The Colorado Supreme Court rejected ballot measures to suspend the state’s independent redistricting commission ahead of the 2028 elections.
The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday unanimously rejected three proposed ballot measures that sought to temporarily alter the state’s congressional redistricting process ahead of the 2028 and 2030 election cycles. Backed by the political group Coloradans for a Level Playing Field, the initiatives aimed to bypass the independent redistricting commission originally established by voters in 2018. Had the measures qualified for the November ballot and passed, they would have suspended the current system and allowed voters to approve a freshly drawn congressional map directly.
Supporters of the campaign argued that the adjustments were necessary to reshape district lines effectively, while vocal opponents contended the plan would severely damage the state’s established, impartial redistricting framework. In three separate opinions issued on Monday, the state’s highest court ruled that every proposed measure violated Colorado’s strict constitutional single-subject requirement. This legal hurdle effectively halts the initiative and prevents it from reaching voters this fall.
Chief Justice Monica Marquez authored the unanimous decisions, emphasizing the sweeping nature of the proposed changes. She noted that altering the constitutionally mandated frequency of redistricting constitutes a seismic shift away from the established process enshrined in the state constitution, rather than merely acting as an administrative mechanism for a new map.