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Axios
5 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Denver weighs ranked choice voting for municipal elections
Rank-choice voting is back in the spotlight in Denver. The big picture: Denver City Council members on Monday discussed a proposal to use ranked choice voting for the city's municipal elections. Why it matters: Ranked choice voting (RCV) would upend how voters choose the city's top officials, including mayor and city council members, while proponents say it could save money, increase turnout and make voting simpler. How it works: This system lets voters rank each candidate in order of preference, with the candidate who receives 50% or more of first-choice votes winning. Yes, but: If the 50% threshold isn't met immediately, the tallying repeats until a candidate gets 50% or more of the first-choice votes, creating an "instant runoff." Candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated, and those ballots count toward each voter's next-ranked pick. Between the lines: RCV would eliminate runoff elections, which in Denver occur as separate contests about two months after the initial election. Runoffs come with a roughly $2 million price tag, City Clerk and Recorder Paul López tells us. What they're saying: Councilmember Sarah Parady, who sponsored the RCV measure, said during Monday's meeting that Denver's current spring election may run afoul of a new state voting right's law. The city could face a legal challenge due to lack of racial parity in voter turnout during municipal elections, Parady said. The other side: Councilmember Kevin Flynn said this method can result in reduced voter turnout, noting a downturn in some parts of Portland after introducing RCV last year. While supporters say it can lead to more candidates of color, Councilmember Jamie Torres said she doesn't think this is an issue in Denver, noting the council's historically diverse makeup. The intrigue: López, who oversees city elections, in a letter to council said he's not taking a formal position on ranked choice voting, though he noted the city's election systems are capable of adopting the method. Friction point: Council on Monday also discussed a separate proposal requiring separate ballots for the two at-large seats on the 13-member council — something López in his letter said cannot be implemented simultaneously as ranked choice voting. Flashback: The city briefly used this RCV in the early 1900s before abolishing it in 1935; council briefly reconsidered its use in 2021.
CBS News
19-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Denver City Council passes bill amending campaign finance regulations
The Denver City Council passed a bill Tuesday night designed to strengthen and clarify the city's campaign finance laws. The new law, CB24-1676, bans anonymous contributions and strengthens protections for Fair Elections Fund spending. It also prohibits using Fair Elections Fund dollars to purchase alcohol or tobacco products. "I appreciate the collaborative work between our office and the council on this bill," Clerk Paul López said. "This legislation honors the spirit of the Fair Elections Fund and increases transparency and accountability in Denver elections as the voters intended." The Fair Elections Fund, approved in 2018, lowers donation limits, bans contributions from businesses and LLCs, and provides matching funds for qualifying candidates. Officials said, "The Fair Elections Fund aims to reduce the corrosive influence of money in politics and encourage broader participation in local elections." The next disbursement from the fund will be in 2026 ahead of the 2027 municipal election.
