Cortez residents will be asked to weigh in on four City Charter amendment questions in the upcoming April 7, 2026 municipal election, alongside electing five City Council members.
City officials describe these ballot measures as technical changes intended to clarify and update the city’s charter. “It’s just a matter of making things as simple as possible and making it so that it makes sense,” said City Manager Drew Sanders, explaining that the goal of the amendments is to clean up language and make the charter easier to understand.
The Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce will host the first “Ballot Question Breakdown” information session at noon on Feb. 26, where Sanders and City Attorney Patrick Coleman will walk residents through each of the four ballot questions and answer questions. The city is encouraging attendees to “Ask, Learn, Engage!” during these nonpartisan forums. “These are information only,” Sanders said of the sessions in an interview with KSJD's Lacy McKay. “We’re not telling people how to vote.” Additional public meetings are scheduled for March 19 and March 26 from 5:30–6:30 p.m. at the Cortez Public Library for those unable to attend the first session.
Below is a plain-language overview of each charter amendment question Cortez voters will see on the ballot:
Ballot Question 1: Charter Updates and Corrections
Ballot Question 1 is essentially a housekeeping measure for the City Charter. If approved, it would:
- Fix typos, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors in the charter (including removing gender-specific language).
- Update the charter to align with current Colorado state laws and court decisions.
- Clarify certain procedures, such as how new ordinances must be published and how the city sets its annual tax levy.
- Specify what information must be included in the city’s annual budget adoption ordinance.
- Clarify when the City Council is required to pass an ordinance (as opposed to other actions).
- Update the duties and qualifications listed for the City Manager and City Attorney to reflect modern practices.
- Remove references to two city departments that no longer exist.
In short, Question 1 cleans up and modernizes the charter’s language without making substantive policy changes.
Ballot Question 2: Council Qualifications and Compensation
Ballot Question 2 focuses on the rules governing the City Council itself. It would amend the charter to:
- Clarify who is eligible to serve on City Council (the qualifications to hold a council seat).
- Clarify the duties and responsibilities of the City Council.
- Set limits on how and when council members can adjust their own compensation (pay).
In practical terms, Question 2 aims to spell out who can run for office, what the council’s job entails, and how council pay changes can be handled.
Ballot Question 3: Council Meeting Location and Remote Participation
Ballot Question 3 relates to City Council meetings. If approved, it would:
- Clearly designate how the official location of City Council meetings is determined (providing clarity on where meetings are held).
- Explicitly allow City Council members to participate in meetings electronically – for example, attending via telephone or video conference when necessary.
Question 3 essentially updates the charter to accommodate modern meeting practices, including virtual participation, and removes any ambiguity about where meetings can take place.
Ballot Question 4: City Council Term Limits Clarification
Ballot Question 4 deals with term limits for City Council members. It would clarify that the City of Cortez (as a home-rule city) has the authority to set its own term limit rules for council members, even if those rules differ from the standard term limits in Colorado’s state constitution. In other words, Question 4 confirms that Cortez voters can establish a different term limit structure for their local elected officials than the one the state sets, if they choose. This amendment is about asserting local control and clear guidance on council term limits.
Election Details: The April 7 municipal election will be conducted entirely by mail. Ballots will be mailed to all active registered Cortez voters on March 16, and must be returned by Election Day (Tuesday, April 7) to be counted. There will be no in-person polling places on Election Day, so voters should plan to mail back their completed ballots or drop them in the 24-hour ballot drop box at City Hall by 7 p.m. on April 7. City officials urge residents to ensure their voter registration and address information are up to date to receive their mail ballot without issue.
In addition to the four charter questions, five City Council seats are up for election on April 7. Eleven candidates are vying for those seats, and the League of Women Voters of Montezuma County has organized a public candidate forum on March 11 to help voters get to know the contenders.
For more information about the upcoming election – including a sample ballot and details on voter registration – visit the City of Cortez Elections page.
