Colorado’s Closed Road to the Ballot
How Caucuses, Assemblies, and Petitions Shape the Colorado Paradox
Published: May 20 2026
Author & Contact: Dr. Amy Spicer, Chief Impact Officer
Colorado’s Closed Road to the Ballot examines one of the most overlooked barriers in Colorado’s democracy: the difficulty everyday citizens and independent voices face in accessing the ballot and meaningfully participating in taxpayer-funded elections.
Through independent, cross-partisan analysis grounded in listening and learning, the report explores how current systems can limit political competition, constrain voter choice, and reinforce public frustration with politics. Drawing on research, national comparisons, and conversations with Coloradans across the state, the report seeks to elevate a broader conversation about representation, participation, and whether Colorado’s democratic structures are fully aligned with the state’s values of openness, innovation, and civic inclusion.
In doing so, the report highlights what Courageous Colorado calls the “Colorado Democracy Paradox” — the tension between having one of the nation’s most open and accessible voting systems for voters while maintaining one of the most closed and complex pathways for candidates and new voices seeking access to the ballot. This structure combined with the semi-closed primary which reduces meaningful votes in the general election ensures Colorado’s democracy is more closed than most realize. Colorado now has one of the most polarized legislatures in the country which represents a long-term governance challenge for the state and our future.
As Colorado enters another major primary election cycle, Courageous Colorado hopes the report will spark broader public understanding and dialogue about how our Colorado electoral systems function before Primary Election Day on June 30 and beyond.
