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Colorado State Senate elections, 2020
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| 2020 Colorado Senate Elections | |
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| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | June 30, 2020 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2018・2016・2014 2012・2010・2008 |
| 2020 Elections | |
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| Choose a chamber below: | |
Democrats gained a seat and kept their majority in the 2020 elections for Colorado State Senate. Eighteen seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats controlled 19 seats to Republicans' 16. Democrats gained a net one seat from Republicans, leaving the Democratic Party with a 20-15 majority. In the 2018 elections, Democrats gained a 19-16 majority in the chamber.
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identified three of the races as battlegrounds, one of which was a Democrat-held district while the other two were Republican-held districts. These battlegrounds were District 19, District 25, and District 27.
Heading into the election, Colorado had been under a Democratic trifecta since 2019, when Democrats won a majority in the state Senate. Had the Republican Party maintained control of the chamber, it would have prevented a Democratic trifecta from forming in Colorado. Colorado had been under a divided government since 2014 when Republicans took control of the state Senate. This broke the state's Democratic trifecta that first formed after the 2012 elections when Democrats won the Colorado House of Representatives after losing it to Republicans in 2010.
Republicans needed to win all three of the battleground seats as well as one non-battleground seat to take control of the state Senate, while Democrats did not need to win any of the battleground seats to keep control of the state Senate.
Colorado is one of only six states where independent commissions are responsible for both congressional and state legislative redistricting. The Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines.
Click here for more information on redistricting procedures in Colorado after the 2020 census.
Heading into the 2020 general election, Democrats controlled 39 out of 99 state legislative chambers in the U.S., while Republicans controlled 59 chambers. The Alaska House was the sole chamber in which there was a power-sharing agreement between the parties. Democrats also had trifectas in 15 states. A party has a trifecta when it controls the governorship and majorities in both state legislative chambers.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Colorado did not modify any procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| Colorado State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 19 | 20 | |
| Republican Party | 16 | 15 | |
| Total | 35 | 35 | |
Districts
- See also: Colorado state legislative districts
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Candidates
The candidate lists below are based on candidate filing lists provided by the Colorado Secretary of State. (I) denotes an incumbent.[1]
General election
Colorado State Senate general election |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| District 4 |
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Wayne Harlos (Libertarian Party) |
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| District 8 |
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| District 10 |
Heather Johnson (Libertarian Party) |
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| District 12 |
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Zechariah Harris (Libertarian Party) |
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| District 14 |
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| District 17 |
Andrew O'Connor (Independent) (Write-in) |
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| District 18 |
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| District 19 |
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| District 21 |
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| District 23 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 25 |
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| District 26 |
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Marc Solomon (Libertarian Party) |
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| District 27 |
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| District 28 |
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| District 29 |
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Michele Poague (Libertarian Party) |
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| District 31 |
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| District 33 |
Jerry Burton (Unity Party) |
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| District 35 |
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= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection
Primary election
Colorado State Senate primary election |
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| Office | Democratic |
Republican |
Other |
| District 4 |
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| District 8 |
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| District 10 |
Did not make the ballot: |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 12 |
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| District 14 |
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| District 17 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 18 |
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| District 19 |
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Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 21 |
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Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 23 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 25 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 26 |
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Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 27 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 28 |
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| District 29 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 31 |
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| District 33 |
Did not make the ballot: |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 35 |
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Convention candidates
In 2020, each of the minor political parties in Colorado held a nominating convention. The American Constitution Party statewide convention was scheduled for April 18, 2020.[2] The Green Party statewide convention was scheduled for April 17, 2020.[3] The Libertarian Party statewide convention was scheduled for April 13, 2020.[4] Finally, the Unity Party statewide convention was scheduled for April 4, 2020.[5]
Colorado State Senate conventions, 2020 |
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| Office | Democratic |
Republican |
Other |
| District 4 |
Libertarian Party  Wayne Harlos |
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| District 8 | |||
| District 10 | |||
| District 12 |
Libertarian Party Zechariah Harris |
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| District 14 | |||
| District 17 | |||
| District 18 | |||
| District 19 | |||
| District 21 | |||
| District 23 |
Libertarian Party Matthew DiGiallonardo |
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| District 25 | |||
| District 26 |
Libertarian Party Marc Solomon |
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| District 27 | |||
| District 28 | |||
| District 29 |
Libertarian Party Michele Poague |
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| District 31 | |||
| District 33 |
Unity Party Jerry Burton |
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| District 35 | |||
2020 battleground chamber
The Colorado State Senate was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle. Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.
