Learn more about the 2026 Budget

Clerk López has issued the following statement in response to City Council’s Nov. 3 budget amendment which fully funds our office in 2026:

“Tonight’s unanimous vote by City Council to restore our 2026 budget is an emboldened testament of Denver’s commitment to independently run elections during a time when our country needs it the most. We’re deeply grateful to City Council for recognizing that the people’s access to the ballot box is not negotiable.

We must always seek to strengthen, not weaken the most powerful means by which we the people hold those in power accountable. Thank you to every Councilmember, organizer, public advocate, and staff member who stood up to protect independent elections in Denver. Now, let’s go vote in 2026.”

Clerk Lopez Sends Letter(PDF, 81KB) to Mayor Johnston on Revised Budget Ask.

Read the letter(PDF, 206KB) Clerk López sent to Mayor Johnston on Sept. 19 about the proposed 2026 budget.

Denver Clerk & Recorder Warns Mayor Johnston’s 2026 Budget Proposal Would Gut Elections, Threaten Voter Access

Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025 – DENVER – Denver Clerk & Recorder Paul López today warned that Mayor Mike Johnston’s proposed 2026 budget would severely undermine Denver’s nationally recognized election system, reducing voter access and disenfranchising thousands of Denverites in next year’s high-turnout primary and general elections.

“Mayor Johnston said his cuts would not touch critical services,” Clerk López said. “That is simply not accurate. These cuts would decimate voter services, jeopardize turnout, and disenfranchise Denver voters.”

Yesterday, Mayor Johnston unveiled his 2026 budget proposal, which underfunds the Clerk & Recorder’s Office by $4.5 million required to run two high turnout elections in 2026. The impact on elections would be severe:

• Polling Centers & Drop Boxes
  • Primary Election 2026: Closure of 12 polling centers (from 17 to just 5) and 8 drop boxes (from 46 to 38)
  • General Election 2026: Closure of 1 polling center (from 39 to 38) and 8 drop boxes (from 46 to 38)
• Staffing Cuts: One-third fewer election judges to staff the remaining polling centers.
• Eliminations: All 9 drive-through ballot drop-offs and all but one voter coach location (only Emily Griffith required by law)
• Processing Delays: Fewer staff and sites will lead to slower ballot processing, longer lines, and delayed results

“These are not optional services — they are voters’ rights,” Clerk López said. “We’re not asking for extras; we’re asking for the funding required by law to administer safe, fair, and accessible elections.”

Clerk López emphasized that Denver’s City Charter vests all election authority and required resources with the independently elected Clerk & Recorder — not the Mayor.

“It is an absolute overreach and violation of the Charter for the Mayor to attempt to dictate my office’s needs,” López said. “The people of Denver made it clear that elections are to be run independently of a mayor’s agenda. These choices reflect priorities,” López said. “Now is not the time to defund democracy.”

In 2026, Denver must conduct both a state primary and a general mid-term election, each expected to draw record turnout. Currently, some of the challenges driving up costs to run elections over the past four years include:

• A 9% increase in registered voters in Denver
• A 22% increase in the minimum wage
• A 30%+ increase in printing and mailing costs

“You can’t run more elections with fewer resources,” López said. “Fully funding the Clerk & Recorder’s Office is not about politics — it’s about protecting democracy.”

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Denver Clerk & Recorder Warns Mayor Johnston’s 2026 Budget Proposal Would Gut Elections, Threaten Voter Access. Watch the conference playback. 

Link to full letter(PDF, 62KB). 

Text: 

Dear Councilmembers,

On behalf of the Denver Democratic Party, we write in support of the Denver Clerk & Recorder’s request for a budget amendment to ensure fair and accessible elections in 2026.

Denver is well known as a model of smooth, transparent, and accessible elections. We are concerned that the Clerk & Recorder’s 2026 budget, as currently proposed, would put that standing in jeopardy. Without additional funding, the Clerk and Recorder will be forced to close vote centers and drop boxes, reduce election judges, and scale back services that Denver voters deserve and have come to expect.

With two critical elections in 2026, now is not the time to scale back access for voters. We remain disappointed to learn that budget cuts would require the Clerk to significantly decrease in-person voting opportunities, particularly during the party primary election in June. This, along with the reduction in election judge staffing, will lead to longer lines, slower results, and real barriers for working people, seniors, and voters with disabilities.  

Election administration is a fundamental duty of local government and the foundation of our democracy. We should not allow budget shortfalls to erode public trust and voter participation in our city. We urge you to amend the 2026 budget to provide additional funding. Doing so will protect Denver voters and uphold our city’s proud tradition of free and fair elections.

Thank you for your service and for your consideration of this request.

The Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Denver

Statement by Wellington E. Webb

October 27, 2025

Good evening members of the 2025 City Council. I am here tonight to remind you of the voting chaos of 2006. We must not repeat those mistakes failing to provide enough voting sites and dropbox sites that would only feed into President Trump‘s ongoing attacks on Democracy and more directly on people of color.

Throughout my life, I have stood up and fought against social injustice in all its forms. In my 20s, I walk the streets of Denver opposing and protesting the apartheid government of Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and Angola. I believed then - as I do now - that oppression anywhere threatens freedom everywhere.

In my late 20s, Lauren Watson, president of the Denver chapter of the Black Panther Party and I along with ten others, took over the mayor’s office to protest police brutality in this city. We did so out of conviction that justice delayed is justice denied.

In my 30s, Ken Salazar and I opposed a ballad initiative called “English Only” reminding voters that the Colorado Constitution itself was written in three languages English, Spanish, and German. Our diversity has always been our strength, not our weakness. Later Paul Sandoval, Rick Castro, Wilma Webb, Arie Taylor, and others join me walking out on a Colorado governor who could not find a single black American to serve in his cabinet.

Together with members of Congress, we also marched in front of the South African Embassy, professing the brutality of an apartheid and standing in solidarity with those fighting for freedom abroad.

We also opposed Amendment 2; stood proud at the LGBTQ rally in Washington D.C.; and secured critical funding for Denver Health, ensuring that our HIV clinics and pharmacy could continue serving those in need.

And now, once again, we are called to fight for our survival, for our dignity, and for the protection of the Voting Rights Act. To meet this moment, we must expand access to the ballot box by increasing the number of voting locations and ensuring that adequate funding is provided to safeguard the foundation of our Democracy. If Democracy is to mean anything, it must mean access, inclusion, and fairness for all.

Let justice be done, though the heaven may fall!

Link to letter(PDF, 791KB)

FULL TEXT: 

10/24/2025

Dear Denver City Council,

We are the KIPP Colorado Public School Family Council. We meet once a month and are grounded in our mission statement: We are family representatives from each KIPP Colorado school that bring ideas to life by utilizing data & feedback from families. We advocate for the students, staff, families, and community while developing our leadership skills to strengthen our schools and communities.

It has been brought to our attention that one of the items on the mayor’s 2026 budget cut is the department of the Clerk and Recorder’s Office. For the past three years, KIPP Colorado Schools have partnered with the Denver Elections Division (DED), overseen by the Hon. Paul López, Denver Clerk and Recorder. The DED has collaborated with us to civically engage our high school students. For our juniors, they host a field trip for over 120 students to tour their building where Denver ballots are processed. They also get a chance to engage in a mock election. Every student gets the experience of casting a ballot!

For the past four years, our seniors at KIPP Denver Northeast Leadership Academy earned the Colorado Secretary of State Eliza Pickrell Routt award for registering to vote 85% or more eligible 12th graders. This year, our Class of 2026 registered 97% of eligible voters! Part of our award celebration includes walking to the nearest ballot box, Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center, and dropping ballots for first-time voters. We take pride that our students will have the confidence in how to vote after they graduate. However, if the Clerk and Recorder’s office funds are cut, our tradition of giving real-life education to our high school students regarding elections will come to an end. We are grateful that the Mayor has recently added $800K back to this budget, but we are still concerned that the cuts will affect elections and educational collaborations, such as ours.

We strongly recommend not cutting funds to the department of the Denver Clerk and Recorder’s office. Sincerely, KIPP Colorado Family Council

Sincerely, KIPP Colorado Family Council

Link to full letter(PDF, 227KB). 

FULL TEXT

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Denver City Council

1437 Bannock St. Denver, CO 80202

Re: Support for the Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Budget Request

Dear Honorable Members of the Denver City Council,

We recognize the difficult financial choices you face and the many urgent needs across the City and County of Denver. We know these decisions are never easy. While the Colorado County Clerks Association does not advocate for specific appropriations in individual jurisdictions, we affirm that every county must receive resources to meet statutory requirements and widely accepted best practices for secure, accurate, and accessible elections.

Please consider the following:

• 2026 brings two elections, not one. Unlike 2025, Denver must run both a primary and a general election. Funding based on the 2025 budget, when there was only one election, would cripple the Clerk and Recorder’s Office from conducting two statutorily required elections.
• State reimbursements reduce costs. Thanks to recent legislative reforms, Denver receives a 45% reimbursement for eligible election expenses in both the Primary and General Elections. Based on the 2024 General Election, Denver is projected to receive more than $2 million in reimbursement for the combined 2026 Primary and General Elections.
• Election threats are real and rising. Since 2020, election workers have faced escalating harassment and violence, including the recent firebombing of the Archuleta County Clerk’s Office. Cutting resources now compromises both safety and public trust.
• Denver’s infrastructure serves voters statewide. Because Colorado allows ballot drop-off anywhere, thousands of voters from other counties rely on Denver’s secure drop boxes. Undermining access here affects voters far beyond city limits.

