Last update: Oct 31, 2024 04:39 a.m. EDT
Last update: Oct 30, 2024 15:41 p.m. UTC
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These guides are researched, written, and updated by Democracy Works, a non-partisan 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization. The information in these guides originates from official state sources and is reviewed by state election offices. The guides also link to authoritative state and local resources to provide additional information.
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Registration Summary
Colorado offers online voter registration. You can register by mail to vote in Colorado by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer. All voters in Colorado who register at least eight (8) days before Election Day will receive a mail ballot. You can also register to vote in person through Election Day if you prefer.
Voting Summary
Starting a few weeks before the election, Colorado will mail ballots to every voter if they registered at least eight (8) days before Election Day. Keep an eye on the mailbox! Be sure to mail it back so that it is received by Election Day, or drop it in a drop box before or on Election Day! You can also vote in person during early voting and on Election Day if you prefer to do so. If you register to vote less than eight (8) days before Election Day, you can vote in person.
What are key deadlines for the November 2024 election?
Registration deadlines
- In person during early voting : Oct 21 - Nov 5
- In-person at voting location on Election Day : Nov 5
- Online : Nov 5 by 7:00 p.m. MST
- By mail (received by) : Nov 5
Voting deadlines
- Early voting : varies by location
- Return ballot by mail (received by) : Nov 5 by 7:00 p.m. MST
- Return ballot in person : Nov 5 by 7:00 p.m. MST
- Colorado sends ballots to actively registered voters : Oct 11 - Oct 18
What key changes should voters know about?
Beginning June 2024, if you have an active voter registration and have resided in Colorado for less than 22 days before a presidential general election, you may cast a provisional ballot in that election for president and vice president candidates ONLY.
This is due to a new law in Colorado. Visit the Colorado Secretary of State website or contact your local election office to learn more.
Registration Top Actions
Voting Top Actions
Can I register to vote online?
- Colorado offers online voter registration.
- To register online in Colorado, you need to provide at least ONE of the following: Colorado Driver’s License number, Colorado ID card number, OR the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don’t have a Colorado Driver’s License, Colorado ID card, or Social Security number, you can still submit a voter registration application by mail.
- Colorado will mail a ballot to every voter registered at least eight (8) days before Election Day. If you register to vote less than eight (8) days before Election Day, you can vote in person.
How can I check the status of my mail ballot?
You can check the status of your ballot on Colorado’s website.
Can I submit voter registration forms by mail?
Use the National Voter Registration Form
- Print and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: When submitting your application by mail in Colorado, you are required to provide your Colorado driver’s license number or Colorado ID card number if you have one. If you have not been issued one of these ID numbers, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have not been issued any of these numbers, indicate NONE.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You are NOT required to register with a party to participate in Colorado partisan primary elections. If you do not register with a party, you may choose the party primary you wish to vote in. If you choose to register with a party, you can only vote in that party's primary. If you are an unaffiliated voter and return a ballot with more than one political party, the ballot will be rejected and none of the votes will be counted.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank. This information is not required.
- Review the "Who can register to vote?" section above and check that you're eligible.
- Sign the form.
- Send the completed form to your local election office
- If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing this registration application, federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote. Proof of identification includes current and valid photo identification OR current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address. More information here.
Colorado will mail ballots to every voter if they registered at least eight (8) days before Election Day. If you register to vote less than eight (8) days before Election Day, you can vote in person.
How do election officials keep voting secure?
Election officials in your state and community are working hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. All states have implemented security measures to protect the vote.
Visit the Colorado Secretary of State website to learn more about election security. If you’re interested in getting involved with elections in your community, contact your local election office to learn about opportunities in your area.
Can I submit voter registration forms in person?
- You can register to vote in person. Contact your local election office for information on when and where to register to vote.
- You can also register to vote and cast a ballot in person on Election Day.
- Learn more by visiting the Colorado Secretary of State website or contacting your local election office.
How can I check my voter registration status?
You can look up your voter registration record and verify that your information is correct using Colorado's voter registration lookup tool.
Who can register to vote?
