Reviewers and proponents discuss ranked-choice initiative and nomination changes

Proponents and designated representatives appeared before Legislative Counsel and the Office of Legislative Legal Services on April 20 to present proposed initiative No. 5, which would implement ranked voting methods for statewide offices and permit certain local bodies to adopt ranked voting.

Why it matters: Initiative 5 would replace or alter primary and nomination procedures for many offices—potentially eliminating some primaries and shifting nominations to conventions or petition routes—while also opening the option for counties, school boards and the University of Colorado Board of Regents to adopt ranked ballots for offices they control.

The moderator summarized the measure’s purposes: require ranked ballots for statewide offices, allow local adoption by boards or referral to voters, change how candidates are nominated (restricting nominations to assemblies/conventions or petitions rather than primary elections for many offices), and set nomination caps (for example, up to three or four nominees for major parties depending on district type and fewer for minor parties). Proponents said the target for first application is 2030.

Reviewers asked technical questions about the draft’s references to "Rule 26," suggesting the drafters either cite 8 CCR 1505-1 or fold the relevant rule language into the initiative. Counsel also cautioned about incorporating administrative rules into constitutional text—if the constitution "incorporates" a rule by reference, future changes to that rule could have constitutional effect unless the language is carefully limited. Proponents agreed to provide clearer drafting language and to consider inserting the rule text for clarity.

Questions about local opt-in clarified that the Board of County Commissioners (for statutory counties), the Board of Regents and school boards were intended to be the adopting bodies; proponents said they would spell out the specific offices and mechanisms in writing. On nomination limits and primaries, proponents said some nomination caps apply only if ranked ballots are used and that independents would still be able to petition onto ballots; the change aims, proponents said, to avoid party-primary interference and reduce vote-splitting under ranked systems.

The hearing ended with counsel and proponents agreeing to written follow-up and technical edits; no formal vote or legislative action was taken during the session.

Next steps: Proponents will deliver written clarifications addressing Rule 26 citation, effective dates and enumerated offices eligible to adopt ranked voting.