With election day approaching and ballots soon to be in the mail, the best way to prepare to vote is to educate yourself on the issues.

Here are four more endorsements for the Nov. 5 general election.

Proposition 131

Ranked choice voting has been in vogue lately. It has been touted as a way to increase representation and help ensure that “consensus” candidates win more often — something we saw occur in Boulder when we used the method for the first time in llast year’s mayoral election.

But Proposition 131, the Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative, is not the ranked-choice voting system that Colorado needs.

Supporters of ranked-choice voting contend that it opens the door to more options for voters and provides a higher chance that the winner represents the majority of voters.

Prop 131, though, muddies the waters far more than necessary. In addition to bringing ranked choice voting to general elections, it would create open top-four primary elections, meaning that candidates of all parties would run against each other to secure one of four spots on the general election ticket. If you think Colorado politics are dominated by Democrats now, just wait until a top-four primary results in every general election being between three Democrats and a Republican (with third-party candidates probably kicked off the ticket altogether).

The county clerks who implement our elections have also expressed concerns about the burden that this new system would impose on them — especially those with fewer resources than the Boulder County clerk. They also said it could take time to properly educate voters to prevent them from casting bad ballots.

On top of this, Prop 131 would also likely result in an even greater infusion of dark money into our state politics. Crowded primaries and general elections would require more money to make a candidate stand out. With Colorado’s campaign finance limits restricting transparent spending, Prop 131 would be an invitation for an infusion of dark money.

Finally, Prop 131’s open primaries would also likely result in attempts to game the system, like those that have been seen in Alaska, where candidates have — counterintuitively — dropped out of races to give an edge to their party.

Ranked choice voting might seem like a promising alternative to our traditional election system, but Proposition 131 is not the remedy we need. Vote “no” on Prop 131.

Proposition KK

Proposition KK, the Excise Tax on Firearms Dealers, Manufacturers, and Ammunition Vendors Measure, would put a 6.5% excise tax on guns and ammo to provide much-needed funding for a bevy of vital services, including mental health. If guns are going to wreak so much havoc on our communities, a tax to help remedy those harms is a no-brainer.

The $36 million the tax is estimated to raise annually would go primarily to the Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund — an exceptionally worthy cause — with the remainder going to a mental and behavioral health fund for veterans and children.

Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. — more than car wrecks and illness — and someone kills themself with a firearm roughly every 20 minutes. We can and must do more to contain the harm guns are doing to our society. An excise tax to help fund services to mitigate the destruction of firearms is a good step. Vote “yes” on Proposition KK.

Ballot Issue 7A

In the wake of the FasTracks fiasco, Boulder voters have every reason to be skeptical of the Regional Transportation District. In the 20 years since voters approved a tax to fund rail service between Denver, Boulder and Longmont, RTD has collected over $270 million — and failed to deliver a train. (At least so far.)

But RTD is still a vital component of our public transit network, and the agency needs solid funding if it is going to continue functioning, let alone improve.

Ballot Issue 7A, the Allow Regional Transport Authority to Retain and Spend Revenue Measure, would allow RTD’s TABOR exemption to continue. The measure would not increase taxes but rather allow the agency to keep the money it is already bringing in.

Approving 7A would allow RTD to keep about $50 to $60 million per year in revenue. If it fails, RTD has said it would likely have to cut services.

As we attempt to align our community and our state with our climate goals by reducing our emissions, the last thing we need is for our public transit agency to reduce service — and force more people to rely on their single-occupancy vehicles.

RTD hasn’t lived up to our standards. But punishing the agency by cutting its funding would do more harm to us commuters than to it. Let’s continue pushing RTD to improve — and keep providing the funding to do so. Vote “yes” on Ballot Issue 7A.

Amendment I

The right to bail is a fundamental element of our legal system. But in certain instances, the best thing for the safety of our community is to keep those who are a risk to others off the street.

Amendment I would remove “the right to bail in cases of first-degree murder when the proof is evident or the presumption is great.”

It is not an easy choice to advocate for removing bail for anyone, but Amendment I is nonetheless worthy of approving. To start, there already exist certain crimes that are not eligible for bond, yet those charged with first-degree murder were. This incongruity is worth fixing. And second, bond in and of itself is inherently classist. Providing wealthy defendants the opportunity to access bail while others must await their trial in jail is absurd.

There are many issues with our bond system that are worth addressing. Fixing incongruities and inequities in that system as it relates to first-degree murder charges is as good a place to start as any. Vote “yes” on Amendment I.

To recap, vote “no” on Proposition 131 and “yes” on Proposition KK, Ballot Issue 7A and Amendment I.

Whether or not you agree with us on these issues, we encourage you to cast your ballot. Make your voice heard. Play your part in our democracy. Vote for the future you believe in.

—Gary Garrison for the Editorial Board