Colorado Proposition 126, Alcohol Delivery Service Initiative (2022)

Colorado Proposition 126
Election date November 8, 2022
Topic Alcohol and Business regulation
Status d Defeated
Type State statute	Origin Citizens

Colorado Proposition 126, the Alcohol Delivery Service Initiative, was on the ballot in Colorado as an initiated state statute on November 8, 2022. The measure was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported: allowing retail establishments licensed to sell alcohol for off-site consumption to offer a delivery service or provide for a third-party alcohol delivery service; and permanently allowing bars and restaurants to offer alcohol takeout and delivery.

A "no" vote opposed the initiative, thereby maintaining current law that allows alcohol delivery by liquor retailer employees only and maintaining current law that ends the takeout and delivery of alcohol by bars and restaurants on July 1, 2025.

Election results

Colorado Proposition 126
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,183,059	48.86%
No		1,238,074	51.14%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

What would Proposition 126 have done?

See also: Text of measure

Proposition 126 would have allowed alcohol retailers and liquor-licensed businesses, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants, to offer third-party delivery services for alcohol deliveries beginning March 1, 2023. Going into the election, retailers are allowed to deliver alcohol using a store-owned vehicle by an employee who is at least 21 years old. Alcohol delivery has been allowed by liquor stores since 1994, by wineries since 1997, and by grocery and convenience stores since 2019.

In 2020, Colorado allowed takeout and delivery of alcohol by bars and restaurants, with that law set to automatically repeal on July 1, 2025. Proposition 126 was designed to permanently allow bars and restaurants to offer alcohol takeout and delivery.

What did supporters and opponents say about Proposition 126?

See also: Support and Opposition

Daniel Ramirez, Colorado Restaurant Association chairman and co-owner of the Los Dos Potrillos restaurants, said, "At the beginning of the pandemic, alcohol to-go really helped our business through additional sales, but it also allowed us to provide for our customers where they were: in their homes. If third-party delivery companies can deliver alcohol with our food, that helps us continue providing deeper hospitality to our customers who wish to have their food delivered."

Keeping Colorado Local, a campaign opposing Proposition 126 and the two other alcohol initiatives on the 2022 ballot, said, "Proposition 126 would allow unlicensed companies and people to deliver alcohol. Gig workers acting as independent contractors for tech companies would be able to deliver alcohol without going through the review and training currently required for alcohol licensees to deliver alcohol."

Who was behind the campaigns surrounding the three Colorado alcohol initiatives?

See also: Campaign finance and Background

Three initiatives concerning alcohol were on the 2022 ballot in Colorado.

Proposition 124, which was defeated, would have increased the number of retail liquor store licenses an individual or entity could hold. Coloradans for Consumer Choice and Retail Fairness, the campaign behind Proposition 124, raised $13.79 million and had the support of Colorado Fine Wines & Spirits LLC, U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-Maryland), and his brother who co-owns Total Wine with him, Robert Trone.

Proposition 125, which was approved, allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell wine. Proposition 126, which was defeated, would have allowed for third-party delivery of alcohol. Wine in Grocery Stores, the campaign supporting both Propositions 125 and 126, raised $14.59 million. Top donors included DoorDash, InstaCart, Target, Albertsons Safeway, and Kroger. Fair Delivery for All Small Businesses registered to support Proposition 126. The committee reported no contributions and $8,019 in expenditures.

Keeping Colorado Local led the campaign in opposition to all three alcohol initiatives. The committee raised $903,220. Donors to the opposition campaign included the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association and local Colorado liquor store Hazel's Beverage World.

Path 2 Zero registered to support Propositions 121, 124, 125, 126, and Amendment E; and registered to oppose Propositions 123, GG, FF, and Amendment F. It is impossible to distinguish between funds spent on each individual measure. The committee reported $10,430.70 in in-kind contributions from Independence Institute.

Measure design

Proposition 126 would have allowed alcohol retailers and liquor-licensed businesses, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants, to offer third-party delivery services for alcohol deliveries beginning March 1, 2023.

