RCV for Fort Collins

Campaign Status: Victory

Outcome

Fort Collins just became the largest city in Colorado to use Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), which will give voters better choices at the ballot box and better representation in city government. Everyday Coloradans led this effort, bringing Colorado one step closer to statewide adoption.

This win builds on existing momentum for RCV in Colorado. Boulder adopted RCV in 2020, followed by Broomfield in 2021. More than 200,000 Coloradans now live in cities that use RCV.

The Policy

Measure 2C: Ranked Choice Voting for city elections.

Background

Like most American cities, Fort Collins currently uses plurality voting for their mayoral and city council elections. This system allows a candidate to win office even if they do not receive an actual majority of the votes.

There is a long history of Fort Collins candidates getting into office with less than 50% of the vote. It happened in city elections in 2019, 2013, 2001, 1999, 1997 and in the 2011 and 1999 Mayor’s race.

RCV for Fort Collins is fighting for change to pass Measure 2C and bring voters more choice, better representation and a government that works for the people.

Who’s Involved?

RCV for Fort Collins is a grassroots- and community-led coalition with broad support from local elected officials and organizations as well as groups like the League of Women Voters of Larimer County, Fort Collins Sustainability Group, RepresentUs and more.

Fund Campaigns
Like This

The Common Wealth is a community of people across the country who have made a commitment to building a democracy that works for everyone. By making a generous gift each month, they directly support the fight to fix our broken political system: city by city, state by state.

100% of donations support the front lines of the movement.

Campaign Milestones

  • Nov 2022

    Fort Collins passes Ranked Choice Voting for city elections.

  • Jun 2022

    RCV for Fort Collins presents city council with 1,000 postcards signed by Fort Collins residents in favor of ranked choice voting.

    Later in the month: Fort Collins City Council approves referring the potential charter change to the November ballot by a vote of 6-1.

  • Mar 2022

    Members of Fort Collins City Council‘s Election Code Committee rule that the city can switch to a system of ranked choice voting with only voter approval.