| Jesse Paul | The Colorado Sun |
Colorado voters will decide in November whether to make a series of major changes to the state’s election system.
Initiative 310, which qualified Thursday to be on the November ballot, would change most of Colorado’s primaries so candidates from all parties run against each other, followed by a ranked choice voting general election.
The clause requires 12 Colorado municipalities in counties of a certain size and with a specific demographic makeup to conduct ranked choice elections before a ranked choice election could be used in a race for state or federal office. Additionally, the amendment said that Colorado could not move to the new primary system proposed by Colorado Voters First until that requirement has been met.
The freedom to vote for any candidate
“This initiative is based on two simple principles: Any voter should have the freedom to vote for any candidate in every taxpayer-funded election; and a candidate must receive support from a majority of voters to be elected,” said Hubbard, a spokesman for Colorado Voters First. “Our current system limits voter choices and gives too much power to political insiders and special interests. In November we can send the message that elections belong to voters — not political parties.”