2026 Niwot Incorporation Election
A neutral voter-information page. It explains what is on the ballot, who may vote and where the official resources are. It does not argue for or against incorporation.
Election status
A coordinated election held with other Boulder County contests.
Registered electors residing within the proposed boundary.
A coordinated mail-ballot election, with drop-off and voting locations published by the county.
In coordination with the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder.
The date this page was last checked against official sources.
The certified ballot language published by the Commission is authoritative.
The official ballot language controls. Wording on this page is a plain-language summary. Where it differs from the certified ballot text published by the Niwot Election Commission, the Commission’s text is authoritative.
Three questions
Voters inside the proposed boundary decide three separate matters. Approval of one does not automatically decide another.
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Whether Niwot should incorporate as a municipality
Whether the territory described in the petition should be organized as a Colorado municipality. Approval would begin the creation of a town government; rejection would leave the area unincorporated and administered by Boulder County.
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Whether to form a nine-member home rule charter commission
Whether a commission of nine members should be formed to draft a proposed home rule charter for the new municipality. The commission drafts a charter; it does not adopt one.
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Which nine charter commission candidates should be elected
Which candidates would serve on that charter commission if the applicable measures are approved. Candidates appear on the same ballot.
Five fiscal issues
Each is a separate authorization. They are listed here as filed, without argument about whether they are advisable.
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A 2.5% sales and use tax beginning January 1, 2028
Authorization to levy a municipal sales and use tax at 2.5%, with collection beginning January 1, 2028.
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A four-mill property tax
Authorization to levy a property tax of four mills within the municipal boundary.
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A 3% marijuana special sales tax
Authorization to levy a special sales tax of 3% on marijuana sales.
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Authorization to retain and spend collected revenue
Authorization for the municipality to retain and spend the revenue it collects, rather than refunding amounts above a statutory limit.
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Authorization for up to $15 million in debt for transportation infrastructure
Authorization to incur up to $15 million in debt for transportation infrastructure, with a maximum total repayment cost of up to $28 million.
What happens next
No charter is being approved on November 3. If incorporation passes, a separate charter vote follows later.
- If incorporation is rejected, no municipality is created and the process ends.
- If incorporation is approved, the court enters an order of incorporation.
- The elected charter commissioners draft a proposed home rule charter.
- The proposed charter returns to voters at a later election.
- No charter is being approved in the November 3, 2026 election.
Go to the source
The Niwot Election Commission, in coordination with the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder, administers this election. This guide is not an election authority.
The Election Commission has stated that the printer’s proof was scheduled for review on September 11, 2026. Ballot language reproduced anywhere outside the Commission’s own pages should be re-checked against the official ballot page after that review before being treated as final.
Two organizations campaign on this question and publish their own analysis. Their material is advocacy, not official election information, and is labeled as such wherever it appears here.
Corrections
Anything on this page that cannot be supported by a filed document or an official publication is removed rather than softened. Corrections are published with their date and a note describing what changed.