ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND DISQUALIFICATION, SUCCESSION

Denver City Charter subtit. B, art. III, pt. 1

in effect

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.1.1 Composition of City Council; terms.

§ 3.1.1 - Composition of City Council; terms. There shall be elected one Councilmember by the voters of each of the eleven Council Districts, and two to be elected at-large designated as Councilmember at-large Seat A and Councilmember at-large Seat B, by the qualified electors of the City and County of Denver, all for a term of four (4) years or until their successors are duly qualified as in the Charter provided. (Charter 1960, B1.1; amended September 10, 1968; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 920-25, § 1, 8-18-25, elec. 11-4-25)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.1.2 Council districts; change of boundaries.

§ 3.1.2 - Council districts; change of boundaries. The City and County of Denver shall be divided by ordinance into eleven Council Districts. The boundaries of these districts may be changed by ordinances, but they shall be as compact as can be, shall contain contiguous territory, and shall be divided as equally as practical so that they contain equal population, based on the most recent United States decennial census, or other official population studies or reports. Said boundaries shall be changed, by ordinance, at least once every ten years, in accordance with the requirements hereof. Council Districts shall be comprised of whole election precincts. (Charter 1960, B1.3, C1.15-1; amended May 17, 1916; amended September 10, 1968; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.1.3 Qualifications.

§ 3.1.3 - Qualifications. Each Councilmember shall be a citizen of the United States; a resident of the City and County of Denver for the two (2) years immediately preceding the member's election and during the term of office; a qualified elector of the City and County of Denver; at least twenty-five (25) years of age and if elected from a Council District, the second year of residency shall have been within the district and the Councilmember must reside in the district during the term of office. (Charter 1960, B1.1-1; amended May 17, 1916; amended September 10, 1968; amended May 17, 1983; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 409-13, § 1, 8-26-13, elec. 11-5-13; Ord. No. 782-19, § 1, 8-26-19, elec. 11-5-19)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.1.4 Reserved.

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.1.5 Malfeasance.

§ 3.1.5 - Malfeasance. No person who has been convicted of willful evasion of City or State taxes; or who has been convicted of malfeasance in office, bribery or other corrupt practices, shall be qualified for membership in the Council. (Charter 1960, B1.2-1; amended February 14, 1913; amended May 17, 1916; amended April 29, 1991)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.1.6 Absence from meetings.

§ 3.1.6 - Absence from meetings. If any member of the Council shall be absent for three successive regular sessions and fail to attend the fourth meeting, unless excused by a vote of the Council, the councilmember shall cease to be a member thereof and his or her place shall be filled as though a vacancy had occurred. (Charter 1960, B1.8; amended February 14, 1913; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 608-05, § 1, 8-9-05, elec. 11-1-05)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.1.7 Vacancies in the Office of District Councilmember and Councilmember-at-large.

§ 3.1.7 - Vacancies in the Office of District Councilmember and Councilmember-at-large. When any Councilmember is unable, by reason of resignation, unexcused absence as provided in Section 3.1.6 of this Charter, moving from the district in which the Councilmember resided when elected, or death, to perform the duties of office for the time remaining prior to expiration of his or her term of office, the Council shall declare by resolution that a vacancy exists. Such vacancy shall be filled by a special election, or special election within the Council District in the case of a district Councilmember, which shall be called by the Council to be held not less than seventy-five (75) days nor more than eighty-nine (89) days after the Council declares that such vacancy exists, unless another City-wide election has been scheduled to be held within 90 days after such vacancy is declared; and the candidate receiving the greatest number of votes at said election shall qualify and take such office immediately, and shall hold such office for the unexpired portion of the term in which the vacancy occurs. The name of a candidate filling a vacancy for district Councilmember shall be placed upon the ballot in same manner as provided in section 8.2.7 of this Charter, except that a verified petition shall have been filed in the candidate's behalf not more than fifteen (15) days after such vacancy is declared. (Charter 1960, C5.21-1; added May 15, 1979; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 782-19, § 1, 8-26-19, elec. 11-5-19; Ord. No. 875-22, § 2, 8-15-22, elec. 11-8-22; Ord. No. 920-25, § 1, 8-18-25, elec. 11-4-25)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.1.8 Reserved.

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIHORU_SUBTITLE_BCH_ARTIIICICO_PT1ELQUDISUFetched: 10/27/2026