 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | | |
| | | | | BY MEGAN SCHRADER
MSCHRADER@DENVERPOST.COM / @MEGANSCHRADER On Tuesday, a U.S.
District Court judge ruled that the Colorado Republican Party could not close its primary just a few weeks away, shutting out thousands of voters who are not affiliated with any political party who planned to vote for their preferred candidate on the Republican slate. Judge Philip A. Brimmer is right — Coloradans who were in the know would have scrambled to change their party affiliation to Republican so they could cast a Republican Primary ballot (if that was the ballot they preferred to cast). But thousands of voters who missed the news that Republicans had shut them out of the election would be disappointed when their ballots arrived without the Republican slate. Perhaps they are former Republicans
excited to support Barbara Kirkmeyer for governor, or they could be former Democrats who moved to a Republican stronghold where the Republican Primary is the only election that matters because the general election is a foregone conclusion. No matter the reason for being unaffiliated, losing the ability to vote in the primary would drastically infringe on their constitutional right to participate in the election. And I would argue that is
the case now, just a few weeks from election day, and also a year out from election day. Voter registration is simply something Americans set and forget, and if Republicans close their primary, they should be forced to undergo a massive public information campaign to let unaffiliated voters know they must register as Republicans to participate in the primary. Want to sound off on a topic? Tap here to submit a letter to the editor or email your letter to openforum@denverpost.com.
 Joe Heller, hellertoons.com
Want to reach out? Email me or find me on X. While you're at it, follow The Denver Post Opinion Page on X. Forward this to a friend so they can subscribe to the newsletter, too. | | | | “I urge legislators to vote yes on HB 1308 and support more opportunities for attainable homeownership for people like me.” — Jesselina Cordova, Denver | | | | | For years, there have been loud voices opposing the very tools that can help reduce catastrophic wildfire risk — strategic thinning, fuel reduction, forest clearing where appropriate, and prescribed burns when conditions allow. Too often, these arguments are dressed up as environmental virtue. | | | | | In a functioning democracy, in a salvageable society, the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner would be condemned across party lines, across geographies and ideologies, and all the other stupid ways we divide ourselves. With all the important things we disagree about, this should unite us. | | | | | It is absolutely critical that both Democratic and Republican politicians — politicians from all sides — unite to condemn this attack and all political violence. Political commentators and influencers can also condemn this and all use of political violence. | | | | | “It does not seem equitable for us to be paying for more infrastructure when data centers and other large consumers have the benefit of lower rates.” — Ricki Feist, Centennial | | | | | Let’s get something straight: The people own elections in our country and our state, not political parties. But a recent federal court decision just made it easier for Colorado’s political parties to lock the state’s largest group of voters out of primary elections. | | | |