To register in Colorado you must:
- be a United States citizen
- be a Colorado resident for at least 22 days immediately before the election in which you intend to vote, UNLESS that election is a presidential general election. In this case, you may be a resident for less than 22 days and cast a provisional ballot in person for president and vice president candidates ONLY
- be at least 16 years old, and you must be at least 18 on or before Election Day to be eligible to vote
- not be serving a sentence of detention or confinement for a felony conviction
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
Colorado does offer in person registration on Election Day.
Can I register to vote before I turn 18?
You can register to vote in Colorado before you turn 18 if you:
You must be 18 years old to vote in an election.
- are at least 16 years old
- are a citizen of the United States
- will be a Colorado resident for at least 22 days immediately before the election in which you intend to vote, UNLESS that election is a presidential general election. In this case, you may be a resident for less than 22 days and cast a provisional ballot in person for president and vice president candidates ONLY
- are not currently serving a term of imprisonment for a felony conviction
You must be 18 years old to vote in an election.
Can I submit a voter registration application online before I turn 18?
Yes, you can register online on the Colorado Secretary of State website.
To register using the Colorado online voter registration system, you are required to provide at least ONE of the following:
- Colorado driver’s license number
- Colorado ID card number
- last four digits of your Social Security number
If you don’t have a Colorado Driver’s License, Colorado ID card, or Social Security number, you can still submit a voter registration application in person or by mail.
Can I submit a voter registration application by mail before I turn 18?
Yes, you can learn more about registering to vote by mail on the Colorado Secretary of State website.
When submitting your application by mail in Colorado, you are required to provide your Colorado driver’s license number or Colorado ID card number if you have one. If you have not been issued one of these ID numbers, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.
If you have not been issued any of these numbers, indicate NONE. You may be required to provide an acceptable form of ID the first time you vote in an election in Colorado. You can find a full list of acceptable forms of ID on the Colorado Secretary of State website.
Can I complete a voter registration application in person before I turn 18?
Yes, you can learn more about registering to vote in person on the Colorado Secretary of State website.
You can complete a voter registration application in person at any of the following public agencies in Colorado:
- Colorado Department of Motor Vehicle office when you apply for a driver's license or when updating your driver's license information
- Colorado public high schools
- county clerk and recorder’s office
You can also complete a voter registration application in person at any office that provides voter registration services and applications. You can find a full list on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website.
How do I vote in person?
Where can I vote on Election Day?
You can look up where to vote on Colorado's site.
Can I vote early?
- Yes, Colorado offers early voting. You can choose whether to vote on Election Day or during the early voting period, whichever is easier for you. This can be especially helpful if it would be difficult or not possible for you to vote on Election Day. Early voting locations may be less crowded, as well.
- Learn more about voting early in Colorado.
- Early voting locations may be different from where you vote on Election Day. Check Colorado’s site to find where to vote early.
What do I need to bring?
If you choose to vote in person in Colorado, you will need to show ID. If your form of identification shows your address, that address must be in the state of Colorado.
Acceptable forms include:
- Colorado driver's license
- valid ID card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue
- US passport
- employee ID with photo issued by any entity of the US government or Colorado
- pilot's license issued by the FAA or other authorized agency of the US
- US military ID with photo
- ID card issued by a federally recognized tribal government
- Medicare or Medicaid card
- certified copy of your US birth certificate
- certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood
- certified documentation of naturalization
- student ID with photo issued by a Colorado institute of higher education
- veteran's ID with photo issued by the VA
- current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document showing name and address (within last 60 days)
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. After Election Day, your local election official will evaluate if you are eligible to vote and determine if your ballot should be counted.
How can I check the status of my ballot?
You can check the status of your ballot on Colorado’s site.
Can I vote early?
Yes, Colorado offers early voting.
- You can choose whether to vote on Election Day or during the early voting period, whichever is easier for you. This can be especially helpful if it would be difficult or not possible for you to vote on Election Day. Early voting locations may be less crowded, as well.
When can I vote early?
- In Colorado, dates and times vary by where you live. Find when to vote.
Where can I vote early?
