Voting in Colorado

Colorado is a vote-by-mail state, so you do not need to visit a polling place to vote, but if you prefer to vote in person, you can search for your voter service and polling center here.

Colorado uses a vote-by-mail system for all elections, meaning that every active voter registered in advance receives a mail ballot. If you are an inactive voter, the county has sent a ballot to your address and it bounced back because you no longer live at that location. To correct this you have to go online or to the county’s office to input your new address. The ballot will be sent to the mailing address you provided for your voter registration file. If you prefer to vote at the polls, you can vote in-person at a voter service and polling center.

Colorado offers in-person early voting at voter service and polling centers. No excuse is needed to vote early. Voter service and polling centers open 15 days before Election Day and remain open through Election Day. During early voting a county can decide if they want to open polling locations on Sunday.

Colorado has semi-open primaries. Voters registered with a particular political party can vote in that party’s primary, as can unaffiliated voters. 17-year-olds can vote in the primary election if they will be 18 by the corresponding general election.

If you are voting in person at a voter service and polling center, photo ID is required to vote in Colorado. If you are voting by mail for the first time, you may also need to provide a photocopy of your ID with your mail ballot. Valid forms of ID include:
- A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.)
- A valid U.S. passport.
- A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado.
- A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S.
- A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector.
- A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector.
- A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood.
- A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector.
- Certified documentation of naturalization.
- A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S..
- A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector.
- A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership

Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification.

If you do not have an approved form of ID, you can receive a free Colorado ID from the DMV.

If you go to a voter service and polling center without an approved form of ID, you may cast a provisional ballot. Your provisional ballot is counted if you complete the provisional ballot affidavit and the election official confirms your eligibility to vote.