Thank You, Douglas County!

Over 20,000 Douglas County voters signed the 3 to 5 DougCo Petition to let voters decide how our county government should work.

Now the issue goes to the November ballot. If you're just hearing about it scroll down to learn more so you're ready to Vote Yes on this issue when your ballot arrives.

The Petition 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.

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 VOTE YES on this issue?

Right now, three commissioners are making decisions about how to spend more than $650 million of our tax dollars in Douglas County. And only two votes carry every decision for the entire county.

Can three people really represent 400,000 of us? Should just two people have the power to make decisions for all of us?

Right now, if you have a problem, there is no commissioner whose primary role is to serve your area of Douglas County. Who do you call when there’s an issue that affects you and your neighbors?

Voting YES on this issue means you will know exactly who to call when you see a problem, and your direct representative will have a say about how your tax dollars get spent.

Over 20,000 of your neighbors signed the petition that put this issue on the ballot. That’s about 1 in 15 of all registered voters in Douglas County. More than 150 volunteers gave over 2,000 hours to help gather those signatures. Republican, Democratic, and Unaffiliated voters all carried and signed petitions because they believe this will help build a better future for Douglas County.

Five Commissioners: A Practical, Proven Approach

Douglas County has grown. Our representation hasn’t. In 1990, about 60,000 people lived here. Today it's over 400,000.

As our county grows, our system of representation should grow with it. More than 20,000 of our neighbors from all over the county agree that this issue puts power where it belongs in our county – with the people, not the politicians. They signed the petition that put this issue on the ballot.

Today, we are governed by just three commissioners, elected at-large to represent the entire county.

That means:

Each commissioner represents a very large and diverse population.
Entire communities can be overlooked in county-level decisions.
Local priorities may not always have a clear voice.

Many counties our size have already expanded to five commissioners because it works.

Voting YES on this issue will:

Improve representation across the county.
Encourage more balanced and thoughtful decision-making.
Strengthen accountability through shared leadership.
Reflect our county’s growth and the diversity of needs in our community.

From At-Large to Local Representation

Our current system relies on at-large representation — meaning commissioners are elected by the entire county to represent the entire county. VOTE YES on this issue is about making government more directly accountable to the people it serves.

Expanding to five commissioners and electing at least some of those commissioners by district gives more power to the people to hold politicians accountable by:

Ensuring every area of the county has a clear voice.
Strengthening connections between residents and their elected officials.
Bringing local perspectives into county-wide decisions.
Making representation more responsive and accessible.

Making Local Government Work Better for Everyone

Voting Yes on this issue isn’t about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about ensuring our system of representation works well for everyone.

More voices with clearer local connections will improve:

Fiscal responsibility
Transparent decision-making
Strong local leadership
Community representation

Governance, Ethics, Sustainability Signpost

Neighbors Working Together

This effort is powered by people across Douglas County — with different perspectives, priorities, and politics — who ALL agree that our county works best when every community has a seat at the table. More than 150 volunteers gave over 2,000 hours, and over 20,000 of your neighbors signed the 3 to 5 DougCo Petition to put this issue on the ballot. Add your voice and VOTE YES on this issue!