What was at stake?
- Republicans needed to gain two seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
- If Republicans had flipped the chamber, they would have broken the Democratic trifecta. If Democrats had maintained their majorities in the state House and Senate, they would have preserved their trifecta.
Why was it a battleground?
- Seats decided by less than 10% in 2016: The last time this set of seats was up for election five races (28% of seats up) were decided by a margin of 10% or smaller.
- Seats flipped in 2016: The last time this set of seats was up for election, two seats (11% of seats up) changed partisan control.
- 2018 battleground chamber: The Colorado State Senate was a battleground chamber in 2018. That year, Democrats gained two seats from Republicans and one from an independent, winning control of the chamber. Read more about the 2018 elections here.
- History of recent flips: Control of the Colorado State Senate flipped twice between 2010 and 2020. Republicans gained a majority in 2012, while Democrats gained a majority in 2018.
- Race ratings: The Cook Political Report rated the Colorado State Senate a likely Democratic chamber in 2020, meaning Republicans had a chance to flip the chamber but Democrats were favored to retain control.[6]
Battleground races
| Colorado State Senate Battleground races |
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| District 19
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| District 25
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| District 27
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Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identified three battleground races in the Colorado State Senate 2020 elections, one of which was a Democrat-held district while the other two were Republican-held districts. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.
To determine state legislative battleground races in 2020, Ballotpedia looked for races that fit one or more of the four factors listed below:
- In the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the incumbent is not on the ballot this year.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and that presidential candidate won the district by a margin of 20 percentage points or more.
District 19
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2016. Rachel Zenzinger (D) was first elected in 2016 where she received 47.8 percent of the vote and defeated then-incumbent Laura J. Woods (R) by 1.8 percentage points. District 19 was one of 21 Colorado Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 19 by 4.8 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 6.9 percentage points. |
District 25
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2016 and the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district. Incumbent Kevin Priola (R) was first elected in 2016 where he received 52.1 percent of the vote and defeated Steve Weichert (D) by 4.1 percentage points. District 25 was one of 21 Colorado Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 25 by 1.8 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 13 percentage points. |
District 27
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less. Jack Tate (R) won the 2016 election when he received 53.4 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by 6.9 percentage points. Tate did not file to run for re-election in 2020. District 27 was one of 21 Colorado Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 27 by 6.5 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 4.5 percentage points. |
Battleground races map
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
No incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election.
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
No incumbents lost in the June 30 primaries.
Retiring incumbents
There were seven open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[7] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Owen Hill |  Republican |
Senate District 10 |
| Mike Foote |  Democratic |
Senate District 17 |
| Vicki Marble | Republican |
Senate District 23 |
| Jack Tate | Republican |
Senate District 27 |
| Nancy Todd | Democratic |
Senate District 28 |
| Angela Williams | Democratic |
Senate District 33 |
| Larry Crowder | Republican |
Senate District 35 |
The seven seats left open in 2020 represented an average number relative to the preceding decade. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Colorado State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 18 | 7 (39 percent) | 11 (61 percent) |
| 2018 | 17 | 8 (47 percent) | 9 (53 percent) |
| 2016 | 18 | 9 (50 percent) | 9 (50 percent) |
| 2014 | 18 | 6 (33 percent) | 12 (67 percent) |
| 2012 | 20 | 9 (45 percent) | 11 (55 percent) |
| 2010 | 19 | 6 (32 percent) | 13 (68 percent) |
Redistricting in Colorado
- See also: Redistricting in Colorado
On November 6, 2018, Colorado voters approved two constitutional amendments, Amendment Y and Amendment Z, establishing separate non-politician commissions for congressional and state legislative redistricting. Each commission consists of four members belonging to the state's largest political party, four members belonging to the state's second-largest party, and four members belonging to no party. Commission members are appointed by a panel of three judges selected by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. The amendment requires at least eight of the commission's 12 members, including at least two members not belonging to any political party, to approve a map.[8]
The Colorado Constitution requires that state legislative district boundaries "be contiguous, and that they be as compact as possible based on their total perimeter." In addition, "to the extent possible, districts must also preserve the integrity of counties, cities, towns and–where doing so does not conflict with other goals–communities of interest." There are no similar requirements for congressional districts.[9][10]
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Title 1, Article 4 of the Colorado Revised Statutes
There are different types of candidates in Colorado: major party candidates, minor party candidates, Qualified Political Organization (QPO) candidates, unaffiliated candidates, and write-in candidates. Ballot access methods differ according to the type of candidate.