Entities could have applied to the State Licensing Authority for a delivery service permit. Applicants would have needed to provide a sample contract the applicant intends to enter into with a licensed retailer; an outline of a certification program for delivery service personnel or contractors addressing identifying underage persons, intoxicated persons, or fake identification; and proof of a general liability insurance policy of at least $1 million per occurrence.

When making deliveries, delivery service personnel would have needed to verify that the recipient is 21 years old or older.

In 2020, Colorado allowed takeout and delivery of alcohol by bars and restaurants, with that law set to automatically repeal on July 1, 2025. Proposition 126 would have permanently allowed bars and restaurants to offer alcohol takeout and delivery.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for the measure was as follows:

“

Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning authorization for the third-party delivery of alcohol beverages, and, in connection therewith, allowing retail establishments licensed to sell alcohol beverages for on-site or off-site consumption to deliver all types of alcohol beverages to a person twenty-one years of age or older through a third-party delivery service that obtains a delivery service permit; prohibiting the delivery of alcohol beverages to a person who is under 21 years of age, is intoxicated, or fails to provide proof of identification; removing the limit on the percentage of gross sales revenues a licensee may receive from alcohol beverage deliveries; and allowing a technology services company, without obtaining a third-party delivery service permit, to provide software or a digital network application that connects consumers and licensed retailers for the delivery of alcohol beverages?

”

Full text

The full text of the initiative is below:

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2022

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state board wrote the ballot language for this measure.

The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 26, and the FRE is -9. The word count for the ballot title is 144.

Support

Wine in Grocery Stores led the campaign in support of the initiative. The campaign provided a full list of endorsements, which is available here. A list of restaurants endorsing Proposition 126 can be found here.

Supporters

Corporations

• Albertsons Safeway
• DoorDash
• Instacart
• Kroger
• Target

Organizations

• Aurora Chamber of Commerce
• Colorado Chamber of Commerce
• Colorado Restaurant Association
• Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce
• Hispanic Restaurant Association
• NAACP Rocky Mountain State Area Conference
• Pro 15

