DENVER — The city’s top election official claimed Tuesday that cuts to his office proposed by Mayor Mike Johnston will jeopardize the election process in what is expected to be a midterm election with high voter turnout next year.

Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul López held a news conference outside the city’s Election Division in which he criticized Johnston a day after the mayor unveiled his 2026 budget proposal to fix a $200 million shortfall the mayor has previously said is the result of a shaky economy coupled with an increase in the city’s expenses.

So far, Johnston has laid off 169 city workers , eliminated more than 600 open positions , and started requiring furlough days to help balance the budget.

On Monday, Johnston explained that his office was able to close that $

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