When it comes to Proposition 131 on the November ballot, prepare to spend an unusual amount of time digesting its two major components. That’s because if it receives a “yes” vote it will transform for Coloradans the filling of key state and federal offices, likely for the better.
Gone will be the extremes that too often define party primaries; in their place will be candidates who have to appeal to a wider variety of voters. If not, if primary candidates champion only the extremes, they will not fare well in November.
Briefly, under 131 beginning in 2026 there will be a single primary ballot. The candidates will continue to come from the major parties, and the unaffiliated will have gathered signatures, as they do now. The number of candidates for each office will be uncertain, but only the top four will advance to November.
On the November ballot, voters will be expected to decide to rank their choices. If one candidate receives a majority, 50% plus one, the counting is complete. But if not, and this is likely, the second place votes that were attached to the fourth place candidate will be applied upward. If a majority is still lacking, the third place candidate drops out and the second place votes attached to their name move up. That should do it.
Why the single primary ballot? That gives everyone, Republicans and Democrats, and the unaffiliated, a category of registered voters that shows no sign of slowing in growth, the opportunity to decide among all the candidates.
Parties will continue to play a major role. Candidates will come from assemblies or conventions, and party designation will accompany the candidate’s name. With a quality candidate, and with work, their candidate should be one of the four to advance.
And for November, to win, the four will likely have had to deliver sufficient qualities to appeal to a wider range of voters. Those second place votes will be critical. As the Blue Book says, there will be “more choices,” “more competitive candidates” and “more meaningful participation.”
What offices are included in the single primary and in ranked voting? Senate seats, representatives, state offices including the governor’s, state senate and house seats, and the University of Colorado regents and state board of education. No local offices.
Creators of 131 claim they have come up with candidate selection and winner formats that will appeal to the middle 65% of the electorate that now sees political races as one of extremes and not reflecting their needs or values. They could have done just that.
The Journal’s editorial board says “yes” to 131. The shift in candidate selection and in determining winners is a large one, but that can benefit the state going forward.
Expect there to be plenty of conversations about a single primary ballot and a ranked choice general election, but with them Coloradans could better feel they are choosing from candidates who are more desirable than those on the fringes.