Arguments

• Michelle Lyng, spokesperson for Wine in Grocery Stores: "Colorado had 1,600 licensed liquor stores before beer in grocery stores, and three years later, we have 1,592 because consumers get more choices from liquor stores — more choices in beer and in wine. Grocery stores and liquor stores will continue to operate successfully as they do now. Because of the convenience of people being able to pick up a bottle of wine while shopping for groceries, and the convenience of being able to order a bottle of wine to accompany the food being delivered from a restaurant, this was an easy sell, and we found Coloradans were excited to sign."
• Wine in Grocery Stores: "Prop 126 allows Colorado to join 28 states that permit local restaurants to include a bottle of wine or adult beverage to accompany a customer’s food delivery order; allows the smallest 1,300 mom-and-pop liquor stores across Colorado to compete with the 300 largest liquor stores to make deliveries to customers in their own neighborhoods; and for restaurant and liquor store deliveries, mandates drivers be age 21 or over and recipients to show a valid ID of age 21 or over, using the same tools (driver training, electronic scan of ID) that produced zero delivery violations in Colorado the past six years from out-of-state liquor store deliveries."
• Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman: "Colorado has been long overdue to rethink the way we approach liquor licensing. This is about helping some of our hardest-hit businesses recover from ongoing economic challenges while also giving consumers more options when it comes to how and where they choose to purchase alcohol. Together, these common-sense ballot initiatives will help bring Colorado’s alcohol regulatory environment into the 21st century."
• Colorado Restaurant Association: “Proposition 126 benefits our industry by allowing third-party delivery companies to deliver alcohol directly to customers on your behalf, driving additional, much-needed revenue to restaurants and bars after two-plus long years of pandemic operations. In July 2022, we surveyed members to gauge interest in using third-party delivery companies to deliver to-go alcohol, and 75% of respondents said that they would utilize this allowance if it passes in November.”
• Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce: “Proposition 126 will continue the successful cocktails-to-go model piloted during the pandemic, eliminating its expiration. It’s also a great source of revenue for restaurants and provides an opportunity for expanded commerce for retail delivery.”
• John Jaramillo, campaign co-chair and co-founder of the Hispanic Restaurant Association of Colorado: "Colorado has a proven system. For years we’ve managed home delivery in Colorado from out-of-state liquor stores, and delivery carriers have not had a single violation in over six years. Why? Because we’re a tough state that levies huge consequences for selling to minors. The combination of tough laws, drivers over 21, electronic scanning of ID’s… makes this all possible. The real progress has been in grocery stores. Last year, liquor stores had 48 violations; grocery stores, just 2. Grocery stores are a safe place to sell alcohol. Safer than liquor stores."
• Denver City Councilmember Chris Hinds: "Of course it's about convenience. But for some of Colorado's populations, it's also about necessity. Somedays it's just hard cooking for myself. So I order out. And along with lasagna for dinner tonight, it would be nice if I could also include a bottle of wine. Even on days when I'm shopping for groceries, the convenience of picking up a bottle of wine is just a whole lot easier if I don't have to struggle with making two trips."
• Pro 15: 'On behalf of the many rural communities that make up Pro 15, we believe that both 125 and 126 will enhance our local economies. Grocery stores can better serve customers by also having wine with beer, and 126 will allow our neighborhood restaurants and small liquor stores tap into delivery to help grow their businesses. Another key piece is that both measures ensure the safe sale of alcohol to adults and maintain full local control, so our communities can have a say in how alcohol sales happen in their jurisdictions."
• Kevin Webber CEO of Carboy Winery and campaign co-chair of Wine in Grocery Stores: "Colorado has an exciting and growing wine industry with increasing consumer demand. To meet that demand and to foster continued growth and success for the industry requires getting more of it into the hands of consumers. Third party delivery of wine and wine in grocery stores would be a game changer!"
• Portia Prescott, president of the NAACP Rocky Mountain State Area Conference: 'Our decision to endorse Props 125 and 126 in Colorado was one where we balanced the desire to improve our access to economic improvement with our moral obligation to support our community. We want to provide all Coloradans equal opportunity to grow and prosper while ensuring that our communities are not harmed. These proposals, with their built-in safety objectives, would advance that goal.” Prescott added, “Our businesses are still rebounding from the toll COVID-19 took on the economy, and we believe this will provide them the boost they need while ensuring strict safety enforcement.”

Official arguments

The following is the argument in support of the measure found in the Colorado Blue Book:

Colorado Blue Book Official Arguments: "The delivery of groceries and restaurant meals has become a convenience that Coloradans expect and continue to use. Allowing third-party delivery services to deliver alcohol will let many more stores and restaurants utilize delivery without having to devote the resources to meet burdensome requirements in current law. As a result, Coloradans will have more options available when supporting stores and restaurants from the comfort of home."

Opposition

Keeping Colorado Local led the campaign in opposition to the initiative.

Opponents

Organizations

• Colorado Licensed Beverage Association

Arguments

• Keeping Colorado Local: "Right now, any alcohol beverage delivery made in Colorado is attached to a license-holder for retail liquor sales—meaning if that alcohol beverage is delivered to a minor or intoxicated person, the store is responsible and can have its license suspended. If this initiative passes, neither the store that sold the alcohol, nor the tech company (Door Dash, UberEats, etc.) that arranged the sale and delivery will have any liability. This would result in a huge increase in access to alcohol by teens and people who should not be having alcohol delivered to them. Independent locally-owned liquor stores have invested in the time and training necessary to perform this service safely and effectively for their communities."
• Loren Touch of Gunbarrel Liquors in Gunbarrel: "This will put everybody out of business. We need to draw the line somewhere. ... There's got to be a limit somewhere, where the average person with the average intelligence and average means can build a life for themselves in the small business world."

