Denver's special election, November 3, 2026
One at-large seat on Denver City Council, on the same ballot as the November general election. What the race is, and how to vote in it.
- Election day
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026On the same ballot as the November general election.
- The seat
- City Council At-LargeAt-large means the seat represents the whole city, not one district.
- Why there is a vacancy
- Sarah Parady stepped down August 5, 2026This election fills the rest of her term.
- How it's won
- Most votes wins, no runoffOne seat, one round.
How to vote
- October 5
- Ballots go outDenver mails a ballot to every active registered voter. The 24-hour drop boxes open the same day.
- October 12
- First vote center opensDenver Central Library. More open October 19, and the rest through November 2.
- October 26
- Last day to register by mailRegister by this day and a ballot still comes to you in the mail. It's also the last day to mail your ballot back and be sure it arrives.
- November 3
- Election Day, 7 p.m.The Clerk has to have your ballot by 7 p.m. A postmark doesn't count. Vote centers close at 7 p.m. too.
Public money, not big money
Denver's Fair Elections Fund matches the first $50 of a qualifying contribution from a Denver resident at 9 to 1, and caps any one person at $415. Campaigns that take the Fund live under those stricter limits. How the match works on this campaign.
Questions people actually ask
Who is running?
Jake Browne is running for the at-large seat. The full list of candidates, and what each one has filed, is on the candidate list.
Is this the same ballot as the November election?
Yes. The special election is on the same ballot as the November general election.
How long is the term?
The winner serves the rest of the vacated term. That's why this campaign published four promises for a 19-week term instead of a four-year platform.
What does an at-large council member do?
Votes on city contracts, budgets, and ordinances for the whole city. This campaign's plan for that vote is on the plan page.
How is the race financed?
Through Denver's Fair Elections Fund, described above. This campaign takes no corporate or PAC money and publishes every dollar out on the receipts page.
When do Denver ballots mail for the November 3, 2026 election?
October 5. Denver mails a ballot to every active registered voter, and the 24-hour drop boxes open the same day.
When is the last day to register to vote?
October 26 is the last day to register and still get a ballot in the mail. After that you can register in person at a vote center, through Election Day.
Where do I return my ballot?
Any of Denver's 24-hour drop boxes, or a vote center. If you mail it, October 26 is the last day to be sure it arrives. The Clerk has to have it by 7 p.m. on November 3. A postmark doesn't count.
When do vote centers open?
The first opens October 12 at the Denver Central Library. More open October 19, and the rest through November 2. All of them close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Dates come from the Denver Clerk and Recorder's Upcoming Elections page and the Colorado Secretary of State's 2026 election calendar. If they change, the Clerk's page wins.