Amendment 84: Mail Ballot Voter Identification

Colorado · initiated constitutional amendment · on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The ballot wording and the arguments for and against from the state’s official voter guide, in the state’s own words, each read the same way for rhetorical techniques. We don’t recommend a vote.

On the ballot

no rhetorical technique found

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution requiring a voter to sign and include the last four digits of their social security number or their Colorado driver’s license or identification card number on the outside of their mail ballot for any federal or state election, and, in connection therewith, allowing the voter to correct missing or incorrect information, including with alternative forms of identification; and prohibiting a county clerk and recorder from counting the mail ballot unless the problem is fixed?

From coloradosos.gov. Checked 2026-10-20. Confirm with your official ballot (sample-ballot lookup).

Argument for

By Colorado Legislative Council Staff (State Ballot Information Booklet)

no rhetorical technique found

1) Additional voter verification for mail ballots strengthens election security while preserving convenient access to voting. Government-issued identification documents are more consistent and less subjective than the current signature verification process. Most voters already have an eligible identification card, or know their social security number.

If a voter does not have one of the required forms of identification to complete their mail ballot, they can choose to vote in person using several identification options. Adding a convenient form of additional verification for mail ballots promotes public confidence that ineligible ballots will not be counted.

From content.leg.colorado.gov, the official voter guide.

Argument against

By Colorado Legislative Council Staff (State Ballot Information Booklet)

no rhetorical technique found

1) The measure adds an unnecessary burden to voting, without meaningfully improving election security. The measure could result in eligible voters’ ballots not being counted due to minor mistakes when submitting their mail ballot.

Further, voters who have privacy concerns about providing sensitive information when submitting their ballot or who are unable to produce the required identification will be discouraged from using mail ballots, which is Colorado's most commonly used and convenient method of voting.

The current signature verification process is effective, secure, and convenient for voters and it successfully identifies the rare cases when ineligible individuals attempt to submit a mail ballot.

From content.leg.colorado.gov, the official voter guide.

Who’s behind it

Party positions: Colorado Democratic Party: No · Colorado Republican Party: No position published · Libertarian Party of Colorado: No position · Colorado Forward Party: No position

Committees registered to support or oppose Amendment 84, and what they reported to Colorado Secretary of State TRACER (tracer.sos.colorado.gov). Checked 2026-10-20.

Before comparing the sides: each committee’s figures come from its own latest report, so they can cover different dates. Some committees work on more than one measure or other campaigns, and their totals include all of it. A side with no registered committee can still have supporters. How much a side raised says nothing about whether the measure is a good idea.

Supporting

COLORADO VOTER TRUST INITIATIVE

Ballot measure committee

Raised $6,600,000 · spent $5,750,055 · as reported through Oct 14, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

AMERICAN PROSPERITY CAUCUS · $2,400,000
Other
COALITION FOR AMERICAN PROSPERITY & GROWTH, INC. · $2,200,000
Other
A PUBLIC VOICE · $1,000,000
501(c)(4) nonprofit
AMERICAN JOBS AND GROWTH FUND · $1,000,000
Other

Opposing

DEFEND OUR BALLOTS ISSUE COMMITTEE

Ballot measure committee

Raised $236,000 · spent $75,000 · as reported through Oct 14, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

DEFEND OUR BALLOTS 501(C)(4) · $161,000
501(c)(4) nonprofit
POWERS, JOHN · $50,000 · individual
own contributions since Jan 1, 2020, federal (FEC): $594,248 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees, $13,400 to others; Colorado state (TRACER): $71,855 to Democratic and $400 to Republican candidates and party committees
CHAMBERS, MERLE · $25,000 · individual
own contributions since Jan 1, 2020, federal (FEC): $4,614,737 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees, $24,106 to others; Colorado state (TRACER): $101,150 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees; $1,900 to candidates for nonpartisan offices

VOTE COMMON SENSE

Ballot measure committee

Raised $809,840 · spent $130,112 · as reported through Oct 14, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

GREEN ADVOCACY PROJECT · $200,000
501(c)(4) nonprofit
COLORADO FUND FOR CHILDREN & PUBLIC EDUCATION · $115,000
Other · Colorado state contributions since Jan 1, 2025: $4,500 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees; $16,059 to candidates for nonpartisan offices (TRACER)
CHAMBERS, MERLE · $100,000 · individual
own contributions since Jan 1, 2020, federal (FEC): $4,614,737 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees, $24,106 to others; Colorado state (TRACER): $101,150 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees; $1,900 to candidates for nonpartisan offices
CONSERVATION COLORADO · $65,000
501(c)(4) nonprofit · Colorado state contributions since Jan 1, 2025: $750 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees (TRACER)
COBALT ADVOCATES · $65,000
501(c)(4) nonprofit · federal PAC contributions, 2025–26: $2,000 to Democratic and $0 to Republican candidates and party committees (FEC)

This committee is registered for more than one measure; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

PEOPLE FOR A FAIR COLORADO

Ballot measure committee

Registered; no financial report filed yet.

MAKE GOOD CHANGE

Ballot measure committee

“The People's Ballot is an unofficial voter guide to the 14 statewide ballot measures on Colorado's Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot.” — its website

Registered; no financial report filed yet.

A rhetorical technique is about wording, not about whether a measure is a good idea or an argument is true. Ballot wording is written under each state’s own rules, and official arguments by the people the state names. All Colorado measures →