Have Questions About the Election? Explore the Resources About Issues on the Ballot
- Election Information, The League of Women Voters
- Colorado Election Information, Office of the Secretary of State
- Primary Elections Voter Guide & Information, 9News
- Statewide Voter Guide, Colorado Public Radio
- Ballot Guide, The Bell Policy Center
- Denver Voter Guide, The Denverite
- Denver Voter Guide, Denver Metro Chamber
- Judicial Performance Evaluation, Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation
Voter Registration Questions
First time voters can register online or print and fill out a Voter Registration Form. Once you’ve filled out the form, email it to www.govotecolorado.gov or send it in the mail to:
Colorado Department of State
Elections Division
1700 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80290
In Colorado, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the State of Colorado for a minimum of 22 days prior to the election, and have a valid driver’s license, state ID, or social security number to register to vote.
Residents 16 years of age or older are eligible to register but you must be 18 years of age by the date of the election in order to vote.
All voters who vote at the polls must provide identification. If you are voting by mail for the first time, you may also need to provide a photocopy of your identification when you return your mail ballot.
The following documents are acceptable forms of identification:
- A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.)
- A valid U.S. passport.
- A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado.
- A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S.
- A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector.
- A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector.
- A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood.
- A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector.
- Certified documentation of naturalization.
- A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S..
- A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector.
- A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership.
Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification.
The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting:
- Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S.
- Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S.
- Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility.
The following are NOT acceptable forms of identification:
- A driver’s license or identification card issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S.
- Any document produced by Colorado’s statewide voter registration system.
To register to vote, a physical address must be provided. This may include a homeless shelter, homeless provider, park, campground, vacant lot, business address or any other physical location within a precinct that the voter considers their home base, to which the voter returns regularly and has an intent to remain.
If the physical location does not include a mailing address, the voter must also provide a mailing address. A Post Office box can be used as a mailing address as long as the voter provides a valid physical Colorado address as their residential address.
A valid ID is also required. If you don’t have one, here’s how to obtain a Colorado State ID.
Every voter has the right to cast a private and independent ballot, including voters with disabilities. To learn more about how Colorado accommodates voters check out their website here.
Additional resources for voters with disabilities can be found through the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
MSU Denver’s very own voter registration portal with help from ALL IN to increase nonpartisan civic engagement on campus. One of the tools available to ALL IN participating campuses is
a customized voter registration portal modeled after ALL IN’s ALLINtoVote.org
tool.
In the State of Colorado, voters can register in person, online, or by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local elections office. You can register any day leading up to the election and can register in person on election day. If you want to receive a mail-in ballot, your application must be received by the designated election official by the close of business on the 7th day before the election. Please keep in mind that if you would like to receive the ballot by mail, 7 days may not be a sufficient amount of time to receive, vote, and return your ballot.
The following offices are designated as voter registration locations in Denver:
- Denver Elections Division, 200 W. 14th Ave., Denver
- Colorado Motor Vehicle Division offices
- Denver Department of Motor Vehicles offices
- Denver Department of Human Services offices
- Armed forces recruitment offices
- Any office providing state-funded services to persons with disabilities
If you’ve voted in the state of Colorado before or are unsure if you’ve been registered, you can look up your information online.
People convicted of misdemeanors do not lose their right to vote. Those convicted of felonies regain their right to vote once the incarceration period has been completed.
Resources to help you understand your rights:
- Voting and Convictions FAQ – Colorado Secretary of State
- Voting eligibility brochure – Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition
- Denver Charter: Click on Subtitle B-Charter, then navigate to Section 8.2.1
- Colorado Revised Statutes: Click on Colorado Revised Statutes, then type 1-2-103 into the search window
Colorado citizens living outside the United States and all active military personnel absent from Colorado are eligible to register and vote by mail as UOCAVA voters. UOCAVA provisions also cover the spouses, civil union partners, and voting dependents of active military personnel absent from Colorado.
For additional resources visit the Secretary of State Uniformed and Overseas Electors FAQs.
Making a Voting Plan
Whether you’re a first time voter or a seasoned voter it’s important to make a voting plan to ensure your ballot is received on time and counted.
