City and County of Denver Referred Question 2H — Charter amendment: Auditor enforcement of wage and worker-protection laws (Denver County)

What it does

Shall the Charter of the City and County of Denver be amended to expressly clarify that the Auditor’s Office may continue to enforce wage laws, worker protection laws, and other workplace rights laws in accordance with ordinances passed by City Council?

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

Official text: source

Background

This charter amendment was brought by Councilmembers Sawyer and Parady, according to the bill request (Council Bill 26-0687).

According to the committee presentation, the Auditor's Office has enforced Denver's prevailing wage ordinance since 1950, began enforcing the minimum wage in 2020, and gained wider wage-theft enforcement and subpoena power through ordinances in 2023 and 2024; the amendment would state in the Charter that the office's duties include enforcing wage, worker protection and workplace rights laws as Council requires by ordinance.

The city's ballot information booklet states there is no anticipated fiscal impact because the Auditor's Office already performs this function.

City Council passed the bill 11–0 on July 13, 2026, with Councilmembers Flynn and Lewis absent, and the Mayor signed it July 15, 2026.

Put on the ballot by Denver City Council, 11–0 (2 absent), July 13, 2026 (Council Bill 26-0687).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3, official source 4.

Next elections here

• Denver election 2027 · April 6, 2027: Mayor, Auditor, Clerk and Recorder, and all 13 City Council seats
• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Denver County ballots

• City and County of Denver Referred Question 2I — Charter amendment: budget and appropriation process (two-year budget option)
• City and County of Denver Referred Question 2J — Charter amendment: Civil Service Commission and Department of Safety
• City and County of Denver Referred Question 2K — Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado) 20-year franchise
• City and County of Denver Initiated Ordinance 311 — Ban on force-feeding birds and sale of force-fed products (foie gras)

All Denver County races and measures →

Quick answers

How many votes does City and County of Denver Referred Question 2H need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City and County of Denver Referred Question 2H?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.