2024 Election-Mania!

Table of Contents:

The 2024 election is now in full swing — and it can feel overwhelming. Here’s the when, how, and where to help you navigate the voting process 🇺🇸✅

Important Dates

Oct. 14: McNichols Building voting center opens

Oct. 21: First wave of voting centers open

Oct. 28: Second wave of voting centers open AND last day to mail your ballot

Nov. 1: Third wave of voting centers open

Nov. 4: Fourth wave of voting centers open

Nov. 5: Election Day! You must drop-off your ballot or be in line to vote by 7 p.m.

Before You Vote:

Am I eligible?

Coloradans who meet the 22-day state residency requirement and are at least 18 years old can register to vote all the way through Election Day. (In jail, awaiting sentencing, or a convicted felon? See here.)

What if I didn’t get my ballot?

If you don't receive your ballot or need a replacement/accessible ballot, you can pick one up at a local voting center.

What if I’ll be out of town and need my ballot sent somewhere else?

You can either pick up your ballot in person at a local voter center, or you can have your ballot mailed to a temporary address by calling the County Clerk’s Office at 720-913-8683.

What if I need a new ballot?

Voters with lost, damaged, or mismarked ballots can get a replacement by visiting a local voting center.

What do I need to vote in-person?

You’ll need a valid form of ID that shows a Colorado address.

What happens if my ballot is rejected?

Denver election officials will attempt to reach you (by phone, email, or mail) to give you the chance to correct the problem. Voters have until eight days after the election (Nov. 13) to do so.

👉 Find answers to less frequently asked questions here, including voting if you’re unhoused, types of acceptable identification, and what do to about ballot mistakes.

There’s a trove of local voter guides floating around the internet that will walk you through every line item on the ballot. Here’s how to know which one is right for you!

Deep Dives

The Denver Post is a great resource for in-depth explainers (plus related coverage!) on city and statewide measures — all neatly packaged so you can decide where you want to jump in.

🎧 Bonus! Stay tuned for the recording of our sold-out live Ballots & Beverages event last week, where City Cast Denver podcast host Bree Davies was joined by special guests to unpack and explore each of Denver’s upcoming ballot measures.

Quick and Easy

Denverite gives readers the TL;DR of each Denver-specific ballot measure in concise one-sentence summaries with links to their more extensive reporting should you feel compelled to learn more.

Similarly, 5280 Magazine keeps it simple and straightforward with easy-to-digest blurbs of each state ballot measure.

More Than Just Denver

CPR has one of the best options for statewide coverage, including everything from the board of education, RTD, judges, and more. They also offer coverage organized by issue, such as immigration, abortion, or housing.

Denver voters are facing a historically lengthy ballot. On top of all the statewide measures and races to weigh in on, Denverites have 12 (!!) local measures to consider on a variety of issues impacting the city, ranging from collective bargaining rights to fur bans.

So we recently invited Westword founder/editor Patty Calhoun and political consultant Deep Singh Badhesha to join City Cast Denver host Bree Davies and executive producer Paul Karolyi for a live conversation to unpack each Mile High ballot measure — plus share their predictions for how Denverites will vote.

To help you vote confidently, I’m sharing those predictions, plus some additional data and background on each measure ✅ 🗳️

Ballot Issue 2Q: Sales Tax Increase for Denver Health

Summary: If passed, Denver’s sales tax will increase by 0.34% starting in 2025 to raise an estimated $70 million annually to fund Denver Health, the state’s only “safety net” hospital.

💸 Follow The Money

The Healing Denver campaign has raised $1.8 million in support of 2Q. There is no organized opposition to the measure. Some notable individuals that have come out in support of the initiative include Mayor Mike Johnston and several heavy-hitting Colorado Dems.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (with 62% of the vote)

Patty: Pass

Paul: Pass (with 80% of the vote)

Ballot Issue 2R: Sales Tax Increase for Affordable Housing

Summary: If passed, Denver’s sales tax will increase by 0.5% starting in 2025 (and ending in 2064) to raise an estimated $100 million annually to fund affordable housing projects.

💸 Follow The Money

The Affordable Denver campaign has raised $1.3 million in support of 2R. There is no organized opposition to the measure. Some notable organizations that have come out in support of the initiative include Habitat for Humanity and the Denver Area Labor Federation.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (with 55% of the vote)

Patty: Fail

Paul: Pass (with 52% of the vote)

Initiated Ordinance 309: Slaughterhouse Ban

Summary: If passed, the construction and operation of slaughterhouses would be prohibited in Denver beginning in 2025.

