DENVER — On June 4, Denver will decide between incumbent Michael Hancock and challenger Jamie Giellis for their next mayor.
Hancock, a two-term incumbent, failed to win the 50% plus one vote needed to win — instead garnering about 39% of the vote — is the first incumbent mayor forced to a runoff election since 1995.
Preliminary results from the May 7 election show Hancock received 38.65% of the vote to Giellis’ 24.88%. Lisa Calderon, who was in third with 18.45%, and Penfield Tate III, who was in fourth with 14.73%, both threw their support behind Giellis against Hancock last week.
Also on ballots, are council seats for districts 1, 3, 5, 9 and 10 depending on your address, as well as clerk and recorder.
Dates to remember
- May 28: Vote Centers open
- June 4: Last day to vote
Voting
- Register to vote: You can register up to election day
- Interactive sample ballot
- Vote By Mail: Ballots began mailing to voters the week of May 20
- Vote In-Person: Visit a Vote Center before June 4 to avoid a wait. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. June 4
- Where to vote or drop off your ballot (interactive map)
- Track your ballot
Ballot question
The "Let Denver Vote" initiative will also appear alongside the names "Michael Hancock" and "Jamie Giellis" on the ballot.
But what is the initiative?
In response to city leaders meeting and talking about the Olympics last year, some residents of the only city in the world to reject the Olympics banded together to create the "Let Denver Vote" initiative.
The ordinance's text sums up the "what" pretty well (emphasis ours):
"The city and county of Denver may not appropriate, expend, guarantee, or otherwise use, directly or indirectly any public monies or resources for the purpose of bidding for, aiding, or furthering an Olympic Games or any event thereof without seeking and receiving prior voter approval from the registered electors of the city and county of Denver at a regularly scheduled municipal election or special election."
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