Grand voters support rural boost in representation

After a 65 percent vote in favor, Grand County will be seeking more senatorial representation within the Colorado legislature.

Referred Measure 1B resulted after county commissioners explored the idea of seceding from the state of Colorado along with several eastern plains counties, including Weld. After much discussion and public comment, commissioners decided they’d seek greater representation in the legislature rather than forming a new state or annexing into Wyoming.

While county voters showed strong support for the action, they face an uphill battle in receiving the increased senatorial representation. In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all state legislature districts had to have equal populations, based on the principle of “one person one vote.” Still, commissioners argued that equal representation for counties could be issued through grassroots campaigns and lobbying efforts.