The last time we had as many ballot issues as this year was 2008, a presidential year. I hope you vote in this year’s “midterm” election – for our top state offices, this is not a midterm election – and that this blog helps inform your decisions on the ballot issues.
The path to the ballot varied quite a bit this year from previous years. The higher signature requirement imposed by Amendment 71 after its passage in 2016 forced Prop 112 and perhaps other citizen initiatives to go the statutory route rather than the constitutional route, dueling sides eventually compromised on redistricting measures Y and Z, and in Boulder the Campaign Finance/Elections Working Group proposed 3 ballot issues affecting the initiative process.
Ballots issues to “clean up” the state constitution or city charter include Amendments W, X and A, and city of Boulder ballot issues 2E, 2F and arguably 2I. Oil and gas development are big factors in Amendment 74 (even if not mentioned), Prop 112, and City of Boulder 2C. Meanwhile, Propositions 109 and 110 are dueling transportation issues.
Of the 22 ballot issues, about 1/3 – the seven listed below – are tax or debt issues, and Amendments 74 and 75 and Proposition 111 involve other money issues – “takings,” campaign contributions and payday loans.
Sales Tax
Prop 110 - 0.62% for 20 years
County 1A – 0.185% 5-year extension
Graduated Income Tax and Freezing of Property Tax
Amendment 73
Take on Debt Without a Repayment Source
Prop 109
Future (?) “Disincentive Tax” on Oil and Gas Development
City 2C
Remove TABOR Restrictions
City 2D
Urban Drainage and Flood Control District 7G
Each of the 22 ballot issues has its own post if you'd like more information or if you would like to make comments about the specific ballot issue. Please limit comments on this introductory post to general comments about the process or the election.
In general, the further down the ballot you go, the more your vote counts! Please research the issues and candidates and vote the entire ballot. Encourage your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and anyone else eligible to vote to do likewise.
At the bottom of this blog entry are other ballot issue websites as well as a link to the Boulder County Clerk’s website. The links will be updated as more information becomes available.
Remember that in Colorado you can register and vote as late as Election Day, Tuesday, November 6th. If you are already registered, you have probably already received your ballot in the mail. Contact your County Clerk for more information.
VOCABULARY - STATE OF COLORADO
Amendment = Constitutional change
Amendments can only be changed by a vote, usually 55%, of the electorate.
Proposition = Statutory change
Propositions can be modified by the Colorado General Assembly.
Initiatives - denoted by numbers
Electors signed petitions to put these on the ballot.
Referenda - denoted by letters (state) or a number and letter (county, city, BVSD, SCFD)
The governing legislative body (General Assembly, County Commission, City Council, or District Board) put these on the ballot.
VOCABULARY – OTHER JURISDICTIONS
Ballot Issues = Tax measures
Ballot Questions = Others
STATE OF COLORADO
Amendment V
Lower Age Requirement for Members of the General Assembly
YES/FOR
Amendment W
Election Ballot Format for Judicial Retention Elections
yes/for
Amendment X
Industrial Hemp Definition
YES/FOR
Amendment Y
Congressional Redistricting
yes/for
Amendment Z
Legislative Redistricting
yes/for
Amendment A - simple majority req'd for passage
Prohibit Slavery and Involuntary Servitude
YES/FOR
Amendment 73
Funding for Public Schools
yes/for
Amendment 74
Compensation for Fair Market Value Reduction by Govt Law or Regulation
NO/AGAINST
Amendment 75
Increasing Campaign Contribution Limits When Opponent Self Funds $1M
no/against
Proposition 109
Authorize Debt to Fund Highway Projects
NO/AGAINST
Proposition 110
20-Year Sales Tax for Transportation Projects
leaning no/against
Proposition 111
Limitations on Payday Loans
YES/FOR
Proposition 112
Increased Setback Requirement for Oil and Gas Development
yes/for
COUNTY OF BOULDER
County of Boulder Issue 1A
Alternative Sentencing Facility and Jail Modernization Countywide Sales and Use Tax Extension
leaning yes
CITY OF BOULDER
City of Boulder Issue 2C
Oil and Gas Pollution Tax
leaning for the measure
City of Boulder Issue 2D
Retain Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax Revenue
FOR THE MEASURE
City of Boulder Question 2E
Initiative, Referendum and Recall Processes
for the measure
City of Boulder Question 2F
Initiative Petition Signature Verification
for the measure
City of Boulder Question 2G
Electronic and Online Petitions
for the measure
City of Boulder Question 2H
Membership of Advisory Commissions
leaning for the measure
City of Boulder Question 2I
Deadline for Planning Dept Budget Recommendations
leaning for the measure
URBAN DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
Urban Drainage and Flood Control District Issue 7G
Remove TABOR Restrictions
YES/FOR
GOVERNMENT SITES
Colorado Secretary of State
http://govotecolorado.com or
http://www.sos.state.co.us/
See your sample ballot including candidates, judges and ballot issues.
