How to vote in Colorado
Colorado voter registration guide
Colorado voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 8 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 8 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
Check your Colorado voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Colorado registration using the Colorado voter registration lookup tool.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Colorado voter registration rules
To register in Colorado you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Colorado 22 days prior to Election Day
- be 18 years old by Election Day (you may pre-register if you are 16). If you are 17, you may vote in a primary if you will turn 18 by the General Election
- not be currently incarcerated after being convicted and sentenced for a felony.
Colorado online voter registration
- You can register to vote online if you have a Colorado driver license, driver permit, or ID card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue.
- Visit the Colorado online voter registration tool.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 8 days before Election Day.
Colorado by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Provide your Colorado driver’s license number or identification number. If you do not have either of these numbers, provide the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you do not have any of these numbers, write "NONE" in this space.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You may register with a party. If you leave this section blank you will not be registered with any party.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 8 days before Election Day
Colorado in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Colorado driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or Federal Government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Colorado same day registration
- Summary: Colorado has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find out where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your Colorado driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or Federal Government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Registering to vote in Colorado with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
Colorado absentee and mail ballot guide
Colorado absentee ballot overview
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.
- If you need to update your mailing address permanently, register to vote again using your new mailing address.
- If you need to update your mailing address temporarily -- because you will be out of town for a specific election -- request a one-time absentee ballot.
Colorado absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: Anytime.
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 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
Colorado absentee ballot rules
- All Colorado elections are held by mail, so you will automatically receive a mail-in ballot at your registered address.
- You can request a one-time absentee ballot if you will be away from home during a specific election.
Colorado online ballot request
Colorado does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Colorado by-mail ballot request
- Download the Colorado absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 8 days before Election Day.
Colorado in-person ballot request
- 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.
After you receive your ballot
- 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 state-provided dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
- 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.
Colorado absentee ballot ID requirements
- 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.
Colorado early voting guide
Colorado early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 15 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
What to bring
You must show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of Colorado or any federal agency, any US tribe, or any accredited college or university in Colorado. If you do not have a valid photo ID, you can show a birth certificate or naturalization document, copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address (must be a Colorado address).
Colorado voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of Colorado or any federal agency, any US tribe, or any accredited college or university in Colorado. If you do not have a valid photo ID, you can show a birth certificate or naturalization document, copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address (must be a Colorado address).
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail 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.
ID requirements to register to vote online
You can register to vote online if you have a Colorado driver license, driver permit, or ID card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue.
ID requirements for same day registration
Bring your Colorado driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or Federal Government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
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
External resources
- Colorado online voter registration
- Colorado voter status lookup
- Colorado absentee ballot tracker
- Colorado polling place locator