Boulder 2025 Election Guide: What to know before you vote on Nov. 4

Jump to a section of the guide:

Overview • Register to vote • Key dates • How to vote • Ballot measures • City council candidate profiles • Candidate questionnaire responses • BVSD school board candidate profiles and questionnaire responses • Election news

Overview

On Nov. 4, Boulder voters will choose four city councilmembers. All four incumbents — Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Folkerts and Councilmembers Nicole Speer, Matt Benjamin and Mark Wallach — are running to keep their seats, so the outcome will decide whether voters return them to office or bring in new voices to the nine-member council.

Boulder voters approved ranked-choice voting only for the mayoral elections. The next mayoral election is in 2026, so in this cycle the council seats are decided by a simple plurality: the four candidates with the highest vote totals win.

Unlike in past cycles, there are no resident-led ballot measures, leaving the race without a single defining issue. Instead, attention has shifted to the crowded field of 11 candidates. Voters will also decide three ballot measures — one city measure and two county measures — all involving either new or extended sales taxes.

Factions and endorsements

The Boulder Progressives are backing three incumbents — Folkerts, Speer and Benjamin. The group’s central platform has long been pro-housing and pro-urban density. A looser opposition bloc — sometimes described as more “conservative” (a relative term in Boulder politics) on development and public safety — includes groups like Open Boulder, PLAN-Boulder County and others. They’re backing challengers Jenny Robins and Rob Kaplan, as well as incumbent Wallach. Benjamin is the only candidate to receive endorsements from both sides.

Key dividing lines

Robins and Kaplan’s supporters and campaign groups are targeting the seats held by Speer and Folkerts. One clear dividing line has emerged: the minimum wage and tipped workers. Speer and Folkerts, for instance, have sided with unions and worker advocates in seeking larger increases to the minimum wage, while Wallach and Benjamin have generally aligned with restaurant interests.

Two candidates — Rob Smoke and Aaron Stone — are campaigning largely on foreign policy, urging Boulder to take action against Israel in response to the war in Gaza, including divestment from certain companies. That issue has dominated open comment at city council meetings for more than a year and is now shaping aspects of the campaign.

Other priorities and the Iris debate

Otherwise, candidates sound similar on many priorities: housing affordability, homelessness, wildfire preparedness and the strained city budget. A notable split has emerged over the redesign of Iris Avenue, a high-profile transportation project that has become a proxy for a broader debate in Boulder: whether the city should prioritize bike and pedestrian infrastructure and safer streets for all users, or preserve car access and neighborhood convenience.

The stakes

With four of nine council seats on the line, voters could either cement the current progressive-leaning majority or shift power toward a more splintered council. But in reality, the voting lines are not always clear. As our vote tracker shows, councilmembers frequently align even on the thorniest issues. Some Boulder Progressive–backed candidates, for instance, have voted differently from their Progressive colleagues. So while voters may cast ballots along perceived factional lines, how members ultimately vote on the dais may not match those expectations. See the current council’s votes on high-profile issues:

Explore our candidate questionnaires to see where they stand on housing, homelessness, wildfire mitigation, budget priorities, foreign affairs and more. Responses are being published here and under each candidate’s profile. And you can find all of our 2025 election coverage here.

Register to vote

You can vote in Colorado elections if you:

Are at least 18 years old.
Are a United States citizen.
Have lived in Colorado at least 22 days before the election.
Under Colorado law, people serving sentences for felony convictions are prohibited from voting. However, those detained in jail pretrial or serving sentences for misdemeanors have the right to vote, according to the Colorado Secretary of State.

If you meet these criteria, you can register to vote online, by mail or in person at any of the three Boulder County Clerk and Recorder offices.

Boulder: 1750 33rd Street (main office)
Longmont: 529 Coffman Street
Lafayette: 1376 Miners Drive

If you’re a CU Boulder student, registering to vote can take a few extra steps, but it’s still straightforward.

Can’t remember if you’re registered already? Check your status here.

Key dates

Deadline to register: All eligible Colorado voters will automatically be mailed a ballot beginning Oct. 10. But if you want to get a ballot mailed to you, you need to be registered to vote at least eight days before the election, Oct. 27 this year. You can register to vote right up until and including Election Day at voting centers.
Early voting: Drop boxes will open as Boulder County residents begin receiving their ballots on Oct. 10. There are many drop boxes to choose from in each town, all listed on the county’s website.
Final voting deadline: Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2025.

How to vote

Mail-in voting: If you’re mailing in your ballot, it’s recommended you get it in the mail by Oct. 27 to ensure it arrives by Election Day.

Drop boxes: Dropping your ballot in a designated box is one of the easiest options, especially if you prefer not to mail it. Each town has multiple boxes available for voters.

In-person voting: Another good option, particularly if you still need to register, lost your ballot or simply prefer to vote in person.

Boulder: Boulder County Clerk and Recorder, 1750 33rd Street; University Memorial Center, 1669 Euclid Avenue
Lafayette: Southeast County Community Hub, 1755 S. Public Road
Longmont: St. Vrain Community Hub, 515 Coffman Street

What ballot measures are on the ballot?

City measure • County measures• Colorado propositions

City of Boulder measure

Ballot Question 2A and 2B: Extension of the Community, Culture, Resilience & Safety (CCRS) Sales Tax

Boulder voters will decide whether to make the city’s existing 0.3% Community, Culture, Resilience & Safety (CCRS) sales and use tax permanent. The tax currently funds capital construction, renovation, and maintenance projects across the city.

If approved, the extension is expected to generate about $15 million annually for projects such as:

Road and bike lane improvements
Recreation center and playground renovations
Parks, trails, and trailhead upgrades
Snow and ice response
Fire and police station renovations
Bridge replacements

The measure would also authorize the city to increase its debt capacity for capital projects up to $262 million. Officials say the combined funding would help address a $380 million backlog in maintenance and repair needs.