Boulder County Clerk and Recorder – Elections Division
https://www.bouldercounty.org/elections/
Check your voter registration where you can see a sample ballot, check your ballot status, find a ballot drop-off location, sign up for Ballot Track and more. You may also contact the Elections Division at 303 413 7740. You can register in person and vote a ballot through Election Day, Tuesday, November 6th.
Blue Book Online (Colorado Legislative Council)
https://leg.colorado.gov/content/initiatives/initiatives-blue-book-overview/ballot-information-booklet-blue-book
The real name of the Blue Book is the 2018 State Ballot Information Booklet – available in English and Spanish. The website also has the following link to a page listing all the state ballot issues dating back to 1880.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/ballothistory.nsf/
County of Boulder 2018 Ballot Issues and Measures
https://www.bouldercounty.org/government/county-ballot-issues/2018-election/
City of Boulder 2018 Election Webpage
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections
CO Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation
http://www.coloradojudicialperformance.gov/
From the site: One change you should be aware of is Commissions now determine if a judge “meets” or “does not meet” performance standards. In prior year evaluations Commissions recommended a judge be “retained” or “not retained.”
– Judicial performance information is also available in the Blue Book.
MEDIA SITES
5280 Election Page
https://www.5280.com/2018/10/colorado-ballot-2018-what-every-voter-should-know/
Boulder Weekly Election Guide 2018
https://www.boulderweekly.com/content-archives/voters-guide/vote-guide-2018/vote-guide-2018/
Colorado Politics Election Page
https://coloradopolitics.com/category/election-2018/
Daily Camera Election Page
http://www.dailycamera.com/colorado-election-news
Denver Post Election Page
https://www.denverpost.com/tag/election-2018/
303 Magazine Election Page
https://303magazine.com/2018/10/colorado-ballot-guide-2018/
The Colorado Independent Election Page
https://www.coloradoindependent.com/colorado-election-2018/
The Coloradoan Election Page
https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/10/12/guide-2018-colorado-election-colorado-governor-congress-ballot-issues-and-more/1576531002/
Denverite Election Page
https://denverite.com/2018/08/17/colorado-election-2018/
Colorado Public Radio Election Page
https://www.cpr.org/news/story/2018-election-colorado-voter-guide
KGNU Radio Election Page
http://news.kgnu.org/category/elections/
Channel 9 News Election Page
https://www.9news.com/article/news/politics/voter-guide/voter-guide-2018-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-upcoming-colorado-election/73-602151174
Fox 31 News Election Page
https://kdvr.com/2018/10/15/the-problem-solvers-guide-to-2018-colorado-election/
Rocky Mountain PBS Election Page
http://www.rmpbs.org/insight/2018-elections/
NON-PARTISAN SITES
Ballotpedia
https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_2018_ballot_measures
Entries for individual ballot measures list supporters and opponents, campaign finance information and more.
League of Women Voters
Boulder County - https://lwvbc.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=629866&module_id=318120
Colorado (English and Spanish) - http://lwvcolorado.org/lwv/elections/
New Era Colorado
http://neweravoterguide.org/voter-guides/statewide/
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SITES
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
https://boulderchamber.com/business-advocacy/eye-ballot/
Bell Policy Center
http://www.bellpolicy.org/2018/09/19/2018-colorado-ballot-guide/
Conservation Colorado
https://conservationco.org/voter-guide-2018/
Common Cause of Colorado
https://www.commoncause.org/colorado/democracy-wire/2018-ballot-initiatives/
CITIZEN SITES
Jason Vogel (Boulder citizen)
https://mailchi.mp/49e1ea45f5db/jason-vogels-guide-to-the-2018-elections?e=37c54a5751
Douglas Bruce (author of TABOR)
https://www.westword.com/news/douglas-bruces-2018-voters-guide-for-thirteen-colorado-ballot-issues-10808805
Ross Kaminsky (on 630 KHOW Radio)
https://khow.iheart.com/featured/ross-kaminsky/content/2018-09-24-rosss-2018-colorado-ballot-measures-voting-guide/
Mike Rosen (Complete Colorado)
https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2018/10/17/mike-rosen-my-picks-for-the-2018-colorado-ballot-measures/
The path to the ballot varied quite a bit this year from previous years. The higher signature requirement imposed by Amendment 71 after its passage in 2016 forced Prop 112 and perhaps other citizen initiatives to go the statutory route rather than the constitutional route, dueling sides eventually compromised on redistricting measures Y and Z, and in Boulder the Campaign Finance/Elections Working Group proposed 3 ballot issues affecting the initiative process.