Well-run, secure elections are the bedrock of every other public service, from safety to housing to education. We urge you to see this not as a cost, but as an investment in voter confidence, institutional integrity, and the safety of those who serve our democracy. Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to protecting Denver’s most vital responsibilities.

Warmest Regards,

Colorado Clerks Association Executive Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Denver, CO- The Denver Republican Women today voiced strong support for the full funding of the Denver Clerk and Recorder’s office ahead of the critical 2026 election cycle. The group expressed serious concerns about Mayor Johnston’s proposed budget, which would drastically reduce voter services, including the elimination of polling centers, ballot drop boxes, and election judges necessary to accommodate rising voter participation.

“The proposed budget cuts will severely limit access to voting facilities and resources at a time when Denver is expecting record turnout in both the primary and general mid-term elections,” said Ashley Troxell, vice president. “We cannot afford longer wait times, reduced polling places, and the disenfranchisement of thousands of voters. Democracy depends on accessible, fair, and efficient elections.”

The Denver Clerk and Recorder’s office estimates it needs $18.7 million to administer the primary and general elections in 2026, yet the current budget falls $4.5 million short. This shortfall comes amid significant cost increases stemming from a 9% rise in registered voters, a 22% increase in minimum wage for election judges, and a 30% rise in printing and mailing expenses. Despite making substantial internal budget cuts and improvements in operational efficiencies, the office’s financial needs remain critical.

The Denver Republican Women urge the City Council to amend the budget proposal and fully fund the Clerk and Recorder’s office to safeguard the democratic process for all Denver voters. “Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our republic,” added Susy Johnson, president. “We call on our elected officials to prioritize election integrity and voter access by restoring necessary funding.”

City Council will hear public comment on the budget at 5 p.m. on October 27, with sign-ups opening on October 23. The Denver Republican Women encourage all citizens to participate and advocate for election funding that protects every voter’s voice.

Denver Republican Women
PO Box 100220
Denver, Colorado 80250
DenverRepublicanWomen.org

This is completely inaccurate. Only 8% of Denver voters return their ballots by mail. The vast majority of Denver voters, 220,975 or 60%, return their ballots using 24-hour drop boxes. Another 84,289 or 23% vote at polling centers - many because they need to register, obtain a duplicate ballot, or require some type of assistance. In fact, in the 2024 General Election, we saw an uptick of 6% of voters (up to 10%) who chose to vote in person at a polling center. All of these voters would be potentially disenfranchised should the mayor's budget proposal move forward as is.

The Denver Clerk & Recorder’s appropriated budget in 2025 is $14.4 million. This year, we are only administering one coordinated election, which historically has less than 30% voter turnout and therefore requires fewer resources. In 2026, we're running two high turnout elections (state primary and general mid-term elections) for which we requested $18.7 million. The mayor’s budget proposal is for just $14.2 million, which is $4.5 million less than required.

Simply put: we can’t run two larger elections for the same price as one smaller one. When funding is cut, we don’t get fewer mandates — we just lose the ability to deliver these services efficiently and fairly.

The mayor’s proposed budget will decimate voter services in Denver, jeopardizing turnout and disenfranchising voters in the 2026 Primary and General mid-term elections. We will be required to significantly cut voter services, including vote centers, ballot drop boxes, drive through ballot drop offs, and mobile voting coaches. We will have to cut at least 300 on-call election judges in both elections. These reductions will result in slower, longer lines at polling centers, something we have not seen in Denver in decades. It will also result in slower ballot processing and delayed final results.

Polling Center & Ballot Drop Box Reductions

• Primary Election 2026: cut 12 polling centers (dropping from 17 to just 5) and 8 drop boxes (from 46 to 38)
• General Election 2026: cut one polling center (dropping from 39 to 28) and 8 drop boxes (from 46 to 38)

Staffing Cuts: One-third fewer election judges to staff remaining polling centers, eliminating about 300 on-call election judges in each election. 

Drive-Throughs & Voter Coaches Eliminated: eliminate all nine drive-through ballot drop-offs and all but one mobile voter coach location (only Emily Griffith required by law)

Longer Lines & Delayed Results: Fewer staff and sites will lead to longer lines, slower ballot processing, and delayed results. 

