City and County of Denver Referred Question 2J — Charter amendment: Civil Service Commission and Department of Safety (Denver County)

What it does

Shall the Charter of the City and County of Denver be amended to modernize the Civil Service Commission and Department of Safety by removing outdated language, giving City Council the ability to add duties via code, and providing for an extension of probation when required for medical, military, or other approved leave?

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 Torres and Sandoval; the referral summary says the Charter's Civil Service sections have been amended selectively since 1904, most recently in a significant way in 2003, and contain outdated and overly prescriptive language.

According to the summary, the amendment removes the U.S. citizenship requirement for Civil Service commissioners, uses gender-neutral language, allows probation extensions for approved leave of 30 days or more, lengthens certain disciplinary review timelines, removes fixed caps on police and fire command assignments, and moves some details into a companion ordinance.

The ballot information booklet says the Department of Finance estimates any increase in command staff would have a de minimis financial impact if there were no change to authorized strength.

City Council passed the bill 12–0 on August 10, 2026, and the Mayor signed it August 12, 2026.

Put on the ballot by Denver City Council, 12–0, August 10, 2026 (Council Bill 26-1048).

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 2H — Charter amendment: Auditor enforcement of wage and worker-protection laws
• 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 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 2J 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 2J?

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.