Ballots issues to “clean up” the state constitution or city charter include Amendments W, X and A, and city of Boulder ballot issues 2E, 2F and arguably 2I. Oil and gas development are big factors in Amendment 74 (even if not mentioned), Prop 112, and City of Boulder 2C. Meanwhile, Propositions 109 and 110 are dueling transportation issues.
Of the 22 ballot issues, about 1/3 – the seven listed below – are tax or debt issues, and Amendments 74 and 75 and Proposition 111 involve other money issues – “takings,” campaign contributions and payday loans.
Sales Tax
Prop 110 - 0.62% for 20 years
County 1A – 0.185% 5-year extension
Graduated Income Tax and Freezing of Property Tax
Amendment 73
Take on Debt Without a Repayment Source
Prop 109
Future (?) “Disincentive Tax” on Oil and Gas Development
City 2C
Remove TABOR Restrictions
City 2D
Urban Drainage and Flood Control District 7G
Each of the 22 ballot issues has its own post if you'd like more information or if you would like to make comments about the specific ballot issue. Please limit comments on this introductory post to general comments about the process or the election.
In general, the further down the ballot you go, the more your vote counts! Please research the issues and candidates and vote the entire ballot. Encourage your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and anyone else eligible to vote to do likewise.
At the bottom of this blog entry are other ballot issue websites as well as a link to the Boulder County Clerk’s website. The links will be updated as more information becomes available.
Remember that in Colorado you can register and vote as late as Election Day, Tuesday, November 6th. If you are already registered, you have probably already received your ballot in the mail. Contact your County Clerk for more information.
VOCABULARY - STATE OF COLORADO
Amendment = Constitutional change
Amendments can only be changed by a vote, usually 55%, of the electorate.
Proposition = Statutory change
Propositions can be modified by the Colorado General Assembly.
Initiatives - denoted by numbers
Electors signed petitions to put these on the ballot.
Referenda - denoted by letters (state) or a number and letter (county, city, BVSD, SCFD)
The governing legislative body (General Assembly, County Commission, City Council, or District Board) put these on the ballot.
VOCABULARY – OTHER JURISDICTIONS
Ballot Issues = Tax measures
Ballot Questions = Others
STATE OF COLORADO
Amendment V
Lower Age Requirement for Members of the General Assembly
YES/FOR
Amendment W
Election Ballot Format for Judicial Retention Elections
yes/for
Amendment X
Industrial Hemp Definition
YES/FOR
Amendment Y
Congressional Redistricting
yes/for
Amendment Z
Legislative Redistricting
yes/for
Amendment A - simple majority req'd for passage
Prohibit Slavery and Involuntary Servitude
YES/FOR
Amendment 73
Funding for Public Schools
yes/for
Amendment 74
Compensation for Fair Market Value Reduction by Govt Law or Regulation
NO/AGAINST
Amendment 75
Increasing Campaign Contribution Limits When Opponent Self Funds $1M
no/against
Proposition 109
Authorize Debt to Fund Highway Projects
NO/AGAINST
Proposition 110
20-Year Sales Tax for Transportation Projects
leaning no/against
Proposition 111
Limitations on Payday Loans
YES/FOR
Proposition 112
Increased Setback Requirement for Oil and Gas Development
yes/for
COUNTY OF BOULDER
County of Boulder Issue 1A
Alternative Sentencing Facility and Jail Modernization Countywide Sales and Use Tax Extension
leaning yes
CITY OF BOULDER
City of Boulder Issue 2C
Oil and Gas Pollution Tax
leaning for the measure
City of Boulder Issue 2D
Retain Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax Revenue
FOR THE MEASURE
City of Boulder Question 2E
Initiative, Referendum and Recall Processes
for the measure
City of Boulder Question 2F
Initiative Petition Signature Verification
for the measure
City of Boulder Question 2G
Electronic and Online Petitions
for the measure
City of Boulder Question 2H
Membership of Advisory Commissions
leaning for the measure
City of Boulder Question 2I
Deadline for Planning Dept Budget Recommendations
leaning for the measure
URBAN DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
Urban Drainage and Flood Control District Issue 7G
Remove TABOR Restrictions
YES/FOR
GOVERNMENT SITES
Colorado Secretary of State
http://govotecolorado.com or
http://www.sos.state.co.us/
See your sample ballot including candidates, judges and ballot issues.
