 2022
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Official Voter Information Guide," accessed October 28, 2022
- ↑ Colorado Judicial Branch, "18th Judicial District," accessed April 27, 2022
- ↑ Denver DA, "Colorado's Judicial System," accessed April 27, 3033
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Mail-in Ballots FAQs," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Colorado Revised Statutes, § 1-7-101," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Voter Registration FAQs," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Voter Registration Form," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Go Vote Colorado," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Acceptable Forms of Identification," accessed August 6, 2025
 |
State of Colorado Denver (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
