Dear Mile High City –

It’s been a heartbreaking month for democracy in our country.  

First, the Supreme Court gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, sharply narrowing how that law can justify race-conscious districting.   

The shift here means that before, courts required states to draw maps with districts that gave minority communities a fair and even shot at electing people who truly represented them. Those days are now gone. This is not only a fatal blow to Section 2 of the VRA but a direct slap in the face to the people who have fought and even died for our equal right to vote.   

Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. 

In response, we’re seeing a wave of state legislatures across the country now marginalizing groups of Black voters who representatives feel should not have a voice on the national scale.  

Our problems are not just at the federal level.  

Just last week, Governor Jared Polis bent to pressure from the Trump administration and granted clemency to Tina Peters, the former Mesa County Clerk who was found guilty of giving unauthorized access to voting machines to outside parties in the wake of the 2020 election. Governor Polis exhibited a shocking lack of spine, and his willingness to fall in line with President Trump’s dangerous and calculated undermining of free and fair elections is disgusting.  

Denver, make no mistake – democracy itself is under attack. In less than a year we’ve had to fight attempts to defund our elections at a local level, overcome federal intimidation, seen the will of voters being purposely subverted by the courts through the redistricting process, which is supposed to remain nonpartisan, and now our own governor bowing to political pressure from a mob boss president. The very foundations of our way of life are under a dangerous and quickly growing threat.  

My commitment as your independently elected Clerk to you remains the same – I will ALWAYS stand up for your right to access free, fair, and secure elections but your participation is the ultimate difference-maker. Voting is still the most powerful method to make the change you want to see in the world and to send a clear message that in the United States of America, the Constitution is not a suggestion.  

Every election matters.  

In Solidarity,

Hon. Paul D. López

Your Clerk & Recorder

DCR & City Council Work Together to Update Denver's Lobbying Laws

Denver's current lobbying law is dated, confusing, and does not provide meaningful transparency about who is influencing citywide decisions. Recent high-profile issues have exposed gaps in disclosure and oversight, and the Denver Clerk & Recorder is partnering with City Council to correct this issue. 


Should it pass, this measure would align Denver with state law and protocols in peer cities. More specifically, it would: 


• Require lobbyists to publicly disclose who is paying them
• Make it easier for the public to see what specific issues, policies, or legislation lobbyists are trying to influence
• Require disclosure of organized campaigns designed to influence public opinion on city issues
• Increase transparency about meetings between lobbyists and city officials
• Prevent former elected officials from immediately becoming lobbyists by creating a mandatory waiting period before they can lobby city government
  

What This Measure Does Not Do

• It does not limit free speech or advocacy
• It does not target specific industries or individuals
• It does not eliminate existing exemptions such as volunteers


On Tuesday, May 19, City Council's Community Planning and Housing Committee heard Council Bill 26-0686 and voted to advance it to the full council. The bill is set for a first reading on June 1 and a second reading on June 8 that will include a 15-minute public comment session and final vote.

Pride Marriage Marathon Coming Soon!

The Denver Clerk & Recorder is proud to host our second Pride Marriage Marathon!

This year, we're kicking off Pride Month by celebrating love in all forms. Join us from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, June 5 at the Denver Clerk & Recorder Building - 200 W. 14th Ave. - for a marathon of love and marriage. Clerk Paul López, Denver County Court judges, and other marriage officiants will be on hand to help you celebrate your love! Please fill out your marriage application before arriving. Marriage licenses will be available for $30.

Skip the stress and celebrate your love in a joyful, welcoming space. No appointments, just good vibes, happy tears, and unforgettable moments.

DCR Closed in Observation of Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the service members who gave their lives in defense of our country. All Denver city offices, including the Denver Clerk & Recorder, will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observation of Memorial Day.

Services will resume when the office opens at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26. 

Overseas and Military Ballots Sent

The 2026 State Primary Election is roughly five weeks away and voting is already underway for uniformed and oversees citizens.



