Colorado absentee and mail ballot guide
- All Colorado elections are held by mail. This means that Colorado will automatically send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter ahead of all elections.
- Colorado does not support one-time absentee ballots, so if you will be away from home during a specific election, you need to register to vote again and update the address where you want to receive your ballot.
- Earliest day to apply: Anytime.
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 8 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 8 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
- All Colorado elections are held by mail. This means that Colorado will automatically send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter ahead of all elections.
- Colorado does not support one-time absentee ballots, so if you will be away from home during a specific election, you need to register to vote again and update the address where you want to receive your ballot.
Colorado does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Colorado does not support one-time absentee ballots. If you will be away from home during a specific election, you need to register to vote at the address where you want to receive your ballot. You must remember to revert your address to your regular location for the next election by registering to vote again.
You can also contact your local election office for help requesting an absentee ballot.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 8 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
If you are are a first time voter, you may need to include a copy of your ID with your voted ballot. Acceptable forms of ID include a photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government. If you don't have a photo ID, include a photo copy of a recent utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.
Track your ballot here: Colorado absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if your signature is missing or if your signature does not match the state records.
- You must fix any issues by 11:59 pm on the 8th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
- All Colorado elections are held by mail, but there is something similar to an emergency absentee ballot.
- If you are hospitalized or otherwise confined on Election Day, you may request in a personally signed written statement that the election official send a replacement ballot. If you are unable to have someone pick up and deliver the ballot to you, the election official may electronically deliver the ballot.
- The replacement ballot request must be made before 5PM Election Day and returned no later than 7PM Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 5PM Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is 7PM Election Day
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Colorado elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Colorado Secretary of State 1700 Broadway, Suite 200 Denver, CO 80290