Boulder County Clerk and Recorder – Elections Division
https://www.bouldercounty.org/elections/
Check your voter registration where you can see a sample ballot, check your ballot status, find a ballot drop-off location, sign up for Ballot Track and more. You may also contact the Elections Division at 303 413 7740. You can register in person and vote a ballot through Election Day, Tuesday, November 6th.
Blue Book Online (Colorado Legislative Council)
https://leg.colorado.gov/content/initiatives/initiatives-blue-book-overview/ballot-information-booklet-blue-book
The real name of the Blue Book is the 2018 State Ballot Information Booklet – available in English and Spanish. The website also has the following link to a page listing all the state ballot issues dating back to 1880.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/ballothistory.nsf/
County of Boulder 2018 Ballot Issues and Measures
https://www.bouldercounty.org/government/county-ballot-issues/2018-election/
City of Boulder 2018 Election Webpage
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections
CO Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation
http://www.coloradojudicialperformance.gov/
From the site: One change you should be aware of is Commissions now determine if a judge “meets” or “does not meet” performance standards. In prior year evaluations Commissions recommended a judge be “retained” or “not retained.”
– Judicial performance information is also available in the Blue Book.
MEDIA SITES
5280 Election Page
https://www.5280.com/2018/10/colorado-ballot-2018-what-every-voter-should-know/
Boulder Weekly Election Guide 2018
https://www.boulderweekly.com/content-archives/voters-guide/vote-guide-2018/vote-guide-2018/
Colorado Politics Election Page
https://coloradopolitics.com/category/election-2018/
Daily Camera Election Page
http://www.dailycamera.com/colorado-election-news
Denver Post Election Page
https://www.denverpost.com/tag/election-2018/
303 Magazine Election Page
https://303magazine.com/2018/10/colorado-ballot-guide-2018/
The Colorado Independent Election Page
https://www.coloradoindependent.com/colorado-election-2018/
The Coloradoan Election Page
https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/10/12/guide-2018-colorado-election-colorado-governor-congress-ballot-issues-and-more/1576531002/
Denverite Election Page
https://denverite.com/2018/08/17/colorado-election-2018/
Colorado Public Radio Election Page
https://www.cpr.org/news/story/2018-election-colorado-voter-guide
KGNU Radio Election Page
http://news.kgnu.org/category/elections/
Channel 9 News Election Page
https://www.9news.com/article/news/politics/voter-guide/voter-guide-2018-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-upcoming-colorado-election/73-602151174
Fox 31 News Election Page
https://kdvr.com/2018/10/15/the-problem-solvers-guide-to-2018-colorado-election/
Rocky Mountain PBS Election Page
http://www.rmpbs.org/insight/2018-elections/
NON-PARTISAN SITES
Ballotpedia
https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_2018_ballot_measures
Entries for individual ballot measures list supporters and opponents, campaign finance information and more.
League of Women Voters
Boulder County - https://lwvbc.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=629866&module_id=318120
Colorado (English and Spanish) - http://lwvcolorado.org/lwv/elections/
New Era Colorado
http://neweravoterguide.org/voter-guides/statewide/
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SITES
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
https://boulderchamber.com/business-advocacy/eye-ballot/
Bell Policy Center
http://www.bellpolicy.org/2018/09/19/2018-colorado-ballot-guide/
Conservation Colorado
https://conservationco.org/voter-guide-2018/
Common Cause of Colorado
https://www.commoncause.org/colorado/democracy-wire/2018-ballot-initiatives/
CITIZEN SITES
Jason Vogel (Boulder citizen)
https://mailchi.mp/49e1ea45f5db/jason-vogels-guide-to-the-2018-elections?e=37c54a5751
Douglas Bruce (author of TABOR)
https://www.westword.com/news/douglas-bruces-2018-voters-guide-for-thirteen-colorado-ballot-issues-10808805
Ross Kaminsky (on 630 KHOW Radio)
https://khow.iheart.com/featured/ross-kaminsky/content/2018-09-24-rosss-2018-colorado-ballot-measures-voting-guide/
Mike Rosen (Complete Colorado)
https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2018/10/17/mike-rosen-my-picks-for-the-2018-colorado-ballot-measures/
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