Voting & Elections Toolkits 2022

Deadline

• Voter registration deadlines are determined by the date of the election.
• Register to vote online, through the mail, or at a local driver's license facility through the 8th day before election day.
• Register through a voter registration drive no later than 22 days before Election Day.
• If you miss the above deadlines, you may register in-person at a voter service and polling center in your county through Election Day.
• Voter Registration FAQ
• Election Calendar (2021) (PDF)

Online registration

To use the online voter registration system you must have a current and valid driver’s license, or ID card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Online registration form (in English and Spanish)

Mail-in registration

Printable forms (in English and Spanish)

Refer to the box below for information about ID requirements.

Choosing a political party   

You may choose a political party affiliation when you register, but it is not required.                 

Updating registration      

To update registration after a move, name change, or change of political party affiliation, use the "Find My Voter Registration" page.

Cancelling registration

There is an online form to withdraw a voter registration on the Colorado Secretary of State website.  Identity verification for the online form includes submitting a Colorado driver's license or ID card number issued from the Colorado Department of Revenue, or a Social Security number.

If you are unable to withdraw online, complete the paper withdrawl form, and mail it to your County Clerk and Recorder. 

ID Requirements for Voting

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.

Many forms of identification are accepted, but most voters bring their Colorado driver's license or Colorado ID.

More information on ID requirements.

Where to get an ID

Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles

• Locations

Obtaining a Driver’s License

• New license
• Transferring from another state
• Obtaining a non-driver photo ID

Absentee voting

All registered voters in Colorado receive a mail-in ballot. Mail ballots must be received by the county clerk and recorder no later than 7:00 PM on Election Day. Voters are encouraged to drop off ballots at designated drop off locations, drop-box locations, or mail their ballots in time to be received by the county clerk before the polls close. Postmarks do not count; ballots must be in the hands of the county clerk by 7:00 PM on Election Day in order to be counted.

Military voters and voters who reside outside the U.S.

• Military and overseas electors may submit a Federal Write-in Ballot (PDF) if there isn’t enough time to receive and return the state ballot. When voting your ballot, make sure you list each office for which you wish to vote as well as a candidate’s name or political party designation. You can include your votes for all federal, state, and local races. Once you have completed the ballot, you may return it by mail, fax, or email directly to your county or to the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.
• More information can be found in the Uniformed and Overseas Electors FAQ from the Colorado Secretary of State's Office.

Polling places and hours

Every registered voter in Colorado receives a mail ballot. If you prefer to vote at the polls, you can vote in-person at a voter service and polling center.

• Use "Go Vote Colorado" to find your polling place
• For a general election or primary, the deadline to vote in-person is 7:00 PM on Election Day.
• Check with the county clerk regarding specific polling place hours.
• Time off to vote: Under Colorado law, voters may get time off without loss of pay if he/she does not have sufficient time outside of regular working hours to vote. (C.R.S 1-7-102)

Rides to the polls

Many organizations offer free rides to polling places. Some of these include:

• Lyft and Uber sometimes provide free or discounted rides on Election Day.

Help for voters with disabilities

• Eligible voters with a disability may request to access their ballot and vote their ballot electronically. An eligible voter must print the voted ballot, the accessible ballot application, and sign the accessible ballot application. All of these materials must be returned together and returned through the USPS or in-person at a county drop-box or county VSPC.
• The federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and Colorado laws require that voters with disabilities be able to cast their vote privately and without assistance. Each county has purchased accessible voting machines to be used in every polling place election. These new voting machines use assistive and adaptive technology to provide the opportunity for voters with a wide range of disabilities to vote privately and independently.

Ballots

All Colorado voters receive mail ballots.

Constitutional Amendments and ballot questions:

• A "Ballot Information Booklet" also known as the "Blue Book" provides voters with the text title and an impartial analysis of each constitutional amendment or ballot question. The booklet is prepared by the Colorado Legislative Council Staff.

Sample ballots:

• Coloradans can view a sample ballot online by clicking on “Find my registration” at GoVoteColorado.com. Once there, enter First Name, Last Name, Zip Code, and Birthday to see your registration. To view your sample ballot, click on “Ballot Information” and then “view my sample ballot.”

Who are the candidates, and what else is on the ballot?

• Coloradans can view a sample ballot online by clicking on “Find my registration” at GoVoteColorado.com. Once there, enter First Name, Last Name, Zip Code, and Birthday to see your registration. To view your sample ballot, click on “Ballot Information” and then “view my sample ballot.”
• Consitutional amendments and propositions: A "Ballot Information Booklet" also known as the "Blue Book" provides voters with the text title and an impartial analysis of each constitutional amendment or ballot question. The booklet is prepared by the Colorado Legislative Council Staff.

Important Dates

Election Day is November 2, 2021

The best resource to find election dates is the current Elections Calendar. It has dates for the election cycle, including Primaries, General and Coordinated Elections.

Who conducts elections?

• The Colorado Secretary of State oversees statewide and local elections
• County Clerks and Recorders maintain voter rolls, prepare ballots and administer balloting for each municipality

Where to go with complaints about candidates or how elections are conducted

The Colorado Secretary of State may inspect and review the practices and procedures of county clerk and recorders, their employees, and other election officials in the conduct of primary, general, and congressional vacancy elections and the registration of electors. Information on the Election Complaint Process.

Campaign finance

TRACER, the Campaign Finance Database provides access to candidates’ election committee and Political Action Committee campaign finance filings.

How to contact your elected officials:

Colorado does not have a single portal for identifying your elected officials. 

• Information on your state legislators can be found on the "Find My Legislator" site from the Colorado General Assembly.
• Information on county or municipal officials can be found through the County Clerk and Recorder websites.