Longmont council advances work on possible ranked-choice voting ballot question
A 6-1 vote directs staff to draft separate ranked-choice voting and contingent staggered-election questions for possible 2026 consideration, with changes targeted for 2029.
Longmont City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to direct staff to draft a possible ballot question on ranked-choice voting, along with a separate, contingent question on staggered elections. The vote did not adopt either system or establish that either question will appear on the November 2026 ballot.
The council directed staff to proceed with “Option 3A,” discussed during the July 14 council meeting. Under that approach, voters would consider ranked-choice voting separately from a change that would place at-large and ward elections in different cycles. The second change would take effect only if voters approved ranked-choice voting. Council members discussed 2029 as the target year for the changes.
The meeting agenda described the item as a discussion about ranked-choice voting and the possible referral of a 2026 ballot question. It did not include ballot titles, charter-amendment text, an ordinance number or a fiscal note.
The next step discussed at the meeting was preparation of an ordinance. Council members said the language could come forward on first reading and be revised before second reading if the contingent structure is not legally or procedurally workable.
What remains unresolved
The staggered-election discussion did not establish which offices would be elected in which years, how terms would be handled during the transition or the full schedule after 2029.
Council members said voter education would be important, including one member who tied the 2029 target to time for a “proper educational piece.” The record reviewed for this story does not identify an education plan, responsible agency, outreach schedule or budget.
The council also did not cite cost estimates for changing voting systems, ballot processing, staffing, equipment, administration or voter education.
The available record therefore supports further work on a possible 2026 ballot referral—not adoption of ranked-choice voting or staggered elections. Draft language, costs, a transition schedule and a voter-education plan would need to be established in subsequent city documents and proceedings.