In 2025, we are only administering one coordinated election, which historically has less than 30% voter turnout. In 2026, Denver must conduct both a state primary and a general mid-term election, each expected to draw record turnout. Compared to the last year in which we held these two elections (2022), costs to run elections have continued to grow driven by: 

• A 9% increase in registered voters in Denver;
• A 22% increase in the minimum wage (to employe nearly a thousand on-call election judges); and
• A 30%+ increase in printing and mailing costs (to print and mail ballots and ballot information guides required by law).

Our office has already significantly cut spending, restructured staff, returned funds, and taken furlough days. In 2025, we reduced our budget 25% -- accounting for having three fewer elections this year and voluntarily cutting an additional $1 million at the mayor's request. 

Our employees took furloughs alongside other city staff, we held multiple positions open to create vacancy savings, and we cut two full time positions (out of 71). We also cut discretionary spending across the agency, and are combing through every single dollar our agency spends to ensure we are being as frugal as possible. 

We have been committed to joining the city to ensure we help carry our part in meeting the shortfall to the greatest of our ability WITHIN the confines of the law.  

That is unequivocally false. Below is a detailed list of the meetings held with the Department of Finance and Mayor Johnston where Clerk López and the Senior Leadership explained the importance of obtaining our budget in 2026. 

Additionally, this year, the Johnston administration prohibited access to the online portal where agencies have historically input their budget requests. This lack of collaboration and transparency are trademarks of the Johnston administration and Clerk López will continue to advocate for the full funding of our office in 2026. 

• April 2, 2025 – 2025/2026 Discuss hiring freeze and budget cuts with Budget director and team
• May 14, 2025 – 2025/2026 Projection meeting to discuss hiring, working within our appropriation
• May 22, 2025 – In-person with Mayor, Clerk and Auditor – Mayor verbally shared request for 5% reduction target to independent offices
• May 28, 2025 – Discuss hiring and budget meeting with Deputy CFO and Budget director, discussed 2026 Budget
• June 18, 2025 – CFO Meeting to review Clerk & Recorder position requests, discussed 2026 Budget
• July 17, 2025 – Clerk and CFO 2026 Budget Work Session
• July 25, 2025 – In-person Clerk and Mayor 2026 Budget Meeting

The Clerk & Recorder’s office is a net contributor to Denver’s finances. The Recording Division generates about $4.6 million annually for the City’s general fund through fees from marriage licenses, foreclosures, property deeds, and more.

The Elections Division also works aggressively to offset costs, securing an estimated $9.7 million in grants and reimbursements since 2020.

For the 2026 Primary and General/Midterm elections alone, the office will return roughly $2.8 million to the City through State reimbursements.

While our budget covers providing these services, the funds are not returned to our budget, but are applied to the City's General Fund. Putting these funds into a Special Revenue Fund instead would more transparently demonstrate that our office is largely self-funded, and eliminate the fluctuations in our budget due to the number of elections we are required to run, making it more predictable for the City to fund our budget. 

This is incredibly misleading because it doesn’t account for the fact that our budget fluctuates each year dependent on how many elections we are required to run. In the past, the City has always understood and automatically fulfilled a budget expansion when we have more elections, just as it automatically reduces our budget when we have fewer elections.

In 2025, we reduced our budget 25% -- accounting for having three fewer elections this year and voluntarily cutting an additional $1 million as the mayor asked to help with the budget crisis. Next year, with two larger elections, we requested $18.7 million to conduct the elections with the same level of voter services we have been for years. We’re not asking for extras; we’re asking for funding to comply with the law. Yes, the mayor’s proposal is only $200,000 less than this year’s budget, but we simply cannot conduct two larger elections for less than the price of one smaller one.

Further reductions of our very small full-time staff (of 69 employees) cannot begin to cover the $4.5 million shortfall the mayor’s proposed budget will actually create for our office. Our ability to deliver essential services cannot be pared back further without harming Denver voters.

We sincerely hope that City Council will support a budget amendment to ensure Denver voters continue to have full access to the democratic process, especially at this critical time in our country’s history. We are meeting individually with Councilmembers to educate them on our budget needs and are providing additional information they have requested. We are asking elections advocates and the public to let Council know how important the voter services we provide are, and to ask them to support a budget amendment to fully fund our office’s budget request.

Our office and the Department of Finance submitted a request in the 2025 Capital Improvement Fund (not the general fund) for $4.5 million in security upgrades to our elections facility based on findings from an audit by the Department of Homeland Security. Only $1.5 million was funded, and these projects have not yet been completed, so the dollars have not been spent.

No. When the city decided to upgrade the Webb Building, our office informed them we did not need all of the office space we previously had on the first floor because we could consolidate into the Elections Division building instead, thus freeing up priority space in the Webb Building. We have since done that (with all but three customer counters remaining at the Webb Building which will also be moved by Q1 2026). This frees up space for other agencies that City is currently renting space for at Republic Plaza at a tune of $4.9 million.