Colorado § 32-9-111 - Election of directors - dates - terms.

§ 32-9-111. Election of directors - dates - terms.

(1) (a) After the federal census in 1980 and each federal census thereafter before the 2030 federal census, the board of directors shall apportion the composition of the board into compact and contiguous director districts so that the fifteen directors will represent, to the extent practical, the people of the district on the basis of population. Such apportionment must be completed before March 15 of the second year following that in which the federal census is taken and must be made only upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total membership of the board. If such apportionment is not completed before March 15 of such year, the legislative council, with the assistance of the director of research of the legislative council and the director of the office of legislative legal services, shall, by April 15, apportion the composition of the board into compact and contiguous director districts so that the fifteen directors will represent, to the extent practicable, the people of the district on the basis of population. The apportionment recommended by the legislative council must be submitted to the general assembly, which shall approve or amend the apportionment before May 1 of such year.

(b) If a petition or election results in the inclusion of an area within the district pursuant to section 32-9-106.7, the board shall, within forty-five days, vote to include the new area in one or more existing adjacent director districts based, to the extent practical, on population. The vote by the board shall require a two-thirds majority.

(c) On or before September 15, 2027, the office of legislative legal services and the legislative council staff shall apportion the composition of the board into compact and contiguous director districts so that the five elected directors will represent, to the extent practical, the people of the district on the basis of population. The five elected directors who will be elected at the general election in November 2028 will be elected from these five director districts.

(d) After the federal census in 2030 and after each federal census thereafter, the independent legislative redistricting commission created pursuant to section 46 of article V of the state constitution shall apportion the composition of the board into compact and contiguous director districts so that the five elected directors will represent, to the extent practical, the people of the district on the basis of population. The apportionment of director districts must be completed on the same timeline and using the same procedures as those specified for the apportionment of senatorial and representative districts in sections 46 to 48.3 of article V of the state constitution.

(2) Such director districts shall be composed of general election precincts established by the boards of county commissioners of those counties, all or part of which are within the district, and by the election commission of the city and county of Denver. No general election precinct may be split into two or more director districts.

(3) The regular district election shall be held jointly with the state general election in every even-numbered year as provided in section 1-7-116, C.R.S., and the first election shall be held in 1982. Each director shall be elected by the eligible electors residing within the director district.

(4) (a) Except as provided in this subsection (4), the regular term of office of directors shall be four years.

(b) At the election held in 1982, eight members of the board shall be elected for two-year terms. The two-year terms shall be determined by lot at the first meeting of the board following the apportionment of director districts. Seven members shall be elected for four-year terms.

(c) At the general election held in November 2028, two of the five members elected will be elected to two-year terms. The two-year terms will be determined by lot during the apportionment process pursuant to subsection (1)(c) of this section.

(5) (a) Except as provided in this subsection (5), nominations for an election of directors shall be made in accordance with the general election laws of the state. Nominations for directors shall be made by petition and filed in the office of the secretary of state in the manner provided for independent candidates pursuant to section 1-4-802 and part 9 of article 4 of title 1, C.R.S. The petitions shall be signed by at least two hundred fifty eligible electors residing within the director district in which the officer is to be elected.

(b) to (d) (Deleted by amendment, L. 92, p. 908, § 160, effective January 1, 1993.)

(e) It is the intent of the people of the state of Colorado that the election of directors be conducted in the most efficient and economical manner which is practicable.

(f) Every candidate for director shall comply with the provisions of article 45 of title 1, C.R.S.

(g) (I) A candidate for elected director is not eligible for election as a write-in candidate.

(II) (A) If, for any district election, there is not a candidate for director who is nominated for election pursuant to this section, a director is appointed in lieu of the director being elected by the eligible electors of the district. In such case, a director is appointed by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the director district is located or, in the case of a director district in a city and county, the director is appointed by the mayor of the city and county with the approval of the city council. In the case of a director district that contains territory in two or more counties, or in a city and county and in one or more counties, a director is appointed by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the largest number of eligible electors of the director district reside; except that, if the largest number of eligible electors of the director district reside in the city and county, the director is appointed by the mayor of the city and county with the approval of the city council.

(B) A director appointed pursuant to this subsection (5)(g)(II) serves until the next regular November election, at which the director position is filled by election pursuant to this section.

(6) (Deleted by amendment, L. 92, p. 908, § 160, effective January 1, 1993.)

(7) Members elected from districts drawn in accordance with subsection (1)(c) or (1)(d) of this section may serve up to two terms, with each term expiring after a member has served for four consecutive calendar years. Any term served by a member that lasts for less than two years does not count toward the member's two-term limit, but a member shall not serve more than eight total years on the board. A term that a member served on the board prior to January 1, 2029, counts toward that member's two-term limit.

Source: L. 69: p. 717, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 89-20-10. L. 75: Entire section amended, p. 1304, § 3, effective July 1. Initiated 80: Entire section R&RE, effective upon proclamation of the Governor, December 19, 1980. L. 81: (1) and (5)(a)(III) amended, p. 1645, § 1, effective June 8. L. 82: (1) amended and (5)(f) added, pp. 496, 497, §§ 1, 2, effective March 25. L. 83: (6) amended, p. 1282, § 2, effective June 3. L. 88: (1)(a) amended, p. 312, § 23, effective May 23. L. 90: (1)(a) amended, p. 325, § 5, effective June 9. L. 91: (5)(a) amended, p. 799, § 1, effective March 27. L. 92: (3), (5)(a) to (5)(d), and (6) amended, p. 908, § 160, effective January 1, 1993. L. 94: (1)(b) amended, p. 1339, § 3, effective May 25; (3) amended, p. 1643, § 69, effective May 31. L. 95: (3) amended, p. 1107, § 49, effective May 31. L. 96: (1)(b) amended, p. 308, § 3, effective April 15. L. 98: (1)(b) amended, p. 1271, § 2, effective June 1. L. 99: (1)(b) amended, p. 419, § 3, effective April 30. L. 2001: (5)(a) amended, p. 1005, § 16, effective August 8. L. 2007: (1)(b) amended, p. 835, § 7, effective May 14. L. 2025: (5)(g) added, (SB 25-161), ch. 186, p. 821, § 7, effective May 13. L. 2026: (1)(a) and (4) amended and (1)(c), (1)(d), and (7) added, (SB 26-150), ch. 152, p. 845, § 5, effective August 12.

Editor's note: For the complete initiated measure and the votes cast for the adoption or rejection thereof, see L. 81, pp. 2057-2060.

Cross references: For the short title ("Modernizing the Regional Transportation District Act") in SB 26-150, see section 1 of chapter 152, Session Laws of Colorado 2026.