Frequently Asked Questions

To vote in the 2024 General Election, you must meet the following criteria:

• be 18 years of age or older by Election Day,
• be a United States citizen,
• have resided in Colorado 22 days immediately before the election at which you intend to vote (Mon. October 14, 2024 at the latest), AND
• not be currently serving a sentence of confinement or detention for a felony conviction.

It is never too late to register to vote. Here are your options:

1. Register online at GoVoteColorado.gov. You'll need either a Colorado ID or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. Take care of it online by Mon. October 28 to receive a ballot in the mail (after that, visit a Voter Service Center to do it in person!).
2. Visit any Voter Service & Polling Center in your county. Voter Service Centers begin to open on Mon. October 21. Visit any location in your county during early voting or on Election Day. As long as you are in line by 7pm on Election Day, you can register to vote & vote in person. View locations and hours on our homepage.

Other options:

1. Mail, fax, or email. Fill out and sign the Colorado voter registration application. Print, sign, and return the form to your county clerk and recorder’s office via mail, fax or email. It must be received by your county clerk's office by Mon. October 28 for you to receive a ballot in the mail. A list of all county clerk and recorder’s offices in the state of Colorado can be found here.
2. In person at your County Clerk & Recorder's office. A list of all county clerk and recorder’s offices in the state of Colorado can be found here.

You can look up your registration status on the Secretary of State’s website. You can use this site to update your voter registration to change your home address, mailing address, party affiliation, and more.

Yes. All counties require that you attach postage to your ballot before mailing it back. However, this amount may vary between counties. If you have questions about how much postage to affix to your mail ballot, contact your county clerk and recorder, or consult the instructions that will accompany your mail ballot.

If you are voting by mail in the 2024 General Election, we recommend putting your ballot in the mail by Monday, October 28 to ensure it arrives on time - postmarks don't count! After Monday, October 28, we recommend dropping your ballot off at a secure drop box, Voter Service Center, or voting in person.

Identification is required in order to vote in person. If you are voting with the ballot you received in the mail, check to see if your ballot is marked "ID required." If so, you must enclose a photocopy or printed photo of an ID (black & white is fine).

Colorado accepts the following types of IDs, all of which may be presented in physical or digital form:

• 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. 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.

Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification. The address does not need to be current on the ID, unless you are using a copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document as your form of ID.

Yes.

• You can request a new ballot be mailed to you any time on or before Mon. October 28 by contacting your county clerk and recorder.
• You may request a new ballot in-person, or vote in-person, by visiting any Voter Service & Polling Center in your county. VSPCs will open in every county beginning on Mon. October 21.

Some counties offer curbside ballot pickup services; you can call your county clerk's office to inquire about this service.

If you wrongly mark, deface, or tear your ballot, or if you misplace your ballot, you have the right to receive a replacement ballot. Contact your County Clerk and Recorder by Mon. October 28 to request a replacement ballot in the mail, or visit any Voter Service & Polling Center in your county beginning on Mon. October 21 to obtain one. Find your County Clerk and Recorder here. 

All voters who are registered to vote at their current address will receive a ballot in the mail for every election, so be sure that you are registered at your current address. You must update this address every time you move.

If you are unsure whether you are registered at your current address, or you have moved, you should check your registration and update your address if necessary. Click here to check your registration.

You can receive your ballot at an address other than the address where you live, such as a PO box, another Colorado address, or an out-of-state address. Simply update your voter registration to indicate the address you would like your ballot to be mailed to.

Mail ballots will be sent to registered Colorado voters beginning on Friday, October 11. If you have not received your ballot by Monday, October 21, you should contact your county clerk and recorder. You can also find your registration and track your ballot's status on the Secretary of State's website.

All ballots must be received by 7:00 PM on Election Day: Tuesday, November 5. Postmarks DO NOT count.

If you are returning your ballot by mail, please allow adequate time for it to be received by 7:00 PM on Election Day. We recommend placing it in the mail by Monday, October 28 to ensure it is received in time to be counted. After Mon. October 28, we advise returning it to a secure drop box or a Voter Service Center, or voting in person.

If you placed your ballot in the mailbox after Mon. October 28, visit a Voter Service Center in your county to report the issue. You can request to vote in person & to have your mail ballot voided if it does end up arriving in time, to ensure your vote is counted.

