Colorado Voters to Consider Ballot Readability Measure

Amendment 85 aims to require that all local and statewide ballot questions be written at an eighth-grade reading level.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a graphite pencil and paper stack, symbolizing the push for simplified ballot language in Colorado elections. — Colorado voters will decide in November 2026 on Amendment 85, which would mandate that all ballot language be written at an eighth-grade reading level. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should ballot measures be limited to an eighth-grade reading level to improve accessibility?

Colorado voters will head to the polls in November 2026 to decide on Amendment 85, a measure that mandates ballot language be drafted at an eighth-grade reading level. The proposal seeks to simplify election questions to improve accessibility for all residents.

Why it matters

Proponents argue that simplified language makes voting more accessible for non-native English speakers and people with disabilities. Critics contend the measure could be used to remove essential context regarding government funding impacts from tax-related ballot questions.

Amendment 85 requires ballot questions be capped at an eighth-grade reading level, though the text of the amendment itself is currently written at an 11th-grade level. The measure applies to all local and statewide ballot initiatives across Colorado.

The players

Advance Colorado

Advance Colorado is a public policy advocacy group that serves as the primary sponsor for Amendment 85 and manages several other citizen-initiated measures.

The details

The initiative explicitly prohibits state laws from requiring ballot language that exceeds an eighth-grade comprehension threshold. It could spark legal challenges against a 2021 Colorado law that currently mandates specific explanations of government funding impacts for tax-cut measures.

A 2021 state law was passed requiring impact statements for tax measures.
New York enacted an eighth-grade readability law in 2023.
The deadline for submitting initiative drafts for the November ballot was April 2026.
A new Colorado plain language law took effect in August 2026.
Colorado voters are scheduled to vote on Amendment 85 in November 2026.

Political Context

The measure follows a trend set by the 2023 New York eighth-grade readability law by adopting similar constraints for voter comprehension. Opponents argue this creates a partisan shift by potentially obscuring the financial consequences of tax legislation.

If passed, voters can expect future ballot questions to be drafted in simpler language that is easier to read and comprehend. However, residents may lose access to detailed tax-impact disclosures currently required on local and state financial measures.

The takeaway

Voters should be aware that while simpler language can improve accessibility, it may also reduce the amount of technical information provided on tax issues. Preparing for the ballot requires reviewing both the summarized questions and the full legislative context of proposed amendments.