Proposed tax for Colorado Connector train appearing on too many ballots, tell me about this news today

A printing and boundary error has caused a proposed passenger rail taxBallot Issue 7Ato mistakenly appear on the November ballots of Colorado residents who live outside the designated taxing district.

What the Ballot Measure Proposes

Ballot Issue 7A asks voters in the Front Range Passenger Rail District to approve a sales tax (approximately 0.333%, or about 10 cents on a $30 purchase). The revenue is intended to fund service expansions and station improvements for the Colorado Connector (nicknamed “CoCo”), a planned passenger rail line connecting communities along the Front Range corridor between Fort Collins, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo.

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Why It Is on Too Many Ballots

Only registered voters residing within the official service boundaries of the Front Range Passenger Rail District are legally eligible to vote on the measure.

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However, election offices confirmed that the question was included on ballot styles delivered to voters who live outside those boundaries. The issue primarily affects portions of Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Weld counties.

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How the Error Occurred and What Happens Next

• Cause: The mistake stemmed from boundary mapping and data coordination discrepancies between the rail district and county clerk offices when configuring specific ballot styles for local precincts prior to printing.

• Next Steps: Election officials and the Colorado Secretary of State’s office have acknowledged the discrepancy. While ballots are already printed and being mailed, election departments are putting procedures in place to ensure that votes on Issue 7A cast by voters living outside the district boundaries will be isolated and not counted toward the final tally.

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