💸 Follow The Money

The Pro-Animal Denver campaign has raised $307,000 in support of 309. Several opposition campaigns have raised $1.9 million in opposition to 309. A number of animal rights groups support the initiative. The National Western Stock Show, some labor unions, and Superior Farms — Denver’s only existing slaughterhouse — have opposed the measure.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Fail (with 46.72% of the vote)

Patty: Fail (just barely)

Paul: Fail (with 40% of the vote)

Initiated Ordinance 308: Fur Ban

Summary: If passed, the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of certain animal fur products would be prohibited in Denver beginning in 2025.

💸 Follow The Money

The Pro-Animal Denver campaign has raised $314,000 in support of 308. The Hands Off My Hat Denver campaign has raised $510,000 in opposition to 308. Groups like the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the Colorado Farm Bureau, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Visit Denver, and a number of hunting and preservation groups have come out against the initiative.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (with 53% of the vote)

Patty: Fail

Paul: Pass

Ballot Issue 4A: Denver Public Schools Bond

Summary: If passed, Denver Public Schools will receive $975 million in bonds ($1.9 billion with interest) to finance school security, renovations, repairs, and more.

💸 Follow The Money

The Denver Families for Public Schools campaign has not raised any financial support for 4A. There is also no organized opposition to the measure. Schools and teachers unions across the state have voiced their support for this initiative.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (with 65% of the vote)

Patty: Pass (with 55% of the vote)

Paul: Pass (with 60% of the vote)

Ballot Issue 6A: Denver Downtown Development Authority Bond

Summary: If passed, the Denver DDA will receive $570 million in bonds ($847 million with interest) to finance improvement projects across downtown Denver.

💸 Follow The Money

There is no organized support of 6A, and no organized opposition either.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (672 people vote yes)

Patty: Pass

Paul: Pass

Ballot Issue 7A: RTD Spending

Summary: If passed, RTD would would remove caps on tax revenue currently set by TABOR, allowing the agency to keep all its revenue without returning any to taxpayers.

💸 Follow The Money

The Keep Moving Colorado campaign has not raised any financial support for 7A. There is also no organized opposition to the measure. A number of statewide environmental and transit advocacy groups have voiced their support for this initiative.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (with 50.5% of the vote)

Patty: N/A

Paul: N/A (too tight to call!)

Referred Question 2S: Add Agency of Human Rights and Community Partnerships as Cabinet Dept.

Summary: If passed, Denver’s Department of Human Rights and Community Partnerships would be formally added as a full cabinet agency.

💸 Follow The Money

There is no organized support of 2S, and no organized opposition either — though the full city council and the Denver Democrats have voiced support for the initiative.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (with 75% of the vote)

Patty: Pass

Paul: Pass

Referred Question 2T: Remove Citizenship Requirements for First Responders

Summary: If passed, noncitizens of the U.S. would be permitted to serve as police officers and firefighters in Denver.

💸 Follow The Money

There is no organized support for 2T, and no organized opposition either — though several first responder and immigrant rights organizations have voiced their support for the initiative.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (with 53% of the vote)

Patty: Pass

Paul: Pass (with 60% of the vote)

Referred Question 2U: Collective Bargaining Rights for City Employees

Summary: If passed, non-supervisory city employees will have the right to collective bargaining.

💸 Follow The Money

The Stronger Denver campaign has raised $378,000 in support of 2U. There is no organized opposition to the measure. The full city council and several labor unions have voiced their support for this initiative.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (with 67% of the vote)

Patty: Pass (with 66% of the vote)

Paul: Pass (with 65% of the vote)

Referred Question 2V: Arbitration Rights for Firefighters

Summary: If passed, the local firefighters union would receive the right to binding arbitration as part of its collective bargaining process so that it would mirror the collective bargaining process used for local law enforcement unions.

💸 Follow The Money

There is no organized support for 2V, and no organized opposition either. Some notable organizations that have come out in support of the initiative include the Denver firefighters union, the Denver Democrats, and the Colorado Working Families Party.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Pass (with 78% of the vote)

Patty: Pass

Paul: N/A (huge undervote)

Referred Question 2W: Elected Officials Salary Changes

Summary: If passed, the salaries for local elected officials — like the mayor and city council members — would be set by ordinance, instead of by city council vote (as it’s currently done).

💸 Follow The Money

There is no organized support of 2W, and no organized opposition either — though the full city council voiced support for the initiative.

🔮 Our Predictions For How Denver Will Vote

Deep: Fail (with 48% of the vote)

Patty: N/A (it will be a toss-up)

Paul: Pass

👉 Additional Resources: