Colorado Proposition 131, the Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) Initiative, will be on the ballot in the Nov. 5 election. If approved by Colorado voters, Proposition 131 would go into effect for the 2026 election cycle.
The ballot measure would significantly change Colorado’s election process if passed by the voters. The measure proposes a shift to a nonpartisan primary system in which all candidates, regardless of political party, compete in a single primary open to all voters. The top four candidates would then advance to the general election, employing a ranked-choice voting selection of the winners. This method would allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, with the winner needing a majority of votes to be declared.
RCV, sometimes known as instant runoff voting, would be implemented in elections for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, Colorado University board of regents, state board of education and the state legislature.

Who is using RCV?
RCV has been adopted in several states and cities. Maine and Alaska use RCV for statewide elections, and New York City, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Oakland are some prominent cities that use it in local elections. Only a few Colorado municipalities, such as Boulder, Fort Collins and Telluride, have adopted RCV for their local elections.
The city of Aspen initially adopted RCV in 2007, implementing it for the 2009 municipal election. However, after significant public dissatisfaction with how the system functioned, voters repealed RCV in 2010, only a year after its first use. The repeal was supported by 65% of voters, primarily due to frustrations over the logistics and complexities associated with the system’s implementation​.

An example
The ballot measure’s title indicates that the four candidates who receive the highest votes in the June primary will advance to the November general election. These top candidates can belong to any political party, thus eliminating party-line primaries.
In our voting hypothetical, voters face a crowded field after an open primary in June. Among the top four candidates emerging from the primary are James, Nancy, Candace and Lee — the first three are Republicans, and the last is a Democrat.
The general election ballot features all four candidates in November. Voters will rank them in order of preference:
1 through 4.
Round 1: On Election Day, only the top choice from each ballot is initially counted. Lee receives 35%, Nancy 32%, Candace 22% and James 11%. Since no candidate secures a majority, James, the lowest vote-getter, is eliminated.
Round 2: Votes for James are redistributed to the next preferred candidates of his supporters. After this reallocation, Lee leads with 38%, followed closely by Nancy at 37%, and Candace at 25%. Again, there’s no majority, so Candace is eliminated.
Round 3: Candace’s votes are reallocated, resulting in Nancy receiving an additional 16% and Lee 9%. The final count shows Nancy with 53% and Lee with 47%. Despite trailing initially, Nancy wins, reflecting her broader support among voters.

Arguments for and against
Colorado Voters First, a political organization that advocates for electoral reform, supports a ‘yes’ vote on Prop. 131. According to their website, “Any voter should be able to vote for any candidate in any taxpayer-funded election.”
They suggest that support for the ballot measure could enhance voter interest in primaries, increase satisfaction by allowing preferences for multiple candidates and ensure that elected representatives have broader support among the electorate.
First Choice Counts is a nonprofit organization focused on advocating for voters to cast ‘no’ votes on Proposition 131, arguing that it complicates elections, undermines voter clarity and risks reducing voter turnout. They advocate for simpler voting processes that enhance democracy without introducing ranked-choice systems.

2024 Election Information
To vote in the 2024 General Election in Colorado, you must meet the following criteria:
– be 18 years of age or older by Election Day,
– be a United States citizen,
– have resided in Colorado 22 days immediately before the election
at which you intend to vote (Mon. Oct. 14, at the latest)
– not currently serving a sentence of confinement or detention for a felony conviction.


You may register to vote at any time up to and including on Election Day. You can do so on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website or in-person at a Voter Service and Polling Center. If you want to receive a ballot by mail for the 2024 General Election, you must register no later than Monday, Oct. 28. Starting Monday, Oct. 21, you can visit a Voter Service Center in your county to register and vote through 7pm on Election Day when polls close.
According to the Garfield County Clerk and Recorder’s office, ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters on Friday, October 11.