Thank You, Douglas County!
Over 20,000 Douglas County residents signed the 3 to 5 DougCo Petition to let voters decide how our county government should work.
On July 24th, we delivered petitions to the Douglas County Elections Office for signature verification. We'll update you as soon as results of the verification process are available.
Ballot language
THIS PETITION IS TO PLACE A MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT TO
INCREASE THE SIZE OF DOUGLAS COUNTY’S BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FROM 3 TO 5 MEMBERS
AND, IF PASSED, FOR VOTERS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN 2 METHODS OF ELECTING THE 5 MEMBER BOARD.
Shall the membership of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners be increased from a three member board to a five member board.
If the membership of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners is increased from a three member board to a five member board, by what method shall the Douglas County Board of Commissioners be elected.
1. Five commissioners resident in districts to be elected by the voters only by the voters resident in the district.
or
2. Three commissioners resident in districts to be elected by the voters only by the voters resident in the district and two commissioners to be elected by the voters of the whole county.
Why This Matters
Douglas County has grown significantly — in population, in diversity, and in the complexity of decisions facing our community.
Today, we are governed by just three commissioners, elected at-large to represent the entire county.
That means:
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Each commissioner represents a very large and diverse population
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Entire communities can feel overlooked in county-level decisions
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Local priorities may not always have a clear voice
As our county grows, our system of representation should grow with it.
From At-Large to Local Representation
Our current system relies on at-large representation — meaning commissioners are elected to represent the entire county.
Expanding to five commissioners creates an opportunity to strengthen district-based representation, where each commissioner is more directly connected to the communities they serve.
This helps:
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Ensure every area of the county has a clear voice
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Strengthen connections between residents and their elected officials
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Bring local perspectives into county-wide decisions
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Make representation more responsive and accessible
It’s about making government feel closer to the people it serves.
A Practical, Proven Approach
Expanding to five commissioners is a straightforward way to better reflect the people of Douglas County.
With five commissioners, we can:
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Improve representation across the county
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Encourage more balanced and thoughtful decision-making
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Strengthen accountability through shared leadership
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Reflect the size and growth of our community
Many counties our size already use this model because it works.
This Isn’t About Party — It’s About Process
This effort isn’t about Democrats or Republicans.
It’s about ensuring our system of representation works well for everyone.
Whether you value:
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Fiscal responsibility
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Transparent decision-making
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Strong local leadership
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Community representation
A structure with more voices and clearer local connections supports all of these goals.
Neighbors Working Together
This effort is powered by people across Douglas County — with different perspectives and priorities — who agree that:
Our county works best when every community has a seat at the table.
