Understanding Ballot Issues and Questions

Ballot issues and questions can shape everything from funding and curriculum to school policies and district leadership. These measures often include bond proposals, tax levies, and policy changes that directly impact students, teachers, and the community. The next upcoming ballot issue election is November 4, 2025. 

Ballot Issue Elections Overview 

Colorado law provides specific requirements for school boards who wish to add a ballot issue or question to the ballot. Under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), school districts must follow specific rules when conducting a "ballot issue" election. "Ballot issues" are financial matters, and often take the form of a budget election, a bond issue, and/or mill levy increases. Ballot issues may only be brought in a November coordinated election. Below you will find information on how to comply with state law requirements for ballot issue elections. 

• Ballot Issue Elections Overview: Provides an overview of the ballot issue process, which are limited to financial matters. This includes facilities, property tax increases, BEST, bonds, transportation, technology, and kindergarten programs. It also includes charter school considerations, as boards must involve charter schools in the planning process to some extent. Finally, it provides information on technical requirements, like ballot wording and notice requirements. 
• Ballot Issue Elections Timeline: This timeline provides critical dates in the 2025 November Election for boards who wish to submit a ballot issue.
• Multilingual Ballot Requirements Overview: Some districts, depending on population, are required to ensure that ballots are translated into a minority language. This overview provides details on the requirements.

Non-TABOR Ballot Questions

Certain questions can be brought before the voters without needing to comply with TABOR's requirements. These included changes such as modifying the amount of director districts in the school board, eliminating term limits, and other non-financial matters. For more information on non-financial ballot questions, see the below resources. 

• Modifying or Eliminating Term Limits: Generally, board members are limited to serving two consecutive terms - but individual boards can modify this limit. This resource provides more information on term limits and how a board can eliminate or modify term limits.
• Changing the Plan of Representation: Boards can range from 5 - 7 members, and school boards may modify how their board is structured. This resource provides information on how a board can change the number of school directors, and/or the structure of the board. 
• Multilingual Ballot Requirements Overview: Some districts, depending on population, are required to ensure that ballots are translated into a minority language. This overview provides details on the requirements.

Fair Campaign Practices Act

Additionally, boards should be aware of the Fair Campaign Practices Act. This Colorado law prohibits school districts - including board members, superintendents, and even employees - from spending public money or making statements in support of candidates and ballot measures within their professional role. Some exceptions apply.

Below you will find an overview of the FCPA and Do's and Don'ts for the Board, Superintendents, and District Employees.

• Fair Campaign Practices Act Overview
• Fair Campaign Practices Act Do's and Don'ts
  

Forms and Resolutions

Below are forms and resolutions relevant to the Ballot Issue or Ballot Question election process. For all election resources, click here.

Changing the Plan of Representation - Reduce the Number of Directors
Multilingual Ballot Requirements Overview
Official Notice of Intent to Participate in Election
Plan to Change to a Combined Director Districts and At-Large
Plan to Eliminate Director Districts
Plan to Reduce Number of Directors
Plan to Reduce Number of Directors and Modify the Plan of Representation
Sample Ballot Questions re Change in Plan of Representation/Number of School Directors
Sample Ballot Questions Term Limits
Sample Resolution for Modification of Term Limits