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Voter Registration
Why do I have to register to vote?

Voter registration is required in Colorado in order to protect the integrity of our elections.

Your voter registration also helps to determine which questions or races should appear on your ballot. This is determined by the districts in which you live, such as the county, congressional and legislative districts, municipality, school and special districts that serve your address.

What is the deadline to register to vote?

You may register to vote at any time in Colorado. However, if you wish to vote in an upcoming election, you must register by the following deadlines:

  • 22 Days before Election Day if you register to vote through a voter registration drive or a Voter Registration Agency
  • 8 Days before Election Day if you register to vote by mail or online at www.govotecolorado.com and wish to receive a mail ballot
  • On Election Day, you must visit a Voter Service and Polling Centers in your county to register to vote and request a ballot
How do I register to vote?

Online

It is easy to register to vote online. If you have a Colorado driver's license or ID card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue, you may register to vote online at www.govotecolorado.com.

By Mail, Fax or Email:

If you do not wish to register to vote online, or if you do not have a Colorado driver's license or ID card, you may download and print a voter registration form. Return your completed and signed form to Arapahoe County Elections via mail, fax, or email. 

In-Person

If you prefer to register to vote in-person, you may visit any of our Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder branch locations. 

Voter registration is also offered at:

  • All Colorado Driver's License offices;
  • Arapahoe County Human Services, and all offices that provide public assistance or state funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities;
  • Recruitment offices of the armed forces of the United States;
  • Any federal, state local government, or non-government office that chooses to provide voter registration service or applications; and
  • Voter service and polling centers.
Is ID required to register to vote?

Yes, you must submit an acceptable form of identification when you register to vote or when voting for the first time in Colorado.

You are exempt from providing ID if you meet one of the following qualifications:

  • 65 years of age or older when you registered
  • Have a physical disability
  • Member, spouse or dependent of an active uniform service or merchant marine absent from the county on Election Day
  • Living outside the United States but eligible to vote in Colorado
If I am already registered to vote, do I need to register before each election?

If you have already registered to vote, you do not need to register again. 

However, if you have moved to a new address in Colorado, you must update your voter registration with your new residential address. Update your voter registration online at www.govotecolorado.com, or visit one of the voter registration agencies listed above.

How do I change my address?

If you have a Colorado Driver's License or ID card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue, you may update your address online at www.govotecolorado.com

As an alternative, you may complete and submit a letter or voter registration form to the county clerk and recorder in your new county, either by mail, fax, email or in-person.

You may also appear in-person at a Voter Service and Polling Center in your county of residence, and update or change your address and cast a ballot, prior to or on Election Day.

How can I verify my voter registration information is correct?

You may verify your voter registration information at www.govotecolorado.com.

Precinct and Districts
Where can I find out what precinct and districts I live in?

Please use our Voter Lookup tool to find your precinct and districts

What does my 10-digit precinct number mean?

In accordance with Colorado Statutes, each election precinct must be numbered with a ten-digit number as follows:

  • First digit – Congressional District
  • Second and third digits – State Senate District
  • Fourth and fifth digits – State Representative District
  • Sixth and seventh digits – Assigned by the Secretary of State
  • Eighth digit – County Commissioner District
  • Last two digits – Precinct

Example: Precinct Number 1260103101

1 Congressional District
26 State Senate District
01 State Representative District
03 Arapahoe County
1 County Commissioner District
01 Precinct
Qualifications to Vote
Who is eligible to vote in Colorado?

In order to vote in Arapahoe County, you must be:

  • 18 years of age or older at the time of the next election,
  • A United States citizen,
  • A resident of the State of Colorado 22 days immediately before the election at which you intend to vote and consider this your sole legal place of residence.
  • Not serving a sentence of confinement or detention for a felony conviction. (Persons serving a sentence of parole, in jail awaiting trial, or in detention for a misdemeanor conviction may vote.)

Youth may pre-register to vote at age 16 or 17, but are not eligible to vote until age 18.

What are the penalties for voting or registering to vote if I am ineligible?

It is unlawful for any person to procure false voter registration. A violation could result in a fine of up to $5,000, or imprisonment in the county jail for up to 18 months, or both. Any person who votes in an election knowing that they are not entitled to vote commits a class 5 felony. See sections 1-13-203 and 1-13-704.5, C.R.S.

Special Circumstances
How do I cancel voter registration for a deceased person?

A family member of the deceased elector should send written signed notice to the county clerk’s office where the deceased voter is registered to vote. The notice should include the full name, date of birth, and address of the deceased elector. If your family member was registered to vote in Arapahoe County, you may mail this notice to Arapahoe County Elections, 5334 S. Prince Street, Littleton, CO 80120.

What if I am a college student?

College students in Colorado can choose to register to vote in their home county, or register to vote in the county where they are attending college. Your choice should be the location that you deem as your principal home. An elector may not vote twice.

Update the address on your voter registration online or print and complete a Colorado Voter Registration Form and return it to us by mail, email or fax. If you are registered to vote in Colorado, you will automatically receive a mail ballot in every election.

Please ensure that your residential address reflects your principal home, and your mailing address reflects where wish to receive your ballot for the upcoming election. Headed home for the summer? Remember to update your mailing address. Ballots are not forwarded.

If you prefer, you may cast a ballot in-person at any Voter Service and Polling Center in the county where you are registered to vote. Everyone who votes in person, whether on Election Day or by early voting, must show ID. A student ID from a Colorado school satisfies the ID requirement if it has your name and photograph.

You may not vote at a VSPC in your college county if you are registered in your home county, and you may not vote at a VSPC in your home county if you are registered to vote in your college county

 

What if I’m in the military?

If you are a service member and will be absent from the state due to active duty, please register to vote as a UOCAVA voter. Learn more about services and benefits for military and overseas voters

If my home is in foreclosure, will I be allowed to vote?

Every eligible elector has the right to vote in Colorado. The fact that your home is in foreclosure has no bearing on your right to vote. It may, however, affect where you vote.

You may remain registered to vote at the address of the property in foreclosure until you establish a new permanent residence.

Once you leave your home and adopt a new residence, you will need to update your voter registration. This will ensure that your ballot reflects the issues and races for which you are eligible to vote at your new address. 

I'm homeless. How can I register to vote?

A homeless individual may register to vote with a mailing address (required) and the address of a fixed location that he/she regularly returns to as a 'home base' as a residential address.

Residential Address: An individual who is homeless, permanently resides in a recreational vehicle (RV), or for some reason has no fixed permanent residence, may use any address that he or she regularly returns to and has the intent to remain as a residential address for voter registration purposes. For instance, an elector may use the address of a campground, park, vacant lot, or homeless shelter as residential address for registration purposes. Post office boxes are not acceptable as a residence address.

Mailing Address: A Colorado citizen cannot register to vote without providing a valid mailing address. If a citizen does not have a fixed permanent home and the physical location that they consider a 'home base' lacks a mailing address, such as a park, then the individual must also give a valid mailing address where he or she can receive correspondence (such as a mail ballot or TABOR notice). Post office boxes are acceptable as a mailing address.

Voting Options: A homeless individual who is an active registered voter will receive a mail ballot for every election in which they are eligible to vote. The mail ballot will be sent to their designated residential address, or to their mailing address if it is different from their residential address. Like any voter, a homeless elector may also opt to visit any Voter Service and Polling Center in their county to cast a ballot.