Yes, you can designate an alternate mailing address by visiting the Secretary of State’s website. Take care of it by Monday, October 28 to receive a ballot in the mail for the 2024 General Election.

Out of state for the election? Update your mailing address as soon as possible to ensure you have enough time to receive the ballot and mail it back. We recommend mailing your ballot back no later than Mon. October 28 to ensure it's received by 7:00 PM on Election Day (postmarks don't count!).

If you would prefer to update your mailing address by phone, you can contact your county clerk. A list of all county clerk and recorder’s offices in the state of Colorado can be found here.

Several Colorado cities and two counties have implemented ranked choice voting for some elections. 

What is ranked choice voting?

Ranked choice voting, also known as instant runoff voting, is a voting method that allows voters to rank candidates by preference, rather than selecting only one candidate. 

How do I fill out my ballot?

If you received a ballot in the main, refer to the instructions enclosed with your ballot. Below is an example of using ranked choice voting to rank 3 candidates in order of preference.

You may also choose to rank just one candidate, or you may choose to rank several candidates but not all. The choice is up to you.

How are votes counted? 

All first-choice votes are counted. If no candidate earns over 50% of the vote when first-choice votes are counted, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. All votes are counted again, and voters who selected the eliminated candidate as their first-choice candidate will have their second-choice candidate counted instead. This elimination process continues until one candidate receives more than 50% of the votes.

Tips:

• Do not choose more than one candidate in the same column.
• Do not choose the same candidate more than once.
• Don't skip a ranking. Your choice after the skip won't count. However, don't feel forced to rank all candidates. If you only want to rank some, or you want to vote for only one candidate, you can do so.

Click here to look up your party affiliation or make updates.

For primary elections, voters wishing to change political parties or withdraw their party affiliation in order to vote in another party’s primary must do so by the 22nd day before Election Day.

If you cannot locate your voter registration record, please contact your county clerk and recorder's office.

If you are unable to sign your name due to a physical disability, you have the right to vote without signing your name. You may use a signature stamp which does not require a witness. You may also sign with your “mark”, which does require a witness.

You have the right to assistance in casting your ballot. If you need assistance (e.g. due to a disability or a language need), you can go to a Voter Service and Polling Center. You are entitled to assistance from an election judge or a person of your choosing. The person that you choose cannot be your employer, or an agent of your employer or labor union. If you get assistance, that person must cast your vote the way you want and cannot try to tell you how to vote.

Each VSPC is required to be accessible to persons with disabilities. Designated election officials shall only select as VSPC locations sites that meet specific ADA accessibility standards, including temporary solutions during an election.

Each VSPC is required to have an accessible voting system or device equipped for individuals with disabilities. If you cannot read, see, or operate the voting machine because of a disability, you have the right to receive assistance from any individual you choose, or an election official.

Eligible voters with a disability may request to access their ballot and vote it electronically. An eligible voter must print the voter ballot, the accessible ballot application, and sign the accessible ballot application. All these materials must be returned together via USPS or dropped off at a drop box or VSPC. Contact the Secretary of States Office at 303-894-2200 or elections@sos.state.co.us to request an accessible ballot.

In the event that a VSPC is inaccessible at any time, immediately call 1-866-OUR-VOTE. You are also permitted to vote privately and independently, without any assistance. It is entirely your choice.

Visit Disability Law Colorado’s website for in-depth information and resources on this topic.

You are entitled to a ballot that your assistive technology can read. Contact your county clerk and recorder to request a ballot.

Students have the right to register and vote in Colorado. You cannot vote in more than one state, but if Colorado is your principal residence at this time, even if you don't plan to live here permanently, then you can register & vote in Colorado.

Colorado has same day voter registration, meaning that you can register up to and on Election Day. If you are voting in person, you'll need to bring an ID with you - your student ID works, or you can view our list of all acceptable IDs. If you are voting by mail, you may be required to enclose a copy of your ID.

Looking for information on how to vote with an absentee or mail ballot in a state other than Colorado? If you choose to keep your registration at the location you lived at before coming to school, you should contact your local election official to ask about getting an absentee or mail ballot sent to you at school so that you can vote. Each state has its own rules and deadlines, so don't delay!

Looking for information on how to vote while studying abroad? See our FAQ for "I'm living overseas."

