In our 2024 Vote Your Values Guide, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado explains why it supports a “No” vote on Proposition 131.
Interfaith understands how important it is to protect and advance voting rights. We consistently support efforts that we feel make elections fairer, more accessible, and more transparent. We know that voters are hearing a lot about Proposition 131 and what it might be able to do for Coloradans, and we want to share more about why we are endorsing a “No” on Proposition 131.
Pam Anderson, former Executive Director of the Colorado County Clerks Association and a national expert on elections, recently shared her thoughts on Proposition 131,
As someone who has worked on Colorado elections for decades, I have been asked to explain why I’m voting NO on Proposition 131, a ballot measure that would drastically change our elections.
I start by telling them that it is a confusing mash-up of policies that would produce increased errors resulting in invalidated votes and likely not solve the political divisiveness the ads hint it will fix. It’s half-baked, covers only half the candidates and only tells half the story.
Proposition 131 requires two different approaches to conducting elections. Proposition 131 will change how elections for federal and state legislative offices and statewide offices are conducted, but will not change the process for district attorneys, local offices and the U.S. presidency.
Proposition 131 requires a change to “all candidate” or “jungle” style primaries in which all voters receive an all candidate primary ballot and can choose a single candidate to advance to the election for that office. The top four candidates will appear on the ballot. The ballot could have multiple candidates or no candidates from a single party. And, like the Bluebook explains
“Primary elections are conducted at the same time for multiple offices, so voters may receive ballots for the new system alongside ballots for the existing system for offices not covered by the measure.”
Beyond primaries, the ranking system outlined in Proposition 131 would also result in two different approaches to voting, depending on the office, in the same election.
We have taken to heart the concerns that the complicated and costly changes are likely to confuse voters and depress turnout, particularly for people of color. In a recent op-ed, President of the Rocky Mountain NAACP Portia Prescott reflected on her experiences in New York and concern for Colorado, stating:
At a time when voter turnout in Colorado is among the highest in the country — second only to Minnesota — and when minority representation is at a historic high in the state legislature, why risk implementing a system that could reverse this progress? If it ain’t broke, why fix it? This drastic change isn’t just unnecessary, it could harm the communities that have historically been most vulnerable in our democracy and send Colorado backward.
As an organization dedicated to building understanding and connection across differences, we understand the appeal of promises to reduce political polarization in our state. We also know that no shortcuts exist in that work, and that the costly and complicated changes in Proposition 131 are likely to do a lot more harm to our existing election system than good. This is why the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado is endorsing a “No” on Proposition 131.
Read more about the election on our All Things Voting page.