How do I register to vote in Colorado?

Colorado combines universal vote-by-mail, automatic registration, and same-day registration for one of the most accessible election systems in the country.

1. Eligibility (Colo. Const. art. VII; C.R.S. § 1-2-101)

U.S. citizen.

16 to pre-register; 18 by Election Day to vote.

CO resident for 22 days before the election.

Not currently serving a sentence of detention or confinement for a felony (parolees regained voting rights in 2019 under HB 19-1266); probationers always could vote.

Not adjudicated mentally incompetent.

2. How to Register

Online: GoVoteColorado.gov (requires CO DL/ID).

Automatic Voter Registration at the DMV (opt-out system since 2017).

Paper: mail to county clerk.

Same-Day Registration: at any Voter Service and Polling Center through 7 p.m. on Election Day (C.R.S. § 1-2-217.7) — vote a regular ballot in person.

3. Deadlines

Online and mail (to receive ballot by mail): 8 days before Election Day.

Same-Day in-person: through Election Day at any VSPC.

4. ID Requirements

CO DL/ID or last 4 of SSN at registration.

For in-person voting: ID required (C.R.S. § 1-1-104(19.5)) — CO DL, state ID, US passport, military ID, employee ID with photo, utility bill, bank statement, or government document with name and address.

5. College Students

May register at school address; vote-by-mail makes participation easy. Out-of-state student IDs not sufficient — bring a utility bill, statement, or government doc with address.

This is legal information, not legal advice.