Requirements for all candidates
There are a number of requirements that all candidates must follow. These include the following:
- A candidate for a state office must publicly announce his or her intention to run for office by means of a speech, advertisement, or other communication reported or appearing in public media or in any place accessible to the public. This includes a stated intention to explore the possibility of seeking office.[11]
- Each candidate for a state office must submit an audio recording of the correct pronunciation of his or her name.[12] Unaffiliated candidates must submit their audio recordings to the Secretary of State's office within 117 days of a general election.[13]
The qualification of any candidate may be challenged by any eligible elector within five days of the candidate qualifying for the ballot.[14]
Major party candidates
In order to run as a major party candidate, one must have been affiliated with his or her party by the first business day in January of the year of the election, unless party rules say otherwise. The candidate must be nominated in the primary election to move on to the general election as the nominee of the party. There are two methods by which a major party can place candidates on the primary election ballot: nomination by an assembly and nomination by petition.[15][16][17]
Nomination by an assembly
Major parties may hold party assemblies to nominate candidates. At these assemblies, delegates vote on possible candidates and may place up to two candidates per office on the primary ballot. Delegates to party assemblies are chosen at yearly precinct caucuses. The process by which assemblies are held is determined by the individual parties.[18][19]
A major party must hold a nominating assembly no later than 73 days before the primary election. A candidate must receive 30 percent of votes cast by assembly delegates for that office. If no candidate receives 30 percent, a second vote must be taken. If no candidate receives 30 percent at the second vote, the top two vote-getters will be nominated. Within four days of the assembly, a successful candidate must file a written acceptance of candidacy with the presiding officer of the assembly. The presiding officer of the assembly must file a certificate of designation by an assembly, along with the written acceptance of candidacy, with the Colorado Secretary of State. This certificate must state the name of the political party, the name and address of each candidate, and the offices being sought. It must also certify that the candidates have been members of the political party for the required period of time.[16][20][15]
Nomination by petition
A candidate who attempted to be nominated by assembly and failed to receive at least 10 percent of the delegates' votes may not be nominated by petition for that same party.[21]
The nominating petition must be signed by eligible electors who reside in the district the candidate seeks to represent. Candidates who collect the required number of signatures are placed on the primary election ballot. The signature requirements are as follows:[21]
| Petition signature requirements for political party candidates | |
|---|---|
| Office sought | Number of signatures required |
| Member of the United States Senate or state executive official | 1,500 from each congressional district |
| Member of the Colorado State Legislature or United States House of Representatives | 1,000, or 30 percent of the votes cast in the district in the most recent primary election for the same party and the same office, whichever is less. If there was no primary election, general election numbers should be used. |
Minor party candidates
In order to run as a minor party candidate, one must have been affiliated with his or her party by the first business day in January of the year of the election, unless party rules say otherwise. Minor parties nominate their candidates for placement on the general election ballot. If there is more than one candidate nominated for a given office, those candidates are placed on the primary ballot.[22][23]
There are two methods by which minor parties can nominate candidates to be placed on the ballot.
