Gov. Polis vows to "successfully implement any ballot initiative" on election reform

In signing an elections omnibus bill into law today, Gov. Jared Polis acknowledged that an amendment to thwart a proposal for election reform was done “last minute and without proper stakeholding,” noting that he plans “to work to successfully implement any ballot initiative that passes on this topic.”

Proposed ballot initiative 310, an election reform measure that would institute a top-four all-candidate primary and instant runoff general election, just won Colorado Supreme Court approval. Campaign advocates are now collecting signatures to qualify it for the November ballot.

In response, Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano issued the following statement:

“We appreciate Gov. Polis’ commitment to ensuring timely implementation of any voter-passed election reform, despite some lawmakers' attempts to subvert the will of Coloradans. Lawmakers who put their partisan interests over the priorities of their constituents just gave voters another reason to support the ballot initiative.”

Key facts about Colorado’s Primary Problem (Unite America Institute report):

• 84% of races for the Colorado State House were uncompetitive in the 2022 general election; only 13% of Colorado’s eligible voters cast ballots in consequential elections.
• 75% of races for the U.S. House in Colorado were uncompetitive in the 2022 general election; only 18% of Colorado’s eligible voters cast ballots in consequential elections for U.S. House in 2022
• 82% of state house seats will be decided in the June 25 primary
• 75% of U.S. House seats will be decided in the June 25 primary

Polling on Colorado’s elections

• A March 2024 Colorado Polling Institute survey of Colorado voters found nearly 9-in-10 like directly voting on ballot initiatives.
• 6-in-10 Colorado voters support moving to a top-four nonpartisan primary with an instant runoff general election. [Keating Research - press memo available upon request]