- Register to vote or confirm your registration
- Track your ballot
- Learn about the candidates and issues on your ballot
- Locate your nearest polling place or ballot drop off location
- Arrange transportation
- Double check you have everything you need
- Vote!
- (And make sure to sign your ballot envelope)
Confirm your registration and make sure that all of your information is updated and correct.
First time voters can register online or print and fill out a Voter Registration Form. Once you’ve filled out the form, email it to www.govotecolorado.gov or send it in the mail to:
Colorado Department of State
Elections Division
1700 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80290
All Colorado voters are able to track their ballots and sign up to receive notifications on the status of their ballot. Visit BallotTrax to track the status of your ballot.
Denver residents use ballotTRACE to track your ballot.
It is important to educate yourself and know what candidates and measures will be on your ballot. These measures may differ depending on the state and county you live and vote in. Visit VOTE411.org for information on candidates and issues.
Colorado voters can vote in person, mail in their ballot, or drop off their ballot at a ballot drop off location.
All registered voters receive a mail ballot which may be completed, mailed or dropped off to be received by the county clerk office by 7pm on Election Day. To ensure your mail in ballot is received on time, make sure to mail it out no later than 10 days before election day.
If you can’t mail in your ballot and want to drop it off at a 24-hour secure drop box, locate your nearest drop off location.
If you choose to vote in person, find where your nearest polling place is located. (It might have changed since the last time you voted.) The Voter Service and Polling Centers (VSPC) are open 10 days before a Primary election and 15 days before a General Election during regular business hours. On Election Days, the Voter Service and Polling Centers are open from 7:00am to 7:00pm.
VSPC are located in each county to provide the following election services:
- Registration at any time up to and including Election Day
- Change address if registered elsewhere in Colorado
- Drop off completed ballot
- Surrender ballot to vote in person
If you’re voting absentee, check your ballot for a drop-off location or, if you intend to mail in your ballot, the address and the date by which it must be postmarked.
How do you plan to get to your polling place or drop box? If you’re driving make sure to prepare for whatever parking might be available. Don’t assume street parking will be available, and be prepared to pay to park at a meter or garage.
If you’re taking public transportation, visit RTD‘s website to check schedules, confirm routes, and plan your trip ahead of time.
Last but not least, consider offering a ride to a friend or neighbor.
First, make sure you have your ballot. If you live in home where multiple ballots were received, ensure that you grab your ballot and not a family member’s or roommate’s. It’s also important to make sure you’ve signed your ballot.
Second, make sure to check current COVID-19 requirements. Some polling locations may require masks and social distancing. You might have to wait in long lines, so come prepared with water and snacks if you’re able to.
Finally, make sure you have the right form of identification. If you are voting by mail for the first time you may need to provide a photocopy of your identification with your ballot. Voters who recently registered for the first time and are voting by mail are required to provide a photocopy of their identification.
When voting in person you will need one of the following types of identification:
- A valid Colorado driver’s license
- A valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue
- A valid U.S. passport
- A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or Colorado, or by any Colorado county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of this state
- A valid pilot’s license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration or other authorized agency of the United States
- A valid U.S. military identification card with photograph of the elector
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector. A cable bill, a telephone bill, documentation from a public institution of higher education in Colorado containing at least the name, date of birth, and residence address of the student elector, or a paycheck from a government institution are also sufficient forms of identification
- A valid Medicare or Medicaid card
- A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate
- Certified documentation of naturalization
- A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado.
- A valid veteran identification card issued by the United States department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible election
- A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership
- A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood
- Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility
- Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote
A Social Security number (or last four digits) is NOT a legal form of identification for voting in person. Neither is any document produced by Colorado’s statewide registration system.
Media To Consider
"The Context" a podcast from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation
The Context is a podcast about democracy—its past, present and future—brought to you by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, hosted by senior program officer and historian Alex Lovit. Listen wherever you get podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music |
Spotify | Youtube |
- MSU Denver RED “U.S. Senate candidates face college students concerned about housing costs, immigration policy: Michael Bennet and Joe O’Dea visit MSU Denver’s The Solution Studio, a new voter-education forum” (2022)
Get Involved
If you want to get involved in your local election beyond voting, check out the opportunities below.