DENVER — As a Colorado group gathers signatures to put a measure on the ballot installing ranked-choice voting in the state, Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Thursday that would impose another hurdle for the new system if the measure is passed.
If ranked voting makes the ballot in Colorado, the voters in the state would join those in Oregon, Alaska and Nevada who will decide on ranked voting in November. If the ballot measure passes, the new law signed by Polis will require that ranked voting be tested first at a municipal level before being used statewide, delaying implementation.
The group Colorado Voters First, which spearhead the campaign to get ranked voting on the November ballot, had decried the bill’s provision as an attempt to effectively halt ranked voting and asked the governor to veto the bill.
Polis tried to quell concerns after signing the legislation by saying that if the measure passes they will work quickly to install ranked voting statewide “as soon as practicable and certainly no later than the 2028 election.”
Curtis Hubbard, a spokesperson for the Colorado Voters First, said in a statement that they are disappointed but will continue to forge ahead “for the rights of any voter to vote in any election.”
The Colorado County Clerks Association said in a statement that if voters pass the ranked voting ballot initiative, implementation “can be done by 2028.”
Colorado Voters First’s initiative would open primary elections to all candidates. The top four would advance to a general election, where voters would rank candidates instead of choosing just one. Ranked voting lessens the power of the two major parties, and battles over its use have been driven in part by deep dissatisfaction with hyperpartisan politics.
Only two states use ranked voting, Maine for state primaries and federal elections and Alaska for state and federal general elections.
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Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Ranked-choice voting has been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to ensure fairer and more representative elections. However, a new law in Colorado is posing a challenge to the implementation of this voting system in the state.
Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, rather than just selecting one candidate. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the voters’ second choices. This process continues until one candidate has a majority of votes.
Proponents of ranked-choice voting argue that it eliminates the need for runoff elections, reduces the likelihood of spoiler candidates, and encourages candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters. However, opponents argue that it can be confusing for voters and may not necessarily result in the most popular candidate winning.
In Colorado, a new law passed earlier this year requires all counties with populations over 25,000 to implement ranked-choice voting for local elections by 2023. This has raised concerns among election officials and lawmakers about the feasibility of implementing this system in such a short timeframe.
One of the main challenges is the cost of implementing ranked-choice voting. Counties will need to invest in new voting equipment and software, as well as provide training for election officials and voters. This could be a significant financial burden for some counties, especially those with limited resources.
Another challenge is voter education. Ranked-choice voting is a relatively new concept for many voters, and there is a concern that some may not understand how to properly rank candidates or may be confused by the process. This could lead to errors in voting and potentially disenfranchise some voters.
Additionally, there are logistical challenges to consider, such as how to handle absentee and early voting, how to ensure the security and accuracy of the voting process, and how to report and certify election results in a timely manner.
Despite these challenges, supporters of ranked-choice voting remain optimistic about its potential benefits for Colorado. They believe that it will lead to more competitive elections, encourage greater voter participation, and ultimately result in a more representative government.
As Colorado works to implement ranked-choice voting in the coming years, it will be important for election officials, lawmakers, and advocates to work together to address these challenges and ensure a smooth transition to this new voting system. Only time will tell if ranked-choice voting will truly revolutionize the way elections are conducted in Colorado.