City council voted unanimously to place the measure on the Nov. 4 ballot after a city survey showed strong support. More than 60% of respondents favored the sales tax extension.

That same survey found little support for a proposed property tax increase that would have raised about $7 million annually for similar projects. Only 38% of voters said they supported the “public realm tax,” and skepticism about city spending and concerns about already high property taxes led councilmembers to abandon the idea. They worried the property tax measure could jeopardize the more popular sales tax extension.

City officials acknowledge that sales taxes are a volatile revenue source and fall more heavily on lower-income residents. But with majority support in polling, councilmembers concluded the CCRS extension had the best chance of passing and would provide the most immediate funding for the city’s infrastructure backlog.

What a Yes/No Vote Means

Yes: Makes the 0.3% CCRS sales and use tax permanent and authorizes up to $262 million in new debt for capital projects.
No: The 0.3% CCRS tax will expire in 2036 unless extended, and the city could lose up to about $15 million in annual funding for capital projects.

Boulder County measures

Boulder County Ballot Issue 1B: Mental and Behavioral Health Sales and Use Tax

Boulder County voters will decide whether to approve a new 0.15% countywide sales and use tax to fund mental health and addiction services.

If passed, the tax is projected to raise about $13.8 million in 2026. The money would support:

Prevention and crisis response
Addiction treatment and recovery services
Navigation programs to connect residents to resources
Grants to community providers

The measure includes a three-year sunset clause, meaning voters would need to reauthorize it in 2028.

County officials say the new tax is needed as federal pandemic stimulus dollars expire, threatening programs such as the county’s mental health navigation service and its non-police response team for mental health emergencies.

The proposal has sparked debate. Supporters, including Commissioner Claire Levy, argue new funding is urgently needed to maintain and expand behavioral health services in a strained system. Critics — including State Sen. Judy Amabile, some city councilmembers and advocates — have warned the measure is too broad, risks backfilling existing programs rather than building new capacity, and does not prioritize long-term residential treatment, which many see as a major gap in the county’s system. However, even early critics of the measure are likely to rally behind it given the demand for mental health services.

What a Yes/No Vote Means

Yes: Approves a 0.15% countywide sales and use tax for three years, generating about $13.8 million annually for mental health and addiction services.
No: Rejects the tax. Without new funding, county officials say several behavioral health programs supported by one-time federal stimulus dollars will be cut or eliminated.

Boulder County Ballot Issue 1A: Open Space Sales and Use Tax Extension

Boulder County voters will decide whether to extend a 0.15% countywide sales and use tax that funds the county’s open space program. The tax currently generates about $15 million annually and is set to expire at the end of 2030.

If approved, the measure would extend the tax permanently. Revenue would support land acquisition, trail construction, habitat conservation, park and facility maintenance, and agricultural leases on county open space. Together with other open space taxes, this funding provides about $47 million annually to preserve more than 100,000 acres of land.

Open space taxes have historically received strong support in Boulder County. Advocates say the extension is needed to prevent a budget shortfall when existing taxes expire in the early 2030s.

The measure has drawn some opposition from farmers and ranchers, who argue that while the tax preserves land, it does too little to support agriculture on that land. They have urged changes to direct more funding toward farmworker housing, irrigation system upgrades, and modern wash-and-pack facilities.

See Boulder County’s website for more.

Colorado propositions

Proposition LL

The proposition would let the state keep about $12 million in excess revenue collected for the Healthy School Meals for All program rather than refunding it under TABOR rules. The change would affect only households earning more than $300,000 a year.

Proposition MM

Proposition MM, a larger companion measure to LL, would raise income taxes on those same high-income households to generate new ongoing revenue for the program. The additional money would pay for free meals for all students, raise wages for cafeteria workers and help purchase produce from local farmers.

Together, the two measures aim to sustain free breakfasts and lunches beyond 2025. If LL fails, the state must issue refunds, and only higher-poverty schools would continue offering free meals next year.

Chalkbeat Colorado and CPR have handy explainers on the propositions. Check out BRL food editor John Lehndorff’s coverage of what’s at stake for BVSD.

What city council candidates are on the ballot?

Where do council candidates stand on key issues?

In the lead-up to the Nov. 4 election, Boulder Reporting Lab asked each of the 11 city council candidates to answer our questionnaire. All candidates responded. The questions are listed below and link to their answers.

Experience: What perspective or lived experience would you bring to council, and how would it shape your approach to policy?
Homelessness: Should Boulder enforce its camping ban when the All Roads shelter is full? Answer yes or no, and explain.
Wildfire mitigation: Should Boulder require existing homes (not just new construction) to meet wildfire mitigation standards — such as clearing five feet around structures and banning wood fences near homes? Please answer yes or no, and explain.
Foreign affairs: Should Boulder City Council weigh in on foreign affairs? If not, how should it handle the protests and tensions in council chambers over the war in Gaza — including rules for public comment, safety and free speech?
Housing shortage: Boulder needs thousands of new homes by 2032 to meet demand and stabilize housing costs. What specific actions would you take to overcome barriers — such as high costs, community opposition and zoning limits — and increase housing supply?
Budget priorities: With sales tax revenue slowing, a hiring freeze in place, and a $380 million maintenance backlog, the city faces tough budget choices. What would be your top spending priorities — and what would you cut or delay?

What BVSD board candidates are on the ballot?

See the six questions we asked each BVSD candidate in our questionnaire, covering topics such as fiscal responsibility, declining enrollment, AI in classrooms and student mental health, along with their responses.