The following people are eligible to register and vote in Colorado:

• People with a past criminal conviction (felony or misdemeanor) who have completed their sentence
• People currently in jail pretrial (pending the outcome of the criminal case)
• People currently on probation or parole for either a misdemeanor or a felony
• People currently in jail serving a misdemeanor sentence only

Individuals who are presently incarcerated for a felony are currently not eligible to vote. However, they will be eligible to vote after serving their sentence. For more information about the voting rights of incarcerated or previously incarcerated individuals, visit the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition's website.

Individuals without a fixed permanent home can register to vote and cast a ballot. To register they must provide a physical address. This “home base” address can be a park, vacant lot, a business address, a shelter, or any other physical location within the county that the individual considers their home base. If the home base address does not include a mailing address, as in the case of a park or vacant lot, then the individual must provide a mailing address. The mailing address can be a post office box or anywhere else that they can receive mail.

Residents of Colorado living outside of the United States (either temporarily or permanently) who were residents of Colorado immediately before leaving the United States, and residents of Colorado who are active duty military personnel (including their spouses and voting-age dependents) and who are absent from the state on assignment are eligible to register and vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens and Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). As a UOCAVA voter, you will have the option to receive a ballot for every election in which you are eligible to vote by mail, fax, or email.

You can register for UOCAVA in two ways:

1. Online (requires a valid Colorado driver’s license or ID)

Look up your voter record on the Secretary of State’s website. Enter in your name, zip code, and birthdate and click “submit.” This should bring up your voter record. Under voter information, click “change my address.” Enter your Colorado ID number or SSN, and click “submit.” At the bottom of the form, you will see “UOCAVA Status.” Indicate that you are a military voter, and how you would like your ballot to be delivered to you (mail, fax, or email). Make sure to include your fax number, email address, and/or mailing address that corresponds with the delivery option you choose.

2. Via Mail, Fax, or Email

Complete and submit the Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request Federal Post Card Application. Print, sign, and return the form to your county clerk and recorder’s office. A list of all county clerk and recorder’s offices in the state of Colorado can be found here.

For more information about UOCAVA voters, visit the Colorado Secretary of State’s website.

You are entitled to assistance from:

• An election judge who speaks English and your language;
• Any person selected by the designated election official to provide assistance in that VSPC who speaks English and your language; or
• Any person selected by you, provided they speak English and your language.

Any person providing assistance in this situation must sign an affirmation stating that they will not try to persuade the voter. The person providing assistance does not need to be a registered voter, a citizen or a person of any particular age.

Voters also have the right to receive ballots, instructions, and all other voting materials in Spanish in 20 counties. A list of these counties can be found at the Secretary of State's Website.

When you are within 100 feet of a building in which a VSPC or ballot drop box is located, you have the right to vote or wait without anyone trying to influence your vote. If you witness someone trying to influence votes within 100 feet of these locations, please call the toll-free Election Protection Hotline. 

If you need assistance to vote (e.g. due to a disability or a language need), the person assisting you cannot tell you how to vote. If you are experiencing issues, please call the toll-free Election Protection Hotline.

English Hotline

1 866 OUR VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Spanish Language Hotline

1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682)

If you do not have three (3) hours of non-work time when Voter Service and Polling Centers are open on Election Day, then you are entitled to two hours of paid leave from your job to vote on Election Day. However, you must request this time off prior to Election Day. Your employer is entitled to determine which hours you can be absent, but if you request your time off either at the beginning or end of your work shift, your employer must approve that time request.

You can also return your ballot prior to Election Day by mailing it with postage, or by putting it in a drop box near you. See our homepage for a map of drop boxes near you, and their days and hours of operation.

If an Election Judge or anyone else challenges your right to vote at a VSPC, you still have the right to cast a regular ballot. If you make an oath attesting to your eligibility to vote to an Election Judge, you must be allowed to cast a regular ballot. If you don’t want to answer the questions about your eligibility, you still have a right to cast a provisional ballot.

If you are challenged or you see people being challenged at a VSPC, please call the Election Protection Hotline:

English Hotline

1 866 OUR VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Spanish Language Hotline

1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682)

Yes. You have the right to bring your phone into the voting booth as long as you are not making a call or creating a distraction. You can use your phone, or other materials of your choice, to help you fill out your ballot. Voting is not a closed-book test!

If your question or concern is not answered here, please call the toll-free Election Protection hotline (info below). You can also submit your question using this inquiry form.

English Hotline

1 866 OUR VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Spanish Language Hotline

1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682)