Petitioning has been hard work through the ages, and Question 2L would make sure City Charter language on petitioning is consistent throughout different sections.

At its simplest, Ballot Question 2L would reconcile language differences in the City Charter regarding petition signature requirements for initiatives, referendums, and recall elections, to make the Charter sections in accordance with the intent of changes to the Charter made by voters in 2018.

Question 2L would amend Sections 38A, 44, and 46 of the City Charter. Since it amends the Charter, no changes could be made to its language without another vote of the people if 2L should pass.

Section 46, Certificate of Petition: This seems to be the most important section proposed for a change under 2L. In current Charter language, it says the City Clerk must ascertain that a petition had been signed by “at least ten percent of the registered electors of the city as of the day the petition was filed.” Using round numbers for simplicity, if there were 70,000 registered electors, 10% would mean 7,000 signatures.

But in 2018, Boulder voters passed Ballot Question 2E, setting new petition signature requirements to be based on an “average of the number of registered electors of the city who voted in the previous two municipal candidate elections.” Again, round numbers for illustration – if the city had 70,000 registered voters, but turnout was at 50% for 2 elections straight, under the new language a petition would need 3,500 signatures.

This year’s Question 2L would reconcile the difference between existing language in Section 46 and the language found elsewhere in the charter from 2E in 2018. It would add the language “average number of voters in the previous two municipal candidate elections” into Section 46.

Section 38A, Initiative, Referenda and Recall Petitions: Question 2L changes language in this section to include “average number of voters in the previous two municipal candidate elections,” which would be in line with the new Section 46 proposed in 2L.

This section also includes petition requirements for recall elections, which are 20% of an average number of voters in the previous two municipal candidate election. Initiative and referendum petitions would need 10% of the average number of voters in the past two municipal elections.

Section 44, Referendum Petition: Question 2L also changes language in this section to include “average number of voters in the previous two municipal candidate elections,” which would be in line with the new Section 46 proposed in 2L. Referendum petitions may be filed if citizens want to challenge a City Council action at the ballot box, and the signature requirement would be 10% of average number of voters in the past two municipal elections.

For more information: To read the ballot title and Council memo for 2L, visit https://bouldercolorado.gov/nov-2-2021-boulder-election-ballot-measures-and-candidates

PRO ON 2L

  • Question 2L reconciles existing City Charter language with the intent of voters in the 2018 election regarding petition signature requirements.

Richard’s Take: Vote yes. Question 2L fixes a fairly major discrepancy between Section 46 of the Charter and other sections, while the rest of 2L is basically a wording change repeated several times that doesn’t change anything in function. Passing 2L would reflect the intent of voters when they changed signature requirements in 2018.