The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) was passed to ensure Americans who are serving in the military, living abroad, or stationed away from home can still get their ballot and have access to vote in Colorado elections. Ballots are sent to them ahead of everyone else to give them enough time to receive, vote, and return their ballot from anywhere in the world.

On May 16, the Denver Clerk & Recorder sent UOCAVA ballots to Colorado voters living outside of the U.S. or serving in the United States military overseas. 

Mark Your Calendars for a Drop Box Opening Celebration!

Denver Elections will celebrate the opening of our 48th 24-hour ballot drop box in partnership with Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez and the Denver Public Library, and we invite you to join us!  

 We'll cut the ribbon at the Athmar Park Library at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 8! This date also marks the opening of all Denver’s ballot drop boxes for the State Primary Election. Enjoy refreshments, register to vote, and get answers to your election questions.  

Mark your calendars for June 8 to celebrate expanded voting access in Denver! 

Election Clean-Up Bill Passes State Legislature

The Colorado State Legislature recently passed HB26-1113, which will clarify and modernize a handful of elections-related procedures in Colorado.

Among other changes, the bill now allows a passport card to be accepted as a valid form of voter identification when registering to vote or voting in person, alters various timing requirements at VSPC, lowers the Student Election Judge age from 16 to 15, and updates the standards of various election-related offenses.

The bill is still awaiting signature by Governor Jared Polis.

Clerk López Discusses Primary Election Plan with Denver Voters

Clerk López is leading discussions across Denver about the June 30 State Primary Election with State House Districts, neighborhood groups, unions, and location nonprofits. These conversations focus on sharing important election updates, locations of 24-hour ballot drop boxes and Voter Service and Polling Sites, and key community messages to encourage voter participation and city-wide turnout. 

Thank you to the following organizations that have hosted Clerk López in the past month:

• National Association of Letter Carriers
• Colorado Black Women for Political Action
• House District 7 Democrats
• House District 5 Democrats
• Denver Republican Party
• East Colfax Neighborhood Association

If you are interested in hosting a community conversation with Clerk López, please use complete our Speaker Request Form.  

Civic Cafecito at Convivo Café 

Join Amigas in Tech, the Latina Initiative, Civically Fit, and the Denver Clerk & Recorder for a Civic Cafecito at Convivo Café on Friday, May 29 at 9:00 am. We’ll prepare you to navigate upcoming June 30 State Primary Election, discuss the Voting Rights Act, and make sure your informed and engaged this election season.  

Learn more about the Denver Civic Cafecito and register today!   

Join the Clerk & Recorder at Juneteenth! 

The Denver Clerk & Recorder is excited to support the 2026 Juneteenth Music Festival and Parade on Saturday, June 20 in the historic Five Points neighborhood! Join us to celebrate freedom, culture, and community at Denver’s largest Juneteenth celebration.  

Stop by the DCR booth to register to vote, check your voter registration, learn about the June 30 State Primary Election, and get a “Let’s Vote!” reusable fan.  

Empowering the Next Generation of Voters

Clerk López joined representatives from Colorado Secretary of State to award the Student Voice and Leadership Class at Northfield High School with the Eliza Pickrell Routt Award, presented to high school’s that achieve 85% or higher voter registration among eligible seniors.  

Named after the first woman registered to vote in Colorado, the Eliza Pickrell Routt Award recognizes a strong commitment to promoting civic engagement among young voters.  



More information and resources about DCR’s High School Voter Registration Program can be found on our website! 

Working to Educate Future New Citizens

The DPS Far Northeast Community Hub invited Clerk López to be a guest lecturer for their citizenship program, where he led a class on voter education and provided an overview of the election process, eligibility, and ways to participate. Participants were DPS parents who have been recently naturalized or are pursuing their U.S. citizenship. 

DPS Community Hubs provide a holistic approach to student learning address a holistic approach to student learning through programs and services that support the social, emotional, physical, academic and basic needs of families. 

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