Official arguments

The following is the argument in opposition to the measure found in the Colorado Blue Book:

Colorado Blue Book Official Arguments: "The measure expands alcohol delivery options without the safeguards available in a physical store or restaurant that ensure alcohol is not sold to minors. Currently, retail liquor licensees make deliveries using their own trained employees and are liable for any violation. Under this measure, retailers are not liable once alcohol leaves their premises, and enforcement of third-party alcohol delivery laws is expected to be more difficult as a result."

Media editorials

See also: 2022 ballot measure media endorsements

Ballotpedia lists the positions of media editorial boards that support or oppose ballot measures. This does not include opinion pieces from individuals or groups that do not represent the official position of a newspaper or media outlet. Ballotpedia includes editorials from newspapers and outlets based on circulation and readership, political coverage within a state, and length of publication. You can share media editorial board endorsements with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Support

• Durango Herald Editorial Board: "With Proposition 126, restaurants and bars won’t have to send out much-coveted employees on deliveries. Previously, our support for local restaurants and bars meant bump-outs, which has since divided communities. Say 'yes' to Proposition 126. Or should we say, 'cheers?'"
• The Denver Post Editorial Board: "We are in favor of reducing regulations and opening up the free market as long as the playing field is even. It also will certainly be convenient to have wine on the shelves of grocery stores and to allow third-party delivery companies (think Doordash) to deliver alcohol from liquor stores, grocery stores, bars, and restaurants."
• Sentinel Colorado Editorial Board: "Proposition 126 only perpetuates a service made popular during the pandemic, allowing patrons to purchase 'to go' or delivered drinks and alcoholic beverages from restaurants. That’s nothing more than common sense convenience and good business for everyone."

Opposition

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Colorado ballot measures

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through December 8, 2022.

Wine in Grocery Stores registered as an issue committee to support the Grocery and Convenience Store Wine Sales Initiative and Alcohol Delivery Initiative. The committee reported $14.59 million in contributions. It is impossible to determine, of the total funds, how much was spent on each initiative specifically.

Fair Delivery for all Small Businesses registered to support Proposition 126 and reported $8,019 in contributions and $8,019 in expenditures.

Path 2 Zero registered to support Propositions 121, 124, 125, 126, and Amendment E; and registered to oppose Propositions 123, GG, FF, and Amendment F. It is impossible to distinguish between funds spent on each individual measure. The committee reported $10,430.70 in in-kind contributions from Independence Institute.

Keeping Colorado Local registered to oppose the Grocery and Convenience Store Wine Sales Initiative, Alcohol Delivery Initiative, as well as the Retail Liquor Store Licenses Initiative. The committee has raised $903,220. It is impossible to determine, of the total funds, how much was spent on each initiative specifically.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$14,119,342.95	$488,514.84	$14,607,857.79	$14,075,886.45	$14,564,401.29
Oppose	$807,436.24	$95,784.10	$903,220.34	$807,436.24	$903,220.34
Total	$14,926,779.19	$584,298.94	$15,511,078.13	$14,883,322.69	$15,467,621.63

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the initiative.

Committees in support of Proposition 126
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Wine in Grocery Stores	$14,111,323.75	$478,084.14	$14,589,407.89	$14,067,867.25	$14,545,951.39
Path 2 Zero	$0.00	$10,430.70	$10,430.70	$0.00	$10,430.70
Fair Delivery for all Small Businesses	$8,019.20	$0.00	$8,019.20	$8,019.20	$8,019.20
Total	$14,119,342.95	$488,514.84	$14,607,857.79	$14,075,886.45	$14,564,401.29

Donors

The following were the top donors to the support committees:

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
InstaCart	$4,663,487.00	$103,297.19	$4,766,784.19
DoorDash	$3,268,487.00	$359,382.40	$3,627,869.40
Whole Foods Market	$1,703,635.00	$240.00	$1,703,875.00
Albertsons Safeway	$1,623,635.00	$2,470.97	$1,626,105.97
Kroger	$1,277,344.65	$2,656.22	$1,280,000.87

Opposition

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in opposition to the measure.

