Senate Approves Bill to Provide Additional Information about Ballot Measures
HB26-1084 would share important fiscal information with voters about citizen-initiated ballot initiatives
DENVER, CO – The Senate today approved a bill sponsored by Senators William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, and Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, to share additional information with voters about certain citizen-initiated ballot initiatives.
“If a ballot measure is going to get its funding by siphoning resources from other critical services, like education and health care, voters should know that,” Lindstedt said. “This bill is about government transparency – making sure that voters have the information they need before they cast their ballots.”
"For years I've worked to make our election and campaign laws more transparent and functional for voters who make important decisions about our state's future, and this bill is no exception," Weissman said. "This legislation is an additional step toward making more details available in our elections so Coloradans have as much information as possible when casting their ballots."
HB26-1084 would help share information with voters about how much certain proposed ballot measures could impact essential state services. Specifically, this bill would require that voters receive additional information when citizen-initiated ballot measures would likely increase state expenditures. This would only apply to referred ballot measures that do not describe a measure’s likely effect on sufficient revenue sources or specific state-run programs and services that could be reduced to pay for the cost of the measure.
The bill would require that additional information be printed in the Ballot Information Booklet, also known as the Blue Book. Specifically, the bill would require information about how a ballot measure that increases state expenditures would likely impact the three largest state programs and services that could be reduced. This could include K-12 education, health care and the Department of Corrections.
Colorado has one of the highest voter turnout rates in the country. Over the years, Colorado Democrats have worked to safeguard and strengthen Colorado’s election system. In 2021, Colorado Democrats championed a law, also sponsored by Weissman, to inform voters of the core programs and services that would be impacted by citizen-initiated ballot measures that reduce taxes.
Last year, Colorado Democrats passed the Colorado Voting Rights Act to codify stronger voter protections and expand access to voting information for historically excluded communities. Under this law, even if federal voting protections are rolled back, Colorado will still prohibit discriminatory election practices.
HB26-1084 now moves back to the House for consideration of amendments. Track its progress HERE.