Colorado Voting Guide

Welcome to FindLaw’s Colorado Voter Guide. This page provides election information about eligibility to vote, voter registration and registration deadlines, mail-in and in-person voting, special accommodations for Colorado voters, and what you can do if you see illegal activity at the polls.

Colorado Voter Rights

In May 2025, Governor Jared Polis signed SB25-001 into law. The Colorado Voting Rights Act establishes certain state voting rights and strengthens existing protections against federal incursions into states’ rights. Among other protections, the Voting Rights Act:

• Prohibits voter suppression or dilution based on membership in a protected class
• Prohibits creating or imposing any voting qualifications based on membership in a protected class or due to incarceration, other than those that exist under Colorado law
• Clarifies tribal voting rights, affirms that tribal IDs that lack photographs are sufficient identification for registration purposes, and allows drop boxes on federal land at the request of tribal councils
• Requires all political parties to ensure future methods of candidate selection that allow those unable to participate in person to have a means of casting a vote
• Adds additional requirements for recounts, language access, and data collection

Colorado voters have the right to cast their ballot privately and without coercion or undue influence. Every qualified and eligible voter has the right to vote and may receive a provisional ballot if they do not receive a mail-in ballot or if there is any other ballot issue on Election Day.

Colorado is a mail-in voting state. If you want to drop off your mail-in Colorado ballot, you can do so at a Voter Service and Polling Center by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you need to amend or “cure” your ballot after you mail it, or need ADA accommodations, voting machines are available at polling centers on election days.

Am I eligible to vote in Colorado?

In Colorado, you are eligible to vote if you are:

• A U.S. citizen
• At least 18 years of age on Election Day
• A resident of the State of Colorado for at least 22 days before the election

In 2013, Colorado became the first state to allow 16- and 17-year-old residents to pre-register to vote when they got their driver’s license. Within four years, more than 150,000 young people took advantage of that change in the law. In 2018, 60% of young people in Colorado voted, far exceeding the national average of 30%. If you would like to pre-register to vote, see voter registration below.

You can register and vote if you are:

• On parole or probation
• In jail, while awaiting trial, or out of jail on bond while a criminal case is pending
• In a state institution for those with behavioral or mental disorders. As long as you are a registered voter, would like to vote, and can direct how you would like to vote, you can vote in Colorado.
• Homeless/unhoused or without a fixed permanent residence

Colorado recognizes that unhoused citizens still have a voice in their community. If you lack a “permanent fixed address,” you may use any address where you regularly return and intend to remain. An RV, campground, homeless shelter, or vacant lot can be a “home base” for voting registration purposes. A P.O. box is sufficient for a mailing address, but not for a permanent address.

Who Is Not Eligible To Vote

In Colorado, you cannot register and vote if you are currently serving a sentence in a correctional facility for a felony conviction. You regain your eligibility to vote after release from incarceration or detention. You must re-register to vote, as your prior registration was canceled due to incarceration.

If you’re unsure of your voting status, you can check with the GoVoteColorado site.

When is Colorado’s voter registration deadline?

Colorado voters can register to vote up until Election Day. How you register to vote will affect how you will receive your ballot:

If you want to receive your ballot via mail, you’re required to do one of the following:

• Visit GoVoteColorado to register to vote or update your voter registration online up to eight days before the election
• Apply via mail at a local driver’s license examination facility or a voter registration agency up until eight days before election day
• File an application via a voter registration initiative at least 22 days before election day

Colorado’s primary elections are usually held in June. Colorado has “semi-closed” primaries, meaning that only registered major party members and unaffiliated voters can vote. If you miss the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote in person at your county’s voter service polling center up until Election Day.

Does Colorado still have absentee ballots?

Since Colorado is a mail-in-only voting state, all ballots are technically “absentee” ballots. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens and Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) allows Colorado residents living outside the United States to register and vote by mail. Colorado residents living outside the United States, active military members, and their spouses and partners can request absentee ballots. Students attending college out of state can also use absentee ballots if they are not voting in their current state of residence.

How do I request an absentee ballot in Colorado?

