Colorado ballot measure · November 3, 2026

Colorado Amendment 86, explained

Rules for mid-decade congressional redistricting. A ballot measure is a yes-or-no question put directly to voters — no candidate is involved, and the wording on the ballot is the wording that becomes law. This page shows that wording first, then what it actually changes.

The official wording

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution concerning congressional redistricting, and, in connection therewith, reenacting the current process for congressional redistricting in the Colorado Constitution and prohibiting modifications to a final map unless at least three public meetings are held, the modifications do not have the effect of dividing communities of interest or purposefully favoring one political party, and are approved by the congressional redistricting commission and the Colorado Supreme Court?

This is what appears on the ballot. Everything below explains it.

What it actually means

Colorado's independent commission draws congressional districts once a decade, after the census. This amendment says any change to the map between those regular redistrictings must be approved by that commission after at least three public hearings and adopted by the Colorado Supreme Court, and may not purposefully favour a party or divide communities of interest.

If you vote YES

Any off-cycle change to Colorado's eight congressional districts would require approval by the Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission and adoption by the Colorado Supreme Court.
The commission would have to hold at least three public hearings, and changes could not purposefully favour a political party or unnecessarily divide communities of interest.
Each off-cycle review would cost the Legislative Department about $370,000.

If you vote NO

The current constitutional process, adopted by voters in 2018, would continue: a new commission draws districts after each census, with the next in 2031.
The constitution would continue to set no specific process for redistricting between censuses, leaving that question open to future measures or legislation.

The numbers that matter

Cost per off-cycle review: About $370,000
Required public hearings: At least 3
Vote needed: 55%

Why supporters say YES

The measure keeps public participation and a transparent, nonpartisan review in any mid-decade change, honoring voters' 2018 decision to create an independent commission, as politicians in other states redraw districts for partisan gain.
— Colorado Blue Book argument for Amendment 86 (Legislative Council Staff)

Why opponents say NO

If voters want new districts between censuses, whether in response to partisan redistricting elsewhere or other concerns, the measure puts a constitutional barrier in their way and gives a role to the same commission whose map they may want to replace.
— Colorado Blue Book argument against Amendment 86 (Legislative Council Staff)

What’s genuinely uncertain

Since 2025 at least ten states have redrawn congressional maps mid-decade; whether Colorado would attempt one, and by what route, is not known.
The measure is sponsored by Advance Colorado, according to Colorado Newsline. A separate initiative to adopt a temporary congressional map did not make the ballot.
No registered opposition committee was identified in the sources reviewed.

The bottom line

Keeping any mid-decade map changes in independent, nonpartisan hands, against making it harder for Colorado to redraw districts outside the census cycle.

One neutral sentence describing the tradeoff — not a recommendation.

Sources:leg.colorado.gov coloradosos.gov coloradonewsline.com

Checking it against the official text

The Colorado Secretary of State publishes the certified measures and, in most states, an official voter guide with fiscal notes. That is the authoritative version. Everything here is an explanation of it, not a substitute for it.

Confirm this with the official source

Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Colorado Secretary of State.

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