April 7 Special Election

FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS
(Posted at: 7:30 p.m. on April 15th)
CITY OF LAKEWOOD
SPECIAL ELECTION
APRIL 7, 2026
(TOTAL BALLOTS CAST: 35,760)

Question 1
22,310 YES (AGAINST THE ORDINANCE)
13,357 NO (FOR THE ORDINANCE)

Question 2
22,198 YES (AGAINST THE ORDINANCE)
13,487 NO (FOR THE ORDINANCE)

Question 3
22,294 YES (AGAINST THE ORDINANCE)
13,372 NO (FOR THE ORDINANCE)

Question 4
22,245 YES (AGAINST THE ORDINANCE)
13,409 NO (FOR THE ORDINANCE)

NOTE: These are the final, official election results. No other results will be posted.

City Council has set an April 7 special election to ask Lakewood voters whether to repeal updates to Lakewood’s Zoning Code that City Council approved in October 2025 or to keep the existing Zoning Code. The Zoning Code is the set of rules that determine how property in Lakewood can be used and developed.

This special election will occur by mail ballots only, and the four questions shown below will be the only questions Lakewood voters will see on their April 7 ballots. Only active registered Lakewood voters will receive a ballot in the mail. Please review what active registered voters means in the answers to the frequently asked questions.

Reason for election
This special election is the result of the referendum process. A referendum is a petition circulated to gather signatures to have an item placed on the ballot for the voters to decide. It means that voters are being asked to make a decision about Lakewood laws that the City Council has approved. In this case, it’s the zoning laws. There are four ballot questions because City Council approved the updates to the Zoning Code in four parts, and a referendum was filed for each of the four parts. A sample ballot(PDF, 749KB) is available for you to review.

Timing of election
Under the City Charter, City Council must set an election for a referendum between 30 and 90 days from the time that the referendum is deemed to have a sufficient number of signatures to prompt a citywide vote. Because of this requirement, these referendums could not be delayed until November, when general elections occur.

FAQ page

Council resolution

As permitted by state and Lakewood election laws, City Council can approve resolutions that take a stand for or against any question on the ballot. If City Council approves such resolutions for this special election, they will appear here.

R-2026-14 Resolution(PDF, 302KB)

Special Election Forum

The Jefferson County League of Women Voters' is a nonpartisan organization that neither supports nor opposes candidates or political parties. The League regularly hosts moderated forums to provide information to voters, and on March 12, it hosted a forum about Lakewood’s special election in which the League asked its questions of representatives from groups opposing and supporting the ballot questions.

This video recording is the property of the LWVJeffco and may not be used without written consent of the League of Women Voters.

Watch the Forum

Ballot Questions