Power Struggles in the Government Sector: Analysis of Current Political Disputes and Power Plays Among Leaders and Parties
The Denver City Council held a meeting on Monday night, where they considered a ballot measure that aimed to convert most city elections to ranked-choice voting (RCV). However, in a close 7-6 vote on August 12, 2025, the council rejected the proposal.
The rejection of the RCV measure means that Denver will continue using its current plurality voting system for municipal elections. The decision was influenced by opposition led by Councilmember Kevin Flynn, who voiced concerns about the ranked-choice voting system.
Despite arguments from supporters that RCV would increase voter turnout, reduce election costs, and improve candidate engagement, the council was divided enough for the proposal to fail. The council's rejection comes despite previous interest from Denver voters in ranked-choice voting, as the city was one of the few counties that supported a prior statewide RCV proposal.
In parallel, the council narrowly advanced a different measure to reform at-large city council elections. This alternative reform splits the current single at-large race into two separate races with one winner each. This reform now heads towards a final council vote and potentially the November ballot.
While the RCV measure was rejected, the Denver City Council is still planning to put changes to its election processes on the November ballot. The changes being considered include a shift to ranked-choice voting and modifications to the at-large election system.
Denver is not alone in considering election reforms. Five other Colorado cities have adopted RCV in some form, but Denver’s council did not follow that trend at this time. The focus of the council seems to be on election changes other than adopting ranked-choice voting, as they are planning to move forward with modifications to the at-large election system.
[1] Denver Post. (2025, August 13). Denver City Council rejects ranked-choice voting measure. Retrieved from https://www.denverpost.com/2025/08/13/denver-city-council-rejects-ranked-choice-voting-measure/
[3] Colorado Public Radio. (2025, August 13). Denver City Council rejects ranked-choice voting measure. Retrieved from https://www.cpr.org/2025/08/13/denver-city-council-rejects-ranked-choice-voting-measure/
[5] Westword. (2025, August 13). Denver City Council Rejects Ranked-Choice Voting Measure. Retrieved from https://www.westword.com/news/denver-city-council-rejects-ranked-choice-voting-measure-14066162
- Despite the Denver City Council's rejection of the ranked-choice voting (RCV) measure, the council is still planning to put changes to its election processes on the November ballot, which includes the possibility of a shift to ranked-choice voting and modifications to the at-large election system.
- The council's decision to reject the RCV measure means that Denver will continue using its current plurality voting system for municipal elections, in contrast to five other Colorado cities that have adopted RCV in some form.
- The policy-and-legislation aspect of the Denver City Council's meeting resulted in a close 7-6 vote, when the council rejected the proposal for the use of ranked-choice voting in the city's elections, following opposition led by Councilmember Kevin Flynn who voiced concerns about the system.
