From the smoldering remains of the May 7 ballot, a new ballot arises. While pretty much all anyone is talking about regarding the June 4 runoff election is the mayoral race between incumbent Michael Hancock and challenger Jamie Giellis, there's something else Denver will vote on.
The "Let Denver Vote" initiative will also appear alongside the names "Michael Hancock" and "Jamie Giellis" on the ballot. Because supporters of the ballot initiative were a little late turning in their signatures, they couldn't get Initiative 302 onto the May 7 ballot.
Instead, the city would put the question on the next citywide election. It just so happens that election is in three or so weeks.
But what is the initiative? Remember last year when Next and 9NEWS extensively covered the suggestion that Denver might host the 2026 (or 2030) Winter Olympics?
In response to city leaders meeting and talking about the Olympics, 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."
"Registered electors" in this instance meaning people in Denver who are registered to vote in Denver.
In a nutshell, the city cannot put one penny of public funds toward any kind of Olympic Games unless they receive the majority of support from the city's voters.
Denver Elections looks at the potential fiscal impact of initiatives and estimated the cost to the taxpayers to ask if they want to pay for the Olympics at $150,000 - $400,000 for an already-planned election (like the November or May elections) and $800,000 for a special referendum.
London paid $2.6 billion for the 2020 summer Games — this report by the Council on Foreign Relations is a good read about when, why and how the Olympics started costing so much. In 1972, when Denver rejected the Games and they went to Innsbruck, Austria, the city only paid $11.2 million to host.
Supporters say the measure is needed to protect taxpayer's wallets and to stop the city's leaders from steamrolling their constituents.
Detractors point to the vague language of the ordinance (nearly all of it is included in this article). They also point to the misguided nature of the ordinance — it is the U.S. Olympics Committee that decided whether or not an American city will be offered up to the International Olympics Committee as a potential host.
Read more about the arguments for, against and the potential fiscal impact at this link.
Head to this link for an interactive map helping you find voting locations, drop off locations and more. (Thanks, Denver Elections!)
Important runoff election dates:
—May 13: 22-day residency deadline
—May 20: Ballots begin mailing to active voters
—May 20: Drop-boxes open across the City
—May 28: Vote Centers open
—June 4: Last day to vote
—Vote Centers open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
—Ballots must be received by 7 p.m.
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