Denver, Colorado, Referred Question 2G, Separate Elections for At-Large City Council Seats Amendment (November 2025)

Denver Referred Question 2G
Election date November 4, 2025
Topic Local charter amendments and Local election administration and governance
Status Approved
Type Referral

Denver Referred Question 2G was on the ballot as a referral in Denver on November 4, 2025. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported amending the city and county charter to designate the two at-large positions in the Denver City Council as Seat A and Seat B, and requiring that officials elected to those offices be elected by a majority of voters.

A "no" vote opposed amending the city and county charter to designate the two at-large positions in the Denver City Council as Seat A and Seat B, thus maintaining an election system where the two at-large council members are elected in a single election race, with the top two candidates elected to the seats.

Election results

Denver Referred Question 2G
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		95,601	53.99%
No		81,487	46.01%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

What did this ballot measure do?

See also: Text of measure

The measure changed the process for electing the two at-large members of the Denver City Council.

Before the amendment was passed, elections for the two at-large council members in Denver were held together, and the two candidates who received the most votes won the two seats. After the amendment, the elections for the two at-large seats are held as separate elections. Candidates can file to run for either Seat A or Seat B. In each of the two elections, the candidate that wins the majority of votes wins the election. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of votes in the election, a run-off election is held.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Referred Question 2G was as follows:

“

Shall the Charter of the City and County of Denver be amended to change the method for electing the two at-large councilmembers by designating a Councilmember-at-large seat A and Councilmember-at-large seat B and requiring that a candidate for election to either seat be elected in the same manner as the Mayor, Auditor, and Clerk and Recorder?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Yes on 2G, also known as Majority Vote Denver, led the campaign in support of Question 2G.

Supporters

Officials

• Denver Councilmember Flor Alvidrez (Nonpartisan)
• Denver Councilmember Kevin Flynn (Nonpartisan)
• Denver Councilmember Stacie Gilmore (Nonpartisan)
• Frmr. Denver Councilmember Deborah Ortega (Nonpartisan)
• Denver Councilmember Amanda Sawyer (Nonpartisan)
• Denver Councilmember Darrell Watson (Nonpartisan)

Arguments

• Former Denver Councilmember Debbie Ortega: "The current system for electing at-large members has resulted in only three people of color being elected in the last 56 years. But in the same time, the majority election used for all other offices that includes the runoff has resulted in people of color elected as mayor a majority of the last 14 elections."
• President of the National Civic League Doug Linkhart: "Separating the two at-large seats would be a benefit to local democracy and representation. Requiring that all Council members receive a majority vote helps elect candidates with broad support, and establishing two separate positions helps voters distinguish among candidates, improving accountability."

Opposition

No on Denver 2G, also known as Hands Off Denver Elections, led the campaign in opposition to Question 2G. A full list of endorsements for the campaign can be found here.

Opponents

Officials

• State Sen. Matt Ball (D)
• Colorado Senate President James Coleman (D)
• State Sen. Julie Gonzales (D)
• State Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez (D)
• State Rep. Jennifer Bacon (D)
• State Rep. Meg Froelich (D)
• State Rep. Javier Mabrey (D)
• State Rep. Emily Sirota (D)
• Denver Councilmember Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (Nonpartisan)
• Denver Councilmember Paul Kashmann (Nonpartisan)
• Denver Councilmember Shontel Lewis (Nonpartisan)
• Denver Councilmember Sarah Parady (Nonpartisan)
• Denver Council President Amanda Sandoval (Nonpartisan)
• Denver Councilmember Jamie Torres (Nonpartisan)
• State Board of Education Director Lisa Escarcega (D)

Former Officials

• Former Denver City Councilmember Robin Kniech (Nonpartisan)

Political Parties

• Democratic Party of Denver

Unions

• Denver Classroom Teachers Association
• Teamsters Local 455

Organizations

• COLOR Action Fund
• Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition
• Conservation Colorado
• League of Women Voters of Denver
• New Era Colorado

Individuals

• Lisa Calderón (Nonpartisan) - Community Leader

Arguments

• League of Women Voters of Denver: "...this change could lead to excessive politicking, such as increased political maneuvering for one seat versus the other. This could result in elections being less open and fair. If Ranked Choice Voting is ever adopted by the city, this would address concerns of the measure’s proponents by ensuring that candidates receive a higher percentage of the vote. Another solution would be to stagger the at-large seats in different election years."
• Denver Councilmember Jamie Torres: "2G does not improve Denver’s At-Large election process, it only complicates it and you end up with less choice. You will always have two at-large representatives, but you may be forced to choose only one of your preferred candidates if they are in the same race under this new proposal. Less choice is a step backwards in Denver. Vote “NO” on 2G."
• Denver Councilmember Shontel Lewis: "[2G is] an answer in search of a problem. The sponsors claimed this provides a pathway for more diverse candidates to get elected, but that is not true and not grounded in any best practices nor data. If 'more diverse candidates' was indeed the intended outcome, Council could consider both "ranked choice voting" and/or "proportional ranked choice voting" but that is not the case. This is about rolling out the red carpet for the status quo and keeping big money in elections to ensure the same harmful people are elected to enact the same harmful policies, while everyday people suffer to make ends meet and the well off get more comfortable in their wealth."

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Colorado

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing body of Denver.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Colorado

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Colorado.

How to vote in Colorado

Poll times

In 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.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

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.

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 at a 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.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Colorado automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and certain other state agencies.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Colorado has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Colorado allows same-day voter registration for individuals who vote in person.

Residency requirements

Colorado law requires 22 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Colorado 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. Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Three states, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means. 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 registration

The site Go Vote Colorado, run by the Colorado Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Colorado 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.

“

The following documents are acceptable forms of identification: A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.) A valid U.S. passport. A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado. A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S. A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector. A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector. A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood. A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector. Certified documentation of naturalization. A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S.. A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector. A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership. Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification. The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting: Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S. Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S. Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility.

”

• Note: SB 1, signed into law on May 12, 2025, specified that tribal IDs issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, or another federal agency were also valid identification.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2025
• Local elections and campaigns ballot measures
• Local charter amendments ballot measures
• Denver County measures

Colorado

• Colorado 2025 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Colorado
• Denver, Colorado

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

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