2023 Denver Municipal Election

So, there’s a runoff election in Denver.*

Election Day for the runoff is on Tuesday, June 6. That means you need to be in line to vote at a drop box or Voter Service Center by 7 p.m. on June 6.

Dates to know:

  • Mon. May 15: Ballots begin to be mailed out to voters. To receive a ballot in the mail, make sure your voter registration is up to date at RegisterInColorado.org by Tue. May 30.
  • Mon. May 22: In person voting begins: Wellington Webb Municipal Building Voter Service Center) opens.
  • Tue. May 30: All other Voter Service Centers open across the city. Find one nearest you.

Remember: it is never too late to register to vote or update your registration in Colorado. Take care of it online by Tue. May 30 to receive a ballot in the mail, or take care of it in person at a Voter Service Center, starting on Mon. May 22, through 7 p.m. on Election Day.

ICYMI: New Era Colorado Action Fund and our friends at COLOR, Cobalt, and ONE Colorado hosted “In the Hot Seat: A Hot Ones Mayoral Forum” to see where the runoff candidates stand on our issues, from affordable housing to abortion care. Check out Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston‘s answers to our *spicy* questions here. You can also watch the full forum livestream or listen to City Cast Denver’s audio recording of the event. 

*This page has been updated to reflect the June 6 runoff election. 

 

We know you probably have some questions. We got you.

How do runoff elections work? | Here’s who and what’s on the ballot (and why it matters) | Can I vote? | How do I vote? | Vote in person | Vote by dropbox | Vote by mail | Accepted IDs | Some Resources

How do runoff elections work?

To be elected to any city office (except the council’s two at-large seats), candidates must win a majority of the vote—that’s 50 percent plus one vote. If no candidate wins a majority (that is, if the top candidate earns less than 50 percent of the total vote), the top two vote-getters go to a runoff election.  Here are the races that are headed to runoff:

  • Mayor’s race: Kelly Brough & Mike Johnston (all Denver voters will vote on this one!) 
  • City Council District 7: Flor Alvidrez & Nick Campion*
  • City Council District 8: Brad Revare & Shontel Lewis
  • City Council District 9: Candi CdeBaca & Darrell Watson
  • City Council District 10: Chris Hinds & Shannon Hoffman

Only voters who live in these specific districts will vote in these city council runoffs. Find out what city council district you live in.

*If you live in District 7: You will still receive a ballot with Nick Campion on it even though he has dropped out of the race. Flor Alvarez is the default winner but you’ll still have a city council vote on your ballot because Campion dropped out after the ballots were certified. TLDR: It doesn’t matter who/if you vote on that question.

Here’s who and what’s on the ballot (and why it matters):

Mayor

The mayor position holds a LOT of power thanks to the structure of Denver’s government, which grants our mayor with more power than almost any other mayor in the country. A few big responsibilities include:

  • Creating a budget—one of the biggest ways the government impacts our daily lives—by deciding which programs and priorities are funded.
  • Hiring, firing and directing pretty much everyone in government, from the agencies that plow our roads to providing mental health services and yes, the Denver Police Department. The mayor has a direct role in police oversight and accountability.
  • Enforcing our laws. While the mayor doesn’t make laws (city council does), they do enforce the laws and have a ton of power over how our laws are applied, including how we treat our unhoused neighbors.

City Council

Denver has 11 districts with one elected councilor to represent it (find yours) – four of those districts are headed to the run-off. Plus, Denver voters elected two at-large councilors to represent the whole city during the general election. Denver City Council has a big say over what programs and priorities get resources, making it easier (or harder) for young people to live here, by:

  • Setting our city’s minimum wage, which directly impacts how affordable the city of Denver is for young people.
  • Making and adopting development plans that can push for our city to grow in a sustainable and equitable way.
  • Referring ballot questions to voters so we get a direct voice in economic justice in our city.
  • Creating more housing that is *actually* affordable and accessible, for renters and for people striving toward homeownership.

City council also plays a big role in public safety, holding the police accountable, addressing homelessness, and holding the mayor accountable to our city’s needs.

Can I vote in this election?

All you need to be eligible to vote in this election is to live in the City and County of Denver and meet the basic eligibility requirements for voting.

FYI: the city of Denver and the county of Denver are the same thing – so if the address where you live has “Denver” in it, and you’ve lived in Denver at least 22 days before Election Day (that would be Mon. May 15), then this election is for you!

To be eligible to vote in Colorado, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be 18 years old or older by Election Day (Tuesday, June 6)
  • Live in Colorado at least 22 days before Election Day (Monday, May 15)
  • As of July 2019, if you are serving a sentence of parole, you may register to vote and vote in Colorado. For more information about voting with convictions, please visit VotingWithConviction.org.

Still have q’s? Reach out to the Denver County Clerk & Recorder’s office:

  • Call: 303-653-9668 (or 311)
  • Text: 56003
  • TTY: 720-913-8657
  • Email: elections@denvergov.org
How do I vote?

You have all the options for how to vote: You can mail your ballot back, drop it off, or vote in person.

Ballots begin to be mailed out to registered voters on Monday, May 15. To receive a ballot in the mail, register to vote or update your registration online by Tuesday, May 30. You can also check your registration status if you’re not sure!

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO REGISTER TO VOTE: Take care of it online by Tue. May 30 to receive a ballot in the mail, or take care of it in person at a Voter Service Center, starting on Mon. May 22, through 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Vote in person

You can visit any Voter Service & Polling Center in the county to vote, register to vote/ update your registration, obtain a replacement ballot, or solve any election-related issue. You must bring a valid ID with you to vote in person; yes, Colorado student IDs are accepted!

You can visit the Webb Building starting on Mon. May 22, and other Voter Service Centers will open across Denver on Tue. May 30. Remember: be in line by 7 p.m. on Election Day!  Find a location near you.

Drop It Off

You can drop your ballot off at any drop box or Voter Service Center in Denver, starting on Mon. May 15. Remember: be in line by 7 p.m. on Election Day! Find a location near you.

You may be required to enclose a photocopy of an acceptable ID; check your ballot instructions and check out the list of acceptable IDs.

Mail it in

If you are voting by mail, we recommend that you put your ballot in the mailbox no later than Tue. May 30 to ensure it’s received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Use two stamps! After Tue. May 30, use a dropbox or go vote in person.

You may be required to enclose a photocopy of an acceptable ID; check your ballot instructions and check out the list of acceptable IDs.

Accepted IDs

via JustVoteColorado.org

  • 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. 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.

Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification.

Some Resources