How to Vote in Colorado’s 2024 Elections
Important dates and election information
- Voter registration deadline to get mail ballot: Monday, Oct. 28
- In-person voting: Begins Monday, Oct. 21
- Deadline for mail ballots to be received: Tuesday, Nov. 5, by 7 p.m.
- Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5
Voting at a glance
- Voter registration: Register to vote or check your registration status at GoVoteColorado.gov.
- Voting with a mail ballot: Every registered voter automatically receives a ballot by mail in Colorado. Your mail ballot will be sent to the address in your voter registration file, which you can check and update at GoVoteColorado.gov.
- Early in-person voting: If you prefer to vote in person, you can visit a voter service and polling center in your county to cast your ballot from Monday, Oct. 21 through Election Day.
- Voting at the polls: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bring an acceptable ID, such as a valid Colorado driver’s license or Colorado ID.
Recent voting changes in Colorado
A 2024 law allows voters who are displaced because of a natural disaster to receive an emergency replacement ballot within eight days before Election Day. First responders and health care workers unable to vote on Election Day will also be eligible for an emergency replacement ballot.
Under a law passed in 2023, Colorado considers state-approved digital IDs an acceptable form of identification.
How to register to vote
To receive a ballot in the mail, you’ll need to register or change your mailing address by Monday, Oct. 28. If you miss those deadlines, you may register in person up to and including Election Day at a voter service and polling center in your county.
- Online: If you have a driver’s license or state ID card issued by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles or a Social Security number, you can register online on the secretary of state’s website.
- By mail, email or fax: Download and complete the Colorado Voter Registration Form and send it to your county clerk and recorder’s office, using this roster of offices.
- By phone: Call your county clerk and recorder’s office to request that a paper copy of the registration form be mailed to you. You can mail, email, fax or hand deliver the completed form.
- In person: Visit your county clerk and recorder’s office to pick up and submit a registration form. Unless you opt out, you'll automatically be registered to vote, if you're eligible, when applying for or renewing your driver's license. You can also register at military recruitment offices or offices that provide public assistance; other local, state and federal offices may offer registration. Finally, registration is available up to and including Election Day at voter service and polling centers in your county.
Visit the secretary of state’s website for more information or to check and update your registration status. If you have questions, contact your county clerk and recorder’s office or call the secretary of state’s office at 303-894-2200 and select the elections option.
Registering to vote on Election Day
You may register to vote on Election Day at any voter service and polling center in your county.
Checking your registration status
You can check your registration status at GoVoteColorado.gov.
How to get a mail ballot
Every registered voter whose information is up to date will automatically receive a ballot by mail. Check your voter registration information to make sure your current address is on file.
If you want to receive a mail ballot and need to register or change your address you have until Monday, Oct. 28, to do so. It’s best to do this as early as possible to ensure you get your ballot on time.
If you miss the deadline, you may still update your registration and pick up a mail ballot in person at a voter service and polling center in your county.
Ballots will be mailed to voters starting Friday, Oct. 11. Find more information about mail ballots on the secretary of state’s website.
Returning your mail ballot
Ballots must be received by your county clerk (not just postmarked) by 7 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5). Different rules and deadlines apply for military and overseas voters. Return your ballot by mail or in person.
- By mail: Mail your completed ballot to your county clerk and recorder’s office. Remember to sign the envelope and include the required postage. Be sure to mail it early enough so it is received by Election Day.
- In person: Your mail-ballot package will include information about where you can drop it off. Or you can hand deliver your ballot to your county clerk and recorder’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Contact your county clerk or visit GoVoteColorado.gov to find secure drop box locations in your area.
Track the status of your ballot by signing up for BallotTrax or visiting GoVoteColorado.gov. Use the state’s TXT2Cure system to resolve problems with your ballot, such as a missing signature.
Voting in person before Election Day
If you’d rather not use a mail ballot, you can vote early in person at any voter service and polling center in your county from Monday, Oct. 21, through Tuesday, Nov. 5. Hours vary by location. Contact your county clerk and recorder’s office or visit GoVoteColorado.gov for more information.
Voting at the polls on Election Day
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Information about polling locations will be available at GoVoteColorado.gov. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you’ll be allowed to vote.
Find sample ballots on the secretary of state’s website when they’re available.
Voter ID requirements
To vote in person, you must provide an acceptable form of identification, such as a valid Colorado driver's license, a military ID or a current utility bill. If you’re voting by mail for the first time, you may be required to include a copy of your identification.
Colorado considers state-approved digital IDs, such as an electronic version of your driver’s license, as an acceptable form of identification. Find a full list of acceptable IDs on the secretary of state’s website.
Voting with a disability
Options for accessible voting, including an electronic ballot that enables you to vote from home, are on the secretary of state’s website, along with answers to frequently asked questions from voters with disabilities.
Editor’s note: This guide was originally published on Jan. 19, 2024. It has been updated with new information about voting in the 2024 elections.
Natalie Missakian covers federal and state policy and writes AARP’s Fighting for You Every Day blog. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Haven Register and daily newspapers in Ohio. She has also written for the AARP Bulletin, the Hartford Business Journal and other publications.