You can use the online portal at GoVoteColorado to request an absentee ballot, register to vote, or update your voter information. When you register, you need to have your Colorado driver’s license, Colorado ID card, or Social Security Number. The portal also lets you indicate how you want to receive your ballot.

You can also submit your Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request (FPCA) to your county clerk. The FPCA is a universal form for both absentee ballot requests and voter registration.

What do I need to bring to the polls in Colorado?

Colorado voters must provide identification when they register to vote and when voting in person. If you are voting by mail for the first time, poll workers may ask you to provide a photocopy of your ID when you return your mail ballot.

Your identification document does not have to include a photograph. Many forms of ID are acceptable in Colorado, including:

• Colorado driver’s license
• Colorado Department of Revenue ID card
• U.S. passport
• Employee ID card with photo issued by the U.S. government, the Colorado state government, or a political party subdivision of Colorado
• Pilot’s license
• U.S. military ID with photo
• Copy of a financial document that has your name and address, such as a utility bill or paycheck
• Medicare or Medicaid card
• Certified copy of your birth certificate
• Naturalization document (certified)

The complete list of acceptable forms of identification is available on the Secretary of State’s website.

What special accommodations are available?

Colorado ensures that every eligible person can vote. If your polling place is inaccessible, notify your county election office of your concerns. Your county clerk may move the polling location to another area of the building or provide seating.

Under Colorado laws, individuals with disabilities must be able to complete their ballots without help. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects voters with disabilities and requires states to provide accessible polling places. Voters should have access to the following:

• Wheelchair-accessible polling locations
• Information written in large print or Braille
• Assistive voting technology or audio ballots for voters with visual or hearing impairments
• Accessible voting machines and information technology

This applies to all federal, state, and local elections.

How do I request a provisional ballot?

You can ask for a provisional ballot at any Colorado election if you do not have a mail-in ballot or do not appear on the voter rolls. Common reasons why you may need a provisional ballot include:

• The records show you already voted in the elections when you did not
• You did not provide an approved ID
• You are in the wrong county

When you request a provisional ballot, you must also sign an affidavit swearing under penalty of perjury that you are a qualified voter. After the election, the state will confirm if your vote is valid. If it is, they’ll include your vote. If not, your ballot will be discarded.

If you don’t want to cast a provisional ballot, you can go to the correct voting precinct and cast your vote there instead.

What do I do if I see something illegal at the polls?

Colorado law prohibits electioneering or campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place, a drop box, or inside a polling location. Electioneering is specifically defined as:

• Advocating for the election or defeat of a candidate or a ballot measure
• Wearing pins, t-shirts, hats, or campaign clothing with the name or image of a candidate, the name of a political party, or the name or number of a ballot issue
• Soliciting signatures for upcoming ballot questions, recall petitions, or upcoming elections

Campaign workers may provide food, water, and other items to voters waiting in line. They may not wear campaign accessories, and the water or snacks cannot bear the logos or insignia of any parties or candidates if they operate within 100 feet of the polling place.

In 2024, Colorado passed a law prohibiting open and concealed carry of firearms at polling locations. SB 24–131 bans all firearms at polling places, drop boxes, and ballot counting facilities. It is a misdemeanor to harass or threaten a poll worker or election official while they are working at the polls.

If you witness any of these acts or are the victim of voter intimidation or harassment, don’t retaliate or interfere. Contact law enforcement if you believe the situation warrants it, and notify the Colorado Secretary of State’s office. You can also contact a lawyer experienced in voting law if you believe your voting rights were violated.

Where can I learn about Colorado statewide ballot measures?

As a Colorado voter, it’s essential to learn about particular issues you will be voting on. State residents can participate in shaping state laws and policies by voting on certain proposals or issues through statewide ballot measures.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s website provides a detailed ballot guide for Coloradans looking to learn more about statewide ballot measures for the upcoming elections. The Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book) contains comprehensive information on statewide measures. Voters can receive the Blue Book in both English and Spanish. You can also get information from nonpartisan voting organizations, such as the League of Women Voters.

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Consider consulting with a civil rights attorney if you believe your voting rights have been violated.