The Colorado Forward Party is backing two charter amendments that would bring ranked choice voting to municipal elections in Longmont and change how the city schedules its council elections beginning later this decade.
The party announced in an email to supporters Tuesday that it is supporting Ballot Questions 3C and 3D, which Longmont voters will decide November 3. Both questions were referred to the ballot by the Longmont City Council, meaning supporters did not need to petition to place them before voters.
“RCV is an excellent way to make elections more responsive to voters, and a major part of CO FWD’s platform is the need for election reform in national and local politics,” the state party said.
Question 3C, titled Ordinance O-2026-46, would authorize ranked choice voting for mayoral and City Council elections beginning in 2029, replacing the current plurality system. In single-seat races, voters would rank candidates by preference, with the lowest-performing candidate eliminated and ballots transferred to each voter’s next choice until someone reaches a majority. If approved, the city could begin using the system only after the Colorado Secretary of State certifies the necessary voting equipment and rules.
Question 3D, or Ordinance O-2026-47, would change the election calendar so Longmont’s three at-large council seats are eventually elected together, while its three ward seats are elected during the alternate cycle. The measure would take effect only if Question 3C also passes. The city says holding all three at-large elections together would also allow Longmont to use single transferable vote, a form of ranked choice voting designed for races with multiple winners.
The state Forward Party argued that ranked choice voting would encourage candidates to run more positive campaigns by giving them an incentive to appeal to voters outside their existing base of support. It also said allowing voters to rank additional candidates addresses concerns about “wasting” a vote on a lesser-known candidate who may not otherwise be considered likely to win.
“In short, RCV lessens the politics of division and rewards moderation,” the party added.
It further pointed to Boulder, Broomfield, and Fort Collins as other Colorado communities that have adopted ranked choice voting in recent years. Boulder voters first approved ranked choice voting for mayoral elections in 2020, with the city first using the system three years later. It will be used again this November.
Broomfield voters approved ranked voting in 2021, though implementation was later pushed back to 2027 while the Colorado Secretary of State developed auditing rules. Fort Collins followed in 2022 and began using ranked voting in municipal elections last year.
The Colorado Working Families Party has also joined the Forward Party in endorsing both measures and is listed among the groups formally backing them through Ranked Choice Voting for Longmont. According to the organization, other supporters include the League of Women Voters of Boulder County, CWA Local 7799, Veterans for All Voters, and Colorado Common Cause.
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