Welcome to Briefly, Colorado Politics’ daily news briefing. Here’s what’s going on today:

Denver Elections partners with Broncos for “Broncos County Votes” Initiative 

The Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Office is partnering with the Denver Broncos for a “Broncos County Votes” event this weekend. 

On Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots early at Empower Field at Mile High’s Lot J. The event will feature appearances from the Broncos Cheerleaders on Friday between 8 and 10 a.m., and Miles the Mascot on Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. Denver Elections voter coach Coach Ella will be also be on-site to answer questions from voters.  

The event will go from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 8 to 5 on Saturday. 

Evans’ aunt urges voters not to elect him to Congress

Jennifer Chavez, the aunt of Rep. Gabe Evans, R- Fort Lupton, is urging Coloradans not to vote for her nephew, who is running for the 8th Congressional District seat. 

In an opinion piece for the Colorado Times Recorder, Chavez, who is the sister of Evans’ mother, said that while she loves her nephew, she “sincerely hopes” he doesn’t make it to Congress. 

“I believe in freedom, rights, fairness, and opportunity,” she wrote. “I believe in the right to love who you want to love. The right to make your own health care decisions, especially when it comes to starting a family. I believe in democracy and protecting our free and fair elections. My nephew doesn’t share these beliefs. He holds an extreme, far-right ideology that is, simply put, scary. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I’m terrified of what his agenda could do to my rights.”

Chavez spoke of Evans’ beliefs in banning all abortions and gay marriage, which she says he once compared to bestiality. She also mentioned his involvement with the Convention of States, an organization that seeks to rewrite the Constitution and is backed by the authors of Project 2025. 

“The hardest part to watch is that Gabe is exploiting my father’s legacy for political gain,” Chavez wrote. “Gabe touts his Mexican heritage, which comes from my father. But my father, who earned his U.S. citizenship fighting for this country in World War II, was kind, respectful, and selfless. He would be disgusted by the hateful platform Gabe is running on.”

Evans faces incumbent Rep. Yadira Caraveo.

Polis gets flu, COVID vaccines, encourages Coloradans to do the same

Gov. Jared Polis received his latest dose of the COVID-19 and flu vaccines during a visit to Rose on Colfax Early Learning Center in Denver, encouraging all Coloradans to schedule their vaccines as flu season draws near. 

“It’s that time of the year, when our kids are back to school, the air gets a little colder, and people start to feel a little under the weather,” he said. “To avoid getting and reduce the severity of the seasonal flu and COVID-19, I encourage my fellow Coloradans to choose to get vaccinated. Help yourself and your family members stay healthy through the holidays and beyond.”

Polis was joined by State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy and CDPHE’s Mobile Public Health Clinic, which provides low- and no-cost medical services to Coloradans of all ages. 

CDPHE provides free vaccines to eligible children under 18 through its Vaccines for Children Program. A limited supply of vaccines are also available to uninsured and underinsured adults through the program. 

Denver Parks & Rec unveils design updates for Civic Center Park 

Denver Parks and Recreation has shared the latest updates on the Civic Center Next 100 Vision Plan to revitalize Civic Center Park. 

According to DPR, the project will “honor the park’s history while preserving the heart of this important downtown network. With improved infrastructure and enhanced programming capabilities, the park will retain its historic character while integrating contemporary elements for both everyday use and special occasions.”

The current design work focuses on modernizing the park’s Greek Theater. Future plans include expanding the functionality of the Central Promenade, improving accessibility, adding garden rooms, and creating a new south entry. 

“This project goes beyond enhancing a park; it’s about creating a resilient and inclusive future for all of downtown,” said DPR Executive Director Jolon Clark. “The improvements we’ve made in recent years are just the beginning. Through this project, Civic Center Park will emerge as the vibrant destination our city truly deserves.”

Funding has been secured for the improvements to the Greek Theater and Central Promenade, while the City and County of Denver is seeking additional funding for the other planned projects. Construction is expected to begin next fall, with phase one of the project set for completion in spring of 2027.