The Wonky Details
Getting a measure on the ballot isn’t just about slogans and signatures — it’s about navigating the intricate machinery of state election law. This page offers more details on the nuts and bolts of our campaign to expand Boulder County's Commissioners from 3 to 5.
Initiative Overview
What role do the Boulder County Commissioners play in our local communities?
Boulder County Commissioners are responsible for shaping many of the policies and services that directly impact our daily lives. They oversee countywide public health and human services, affordable housing initiatives, management of the county jail, and the allocation of certain state and federal funds. Their leadership helps ensure that community priorities are reflected in how local resources are managed and invested across the county.
What is the difference between a County Commissioner and a City Council Member?
County Commissioners manage the county’s operations and budget, including in areas like Ward, Niwot, Superior, and Nederland and unincorporated mountain towns. They are like the county’s “CEOs,” overseeing departments such as the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Management, and other county-wide services. City Council Members set priorities, pass local laws, and approve budgets. The council appoints a city manager to run day-to-day operations. In other words, the council acts like a “board of directors,” while the city manager is the “CEO.”
Why do we need more County Commissioners?
Boulder County serves around 330,000 people with a budget of roughly $700 million. For comparison, the City of Boulder has 9 council members plus a city manager to run a $600 million budget, serving 106,000 people. Five of the nine largest Front Range counties have expanded from 3 to 5 commissioners. Indeed, we haven’t increased the number of county commissioners since Boulder County was formed in 1861 and had only a few thousand residents. Boulder is the 9th largest county in Colorado — our population has simply outgrown three commissioners.
What are the goals of this ballot initiative?
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Broader Representation. By-district voting gives all communities a stronger voice. Currently, voters in larger cities can have an outsized influence.
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Balanced Decision-Making. With a three-member board, the third often becomes a decisive swing vote, constraining open discussion; a five-member board distributes influence more evenly and supports healthier, more informed deliberation.
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Increased Efficiency. Five commissioners can divide the workload, focusing more on specific issues and oversight.
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Improved Decision-Making. More voices mean more perspectives, thorough debate, and balanced decisions.
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More Candidates. Campaigning in smaller districts (~65,000 people) is easier than countywide (~330,000), encouraging more candidates to run. ​
District Versus At-Large Representation
What is the difference between district and at-large representation?
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District representation. Candidates run for a seat in their own district, and only residents of that district vote for them.
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At-large representation. Candidates run countywide, and all residents vote, regardless of where a candidate lives.
How are our county commissioners elected today?
Currently, commissioners live in specific districts but are elected by all voters in the county (a 3-district, at-large model)
What are our current districts?
With a total county population of around 330,000 residents, each district represents around 110,000 residents broken down as follows:
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District 1 - Boulder, Jamestown, Ward, Nederland, unincorporated areas
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District 2 - Longmont, Lyons, Niwot
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District 3 - Lafayette, Erie, Louisville, Superior, unincorporated areas
Why do we need more than three districts?
Boulder and Longmont each have over 100,000 residents, giving their voters an outsized influence in at-large commissioner elections. Adding two more districts would reduce each district to about 65,000 residents, creating fairer, more balanced representation—especially for mountain and unincorporated communities.
What are the two options being proposed in the ballot measure?
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Five district model: All five commissioners are elected by residents of their own district.
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Three district + two at-large model: Three commissioners are elected by district; two are elected countywide.
How would campaigning and residency work under each model?
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Five districts: All candidates must live in their district and campaign to ~65,000 residents.
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Three district + two at-large model. Three candidates campaign in their districts; two can live anywhere and campaign countywide to ~330,000 residents.
Why are there two options if Big Tent BoCo seems to be advocating for the 5 district option?
Colorado law requires voters to be offered two options. The 5-district model offers more equitable representation and makes campaigning more manageable.
If the 5-district option wins, what will the new districts look like?
We don’t know yet. Under the state laws governing redistricting, if the ballot measure passes, the current county commissioners would be responsible for determining the new district maps, likely with community input. Big Tent BoCo would seek to participate in this process to ensure fair representation.
Ballot Measure Process
Why does this have to be on the ballot?
State law allows counties with over 70,000 residents to increase commissioners from 3 to 5, but voters must approve it.
How many signatures will be needed to petition onto the ballot?
For 2026, 8% of votes cast in Boulder County in 2022 are required — 13,064 signatures from registered voters.
What is the deadline for obtaining these signatures?
The committee has 180 days, with a final submission deadline of July 20, 2026.
Could the County Commissioners elect to refer it to the ballot directly in order to avoid gathering signatures?
Yes, but their timeline is later and uncertain. Gathering signatures ensures it will appear on the 2026 ballot.
If this measure passes, when would it be effective?
The first election to bring the number of commissioners up to five would be in November 2028 (for a term starting January 2029). In that initial election, voters would be asked to elect four commissioners: two existing open seats plus two new seats added through this initiative. Of the two new seats being added, one would be for a 4-year term and the other would be for a 2-year term.
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​In the 2030 election, two commissioner seats would come up for the vote — one existing and the other upon the expiration of the 2-year term from the 2028 election. After these transitional elections, the election schedule would call for three commissioners to be elected in presidential election years and two commissioners to be elected in midterm election years.
If the 5 district option is selected, what is the process for completing the redistricting?
Commissioners must complete redistricting by July 1, 2027. The law requires at least one public hearing and encourages advisory committees to involve the community.
Would this measure have any impact on the existing commissioner terms of office?
No. Two of the three commissioners’ terms end in 2028 (Levy and Loachamin), and both are term limited. The third commissioner’s term ends in 2026 (Stolzmann). The winner of the 2026 commissioner election will serve a standard 4-year term.
Costs and Resources
What would be the incremental cost to the County if this measure passes?
The Boulder County Commissioners currently earn $151,000 per year. Adding benefits, the total cost of increasing from three county commissioners to five would be less than $400,000. In a Boulder County annual budget of $700 million, that incremental cost of a few hundred thousand dollars is miniscule. That's why so many counties in Colorado have moved to a five-commissioner system, ensuring better representation and better decision-making. They have decided that it's worth the investment. So should we.
County Benchmarking and Legislative Landscape
How many commissioners do other Colorado counties have?
Here is a list of the top ten largest counties in Colorado with commissioner size:
Are there state laws on how many commissioners a county can have?
Under state law, counties can only have 3 or 5 commissioners, depending upon the size of the county and certain county charter provisions. Typically, increasing the number of commissioners requires a ballot measure to amend the county charter.
In 2024, there was a bill introduced into the Colorado legislature that would have mandated 5 commissioners for counties greater than 250,000 in population (including Boulder County). While this bill was defeated in the last session, there continues to be discussion about pursuing this type of legislative change. If this change were to pass, then Boulder County - along with Jefferson, Douglas and Larimer counties - would be required to increase the size of their county commission.
Are there any counties similarly-sized to Boulder that have remained at 3 commissioners?
Douglas and Larimer counties. Douglas has seen recent and increasing discussions about expanding to five; Larimer has not.
For the similar-sized ones that have chosen to increase to 5, what model did they select (district vs. at-large)?
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Adams County (2012): 5 districts elected at-large.
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Weld County (1976): 3 districts + 2 at-large.