Committees in opposition to Proposition 126
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Keeping Colorado Local	$807,436.24	$95,784.10	$903,220.34	$807,436.24	$903,220.34
Total	$807,436.24	$95,784.10	$903,220.34	$807,436.24	$903,220.34

Donors

The following were the top donors who contributed to the opposition committees.

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
Hazel's Beverage World	$200,000.00	$0.00	$200,000.00
Wyatt's JV, LLC	$115,000.00	$5,340.50	$120,340.50
Colorado Licensed Beverage Association	$26,725.00	$77,616.00	$104,341.00
Notable Investments, LLC	$100,000.00	$0.00	$100,000.00
Wilbur's JV, LLC	$100,000.00	$0.00	$100,000.00

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Background

Colorado liquor licenses and regulations

The Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division of the Department of Revenue oversees Colorado liquor licensing and compliance with state liquor laws. The state licensing authority is responsible for processing liquor licenses and determining rules for regulating the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcohol.

As of 2022, Colorado had three types of alcohol licenses:

License type	Description	Current number of licensees	Location limits per licensee
Retail Liquor Store (RLS)	Retail stores selling all types of alcohol	1,592	3
Liquor-Licensed Drugstore (LLD)	Pharmacies selling all types of alcohol	26	8
Fermented Malt Beverage Retailer (FMB)	Grocery and convenience stores selling beer and other fermented malt beverages such as hard seltzers	1,819	Unlimited

Tasting regulations: RLSs and LLDs are allowed to offer tastings on the premises if approved by the local government and the local licensing authority.

Distancing requirements: New RLS locations may not be within 1,500 feet of another RLS or LLD (or within 3,000 feet of another RLS or LLD if in a city with a population of 10,000 or fewer). New LLD locations may not be within 1,500 feet of another RLS (or within 3,000 feet of another RLS if in a city with a population of 10,000 or fewer). New LLD licensees must buy out two retail liquor stores and all stores within a 1,500 feet radius.

Delivery regulations: Retailers are allowed to deliver alcohol using a store-owned vehicle by an employee who is at least 21 years old. Alcohol delivery has been allowed by liquor stores since 1994, by wineries since 1997, and by grocery and convenience stores since 2019. In 2020, Colorado provided for the takeout and delivery of alcohol by bars and restaurants between the hours of 7 a.m. and midnight. Colorado House Bill 1027 of 2021 provided for the law to automatically repeal in July 2025.

Alcohol on the ballot, 2022

Three initiatives related to alcohol were certified for the 2022 ballot in Colorado. One initiative was certified for the 2022 ballot in Massachusetts.

Year	Measure	Description	Outcome
2022	Colorado Retail Liquor Store Licenses Initiative	Incrementally increases the number of retail liquor store licenses an individual may own or hold a share in
2022	Colorado Grocery and Convenience Store Wine Sales Initiative	Creates a new fermented malt beverage and wine retailer license to allow grocery stores, convenience stores, and other businesses that are licensed to sell beer to also sell wine and conduct wine tastings
2022	Colorado Alcohol Delivery Service Initiative	Allows retail establishments licensed to sell alcohol for off-site consumption to offer a delivery service or provide for a third-party alcohol delivery service
2022	Massachusetts Changes to Alcohol Retail Licensing Initiative	Incrementally increase the statewide limit on the combined number of retail alcohol licenses an establishment can have, including licenses for all alcoholic beverages and for wine and beer; prohibit self-checkout sales of alcohol; other changes

Colorado statewide ballot measures during even-numbered election years, 2000-2020

A total of 105 measures appeared on the statewide ballot in Colorado during even-numbered election years in the 20-year period between 2000 through 2020. Of the 105 measures, 48 were approved (45.71%) and 57 were defeated (54.29%). From 2000 through 2020, the number of measures on the even-year ballot ranged from three to 14.

