Your Voice, Your Vote
Oct. 16, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
As members of a diverse university community with a distinct commitment to civic and community engagement, we all share in the responsibility of contributing to and shaping our society. I know from my recent listening sessions that many of you have strongly held views on that responsibility. For U.S. citizens, the easiest and most direct way to express those views is to vote. Different levels of government determine your community’s response to everything from potholes to COVID-19, and voting gives us the chance to select the people making those decisions.
Particularly for our younger voters, including those of you who may be eligible to vote for the first time, the impact of your vote could be tremendous. This year for the first time, Millennials and Gen Z will make up the largest share of eligible voters.
Below are some frequently asked questions and resources for Colorado voting information to help make participating as easy as possible.
We are at a crossroads in an exceedingly divided nation, amid the combined challenges of the pandemic, the economy, and racial tensions. No matter your political leanings, and no matter the outcome of the election, it is my expectation that we will come together afterward—as a community that values free speech, differing perspectives, diversity, and inclusion—to reconcile the impacts of these challenges that have impacted our university, our state, our nation and our world.
Michelle Marks
Chancellor
@MarksMichelleA
Colorado Voting FAQs
When is Election Day?
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
When is the last day I can register to vote?
Colorado has same-day voter registration. You can register and vote until 7 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 3) at a polling location.
Colorado also has automatic voter registration, completed after signing up for some government services. If you recently received a new driver’s license or ID card, for example, you are automatically registered to vote. You can check your voter registration via the secretary of state’s office at www.govotecolorado.gov.
If I’m already registered to vote, will I automatically receive a mailed ballot?
Yes, Colorado has automatic voter registration with mail-in ballots. You will receive a ballot in the mail at your registered address (if you haven’t already).
You can check your voter registration and address via the secretary of state’s office at www.govotecolorado.gov.
When is the last date to register to vote and receive a ballot in the mail?
Oct. 26, 2020 is the last day to update your voter information (a new address after a move, for example) or register to vote and receive a mail-in ballot. You can do this through www.govotecolorado.gov.
When are ballots mailed out to voters?
Ballots were mailed the week of Oct. 9, 2020.
When does early voting begin for overseas or military voters?
Early voting for these groups began Sept. 18, 2020.
Is there a ballot drop box on the Auraria Campus?
Yes, there is a drop box just outside the Tivoli Student Union, near the Starbucks.
Where can I find more ballot drop off box locations?
Check your local county clerk and recorder’s website for locations. Here are locations for Denver and a few area counties:
When is the deadline for ballot drop boxes?
County ballot boxes drop off locations are open until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Ballots can also be dropped off at in-person voting locations until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
When should I mail back my ballot?
County clerk and recorders advise that you give plenty of time for your ballot to be mailed back for your vote to be counted. Ballots must be received by your county’s clerk and recorder by 7 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 3).
- Please note: This does not mean postmarked by Nov. 3.
- Give your ballot plenty of time to be mailed to your county clerk and recorder, or use a ballot drop box. Vote early if possible.
How can I track my ballot’s status?
Check your county’s clerk and recorder website for your ballot’s status after mailing or placing in a ballot drop box.
Ballot Tracking Information:
You can contact your county recorder office to have a new ballot mailed to you or you can go to your nearest polling center for assistance in getting a new ballot issued.