- Early voting locations may be different from where you vote on Election Day. Check Colorado's site to find where to vote early.
What do I need to bring?
If you choose to vote in person in Colorado, you will need to show ID. If your form of identification shows your address, that address must be in the state of Colorado.
Acceptable forms include:
- Colorado driver's license
- valid ID card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue
- US passport
- employee ID with photo issued by any entity of the US government or Colorado
- pilot's license issued by the FAA or other authorized agency of the US
- US military ID with photo
- ID card issued by a federally recognized tribal government
- Medicare or Medicaid card
- certified copy of your US birth certificate
- certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood
- certified documentation of naturalization
- student ID with photo issued by a Colorado institute of higher education
- veteran's ID with photo issued by the VA
- current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document showing name and address (within last 60 days)
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. After Election Day, your local election official will evaluate if you are eligible to vote and determine if your ballot should be counted.
How do I vote by mail?
Colorado conducts elections primarily by mail. If you are an active registered voter and you submitted your voter registration application at least eight days before Election Day, then you can expect to receive a ballot in the mail. It will be sent to the mailing address on your voter registration file.
If you are voting by mail for the first time, you may also need to provide a copy of your ID when you return your mail ballot. For more information, please visit the Colorado Secretary of State's website.
What should I do if I don’t get my ballot?
If you don’t receive your ballot in the mail, then contact your local election office. You can also vote in person at a voter service and polling center.
How do I return my ballot?
- Read the instructions carefully on how to mark and return your ballot.
- You can return your ballot by mail or use a ballot drop box or drop-off location. You can also return your ballot by visiting a voter service and polling center.
- Find a ballot dropbox or voter service and polling center near you. If you return your ballot to a ballot dropbox or voter service and polling center, it must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- If you choose to return your ballot by mail, USPS recommends that voters mail their completed ballots at least one week before the due date. Find a USPS location near you.
If my election office finds an issue with my mail ballot after I return it, can I fix it?
In Colorado, you can correct the following issues after you return your ballot to your local election office:
- a missing signature
- a signature that does not match your signature on record
- a missing copy of an acceptable form of ID (if required)
This process is called ballot curing.
Your local election office will reach out by mail and email (if available) to give you instructions if they find an issue with this information on your ballot.
Contact your local election office for more information about ballot curing.
What do I need to do if I’ve moved?
What’s on your ballot depends on where you live, so your voter registration is tied to your exact address. If you’ve moved, you need to re-register with your new address.
How do I see what's on my ballot?
View your sample ballot on the Colorado Secretary of State's website. Available ballot information may vary depending on the upcoming election.
How do I vote if I'm in the military or live overseas?
Active-duty military, their families, and overseas citizens can register to vote and request their absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA process is done by mail, but your state may offer other options to request and return ballots. Please contact your local election office for more information about delivery and return methods, including email, fax, and state online portals. To follow the FPCA process:
- Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), or download a copy. Your local election office may have questions, so please provide an email address or phone number where they can reach you.
- Send the application to your local election office.
- It is never too early to submit an FPCA! Please do so as soon as possible.
- Please fill out and send back your ballot as soon as you receive it.
- States begin mailing absentee ballots at least 45 days before Election Day. If you haven't received your ballot by 30 days before Election Day, contact your local election office.
If your ballot does not arrive after you submit your FPCA, contact your local election office first. Then:
- You can still vote using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Print, sign, and mail your FWAB to your local election office.
- If you mail a FWAB and then receive your regular absentee ballot, you should complete and mail your absentee ballot also. Election officials will ensure that only one ballot is counted.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program offers additional information on military and overseas voting in Colorado. You can also call 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or email vote@fvap.gov
Which election office should I contact?
- In Colorado, your local election office runs the elections in your area. They can help you with questions about registering to vote, voting by mail, and local elections.
- The Secretary of State oversees elections and election administration in Colorado. They can help you with questions about voting in your state, election security, or issues you might have at the polls. If you have concerns about voter intimidation, reach out immediately.
How do I contact my local election office?
Visit your state’s site to find your local election office.