Colorado statewide ballot measures during even-numbered election years, 2000-2020
Years	Total number	Approved	Percent approved	Defeated	Percent defeated	Annual average	Annual median	Annual minimum	Annual maximum
2000-2020	105	48	45.71%	57	54.29%	10	10	3	14

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Colorado and Laws governing the initiative process in Colorado

The state process

In Colorado, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated state statute for the ballot is equal to 5 percent of the total number of votes cast for the office of Colorado secretary of state in the preceding general election. State law provides that petitioners have six months to collect signatures after the ballot language and title are finalized. State statutes require a completed signature petition to be filed three months and three weeks before the election at which the measure would appear on the ballot. The Constitution, however, states that the petition must be filed three months before the election at which the measure would appear. The secretary of state generally lists a date that is three months before the election as the filing deadline.

The requirements to get an initiated state statute certified for the 2022 ballot:

• Signatures: 124,632 valid signatures
• Deadline: August 8, 2022

The secretary of state is responsible for signature verification. Verification is conducted through a review of petitions regarding correct form and then a 5 percent random sampling verification. If the sampling projects between 90 percent and 110 percent of required valid signatures, a full check of all signatures is required. If the sampling projects more than 110 percent of the required signatures, the initiative is certified. If less than 90 percent, the initiative fails.

Details about this initiative

• Steven Ward and Levi Mendyk filed the initiative on April 8, 2022. It was approved for signature gathering on May 20, 2022, with signatures due by August 8, 2022.
• Proponents submitted signatures for the measure on August 8, 2022.
• On August 26, 2022, the Colorado Secretary of State announced that the initiative qualified for the ballot. Proponents submitted 185,790 signatures and 139,312 were projected to be valid.

The Wine in Grocery Stores PAC, which sponsored Proposition 125 and Proposition 126, paid Scotch Strategies $50,000.00 for the purpose of signature gathering. The PAC reported $3,191,361.48 in expenditures to various entities for the purpose of consultant and professional services, which can include signature gathering expenditures. Ballotpedia could not determine whether those additional expenditures were signature-gathering costs.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Colorado

Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Colorado.

How to cast a vote in Colorado

Poll times In Colorado, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time for those who choose to vote in person rather than by mail. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Registration requirements Check your voter registration status here. In Colorado, an individual can pre-register to vote if they are at least 15 years old. Voters must be at least 18 years old to vote in any election. A voter must be a citizen of the United States and have established residence in Colorado to vote. Colorado voters can register to vote through Election Day. However, in order to automatically receive a absentee/mail-in ballot, a voter must register online, through the mail, at a voter registration agency, or driver's license examination facility at least eight days prior to Election Day. A voter that registers through a voter registration drive must submit their application no later than 22 days before the election to automatically receive an absentee/mail-in ballot. A voter can register online or submit a form in person or by fax, email, or mail. Automatic registration See also: Automatic voter registration Colorado automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and certain other state agencies. Online registration See also: Online voter registration Colorado has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registration See also: Same-day voter registration Colorado allows same-day voter registration for individuals who vote in person. Residency requirements Colorado law requires 22 days of residency in the state before a person may vote. Verification of citizenship See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States Colorado does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury. All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registration The site Go Vote Colorado, run by the Colorado Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirements Colorado requires voters to present non-photo identification when voting in person. If voting by mail for the first, a voter may also need to return a photocopy of his or her identification with their mail-in ballot. Click here for more information. The following list of accepted forms of identification was current as of August 2025. Click here for the most current information, sourced directly from the Office of the Colorado Secretary of State. “ The following documents are acceptable forms of identification: 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. The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting: Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S. Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S. Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility. ” Note: SB 1, signed into law on May 12, 2025, specified that tribal IDs issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, or another federal agency were also valid identification.

See also

2022 measures

• 2022 ballot measures
• Alcohol on the ballot
• Business regulation on the ballot
• 2022 petition deadlines

Colorado

• Colorado ballot measures
• Colorado initiative laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls
• Ballot measure signature costs

External links

• Colorado Secretary of State: Initiative Filings, Agendas & Results
• Initiatives filed with the Legislative Council Staff
• Initiative 122 full text