2026 Voter Guide: This article is part of Johnstown Republic’s guide to the Nov. 3 ballot.
Colorado voters will decide Amendment 86, a proposed constitutional amendment that would establish requirements for changing congressional district boundaries outside the normal once-a-decade redistricting process.
The citizen-initiated amendment requires at least 55% of the vote to pass, according to the official 2026 Colorado Blue Book.
What would Amendment 86 do?
Colorado currently redraws its congressional districts after each decennial census through the Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission, with final maps reviewed by the Colorado Supreme Court.
The current constitution establishes that regular process but does not specifically create a procedure for changing congressional districts between census-based redistricting cycles, according to the state’s ballot analysis.
Amendment 86 would establish requirements for any off-cycle redistricting that occurs before the next scheduled redistricting process.
Any proposed changes would have to:
- Be reviewed and approved by the Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission;
- Be adopted by the Colorado Supreme Court;
- Receive at least three public hearings before commission approval;
- Not intentionally favor a political party; and
- Not unnecessarily divide communities of interest.
Any off-cycle redistricting would also have to use population figures from the most recent census or another data source.
The amendment would not itself redraw Colorado’s congressional districts. It would establish the process and restrictions that would apply if an off-cycle redistricting effort is proposed.
What does a YES vote mean?
A YES vote would require any future off-cycle changes to Colorado’s congressional districts to go through the independent congressional redistricting commission and Colorado Supreme Court review process.
It would also require public hearings and prohibit off-cycle maps that intentionally favor a political party or unnecessarily divide communities of interest.
What does a NO vote mean?
A NO vote would leave Colorado’s current constitutional redistricting system unchanged.
Congressional districts would continue to be redrawn through the existing process following the once-a-decade census, without creating a separate constitutional process specifically governing off-cycle redistricting. (content.leg.colorado.gov)
What would it cost?
Amendment 86 would have no additional state cost unless an off-cycle congressional redistricting process occurs.
If the commission must reconvene between regular redistricting cycles, Legislative Council Staff estimates state spending would increase by approximately $367,600 in that fiscal year.
Those costs would include staff support for the commission, commissioner expenses and outside legal counsel. The Colorado Supreme Court would also have a small increase in workload to review any modified congressional map.
In years when no off-cycle redistricting occurs, the fiscal analysis estimates no additional state spending or revenue impact.
Arguments for and against
Supporters argue that Amendment 86 would ensure that any attempt to redraw Colorado’s congressional districts between census cycles goes through the same independent and public process voters established for regular redistricting. They contend that requiring commission review, public hearings and limits on partisan advantage would protect against political manipulation of district boundaries.
Opponents argue that the amendment could make it more difficult for Colorado voters to change congressional districts between census cycles if circumstances warrant it. They contend that requiring approval from the same commission involved in the regular redistricting process could unnecessarily restrict future options, including a voter-driven effort to respond to changing conditions or redistricting decisions made elsewhere.
Those arguments are summarized from the official Colorado Blue Book analysis.
What does this mean for Johnstown?
Amendment 86 would apply statewide and would affect how the boundaries of Colorado’s congressional districts could be changed between regular redistricting cycles.
The amendment contains no provisions specific to Johnstown and would not immediately change Johnstown’s congressional district. Its local relevance would arise only if Colorado undertakes an off-cycle congressional redistricting process that changes district boundaries affecting the Johnstown area.
Official information
The complete ballot analysis, fiscal-impact statement and text of Amendment 86 are available on the Colorado General Assembly’s official Amendment 86 page.