Nomination by assembly
The minor party must hold an assembly no later than 73 days before the primary election. A successful candidate must receive at least 30 percent of the delegates' votes for that office at the assembly.[23]
Nomination by petition
A minor party candidate may be nominated by petition. The petition must be signed by eligible electors in the same district the candidate seeks to represent. The signature requirements are listed in the table below.[22]
| Petition signature requirements for minor party candidates | |
|---|---|
| Office sought | Number of signatures required |
| Member of the United States Senate or state executive official | 1,000 |
| Member of the United States House of Representatives | 1,500, or 2.5 percent of the total votes cast for that office in that congressional district in the last general election, whichever is less |
| Member of the Colorado State Senate | 1,000, or 3.33 percent of the total votes cast for that office in that senate district in the last general election, whichever is less |
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives | 1,000, or 5 percent of the total votes cast for that office in that house district in the last general election, whichever is less |
Qualified Political Organization (QPO) candidates
In order to run as a Qualified Political Organization (QPO) candidate, one must have been affiliated with the QPO for one year. Alternatively, if the organization has not been qualified for one year, the candidate must have been registered as unaffiliated for one year. QPO candidates must petition to be placed on the general election ballot. Each petition must include an affidavit signed under oath by the chairperson and secretary of the QPO and approved by the Colorado Secretary of State. Signature requirements are the same as those for minor party candidates, which are listed above.[22][24][25]
Unaffiliated candidates
In order to run as an unaffiliated candidate, one must be registered as unaffiliated by the first business day in January of the year of the election. An unaffiliated candidate must petition to be placed on the general election ballot. Signature requirements are the same as those for minor party candidates, which are listed above.[22]
Write-in candidates
Write-in candidates are permitted in both the primary and general elections. A write-in candidate must file an affidavit of intent with the Colorado Secretary of State no later than the close of business on the 67th day before a primary election and the 110th day before a general election. No write-in vote will be counted unless the candidate filed an affidavit of intent.[26][27][28]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Colorado State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Colorado State Senate | Qualified party | 1,000, or 30% of votes cast in the district in the previous primary for the office being sought (whichever is less) | N/A | 3/17/2020 | Source |
| Colorado State Senate | Unaffiliated | 1,000, or 3.33% of votes cast in the district in the previous general election for the office being sought (whichever is less) | N/A | 7/9/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
Article 5, Section 4 of the Colorado Constitution states: No person shall be a representative or senator who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years, who shall not be a citizen of the United States, who shall not for at least twelve months next preceding his election, have resided within the territory included in the limits of the county or district in which he shall be chosen; provided, that any person who at the time of the adoption of this constitution, was a qualified elector under the territorial laws, shall be eligible to the first general assembly.
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[29] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $43,977/year for legislators whose terms began in 2023. $41,449/year for legislators whose terms began in 2021. | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $45/day. For legislators living more than 50 miles from the capitol: $237/day. |
When sworn in
Colorado legislators assume office on the first day of the legislative session after their election. The legislative session must begin no later than 10:00 AM on the second Wednesday of January.[30] The state constitution requires the newly elected governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, and secretary of state to take office on the second Tuesday of January.[31] In the year after those offices are elected, the legislative session must begin before the second Tuesday of January to declare the winners of those races.[32][33]
Colorado political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
Colorado Party Control: 1992-2025
Thirteen years of Democratic trifectas • Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Presidential politics in Colorado
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Colorado, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine |
48.2% | 1,338,870 | 9 | |
| Republican | Donald Trump/Mike Pence | 43.3% | 1,202,484 | 0 | |
| American Constitution | Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.4% | 11,699 | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 5.2% | 144,121 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 1.4% | 38,437 | 0 | |
| Approval Voting | Frank Atwood/Blake Huber | 0% | 337 | 0 | |
| American Delta | Roque De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0% | 1,255 | 0 | |
| Prohibition | Jim Hedges/Bill Bayes | 0% | 185 | 0 | |
| America's | Tom Hoefling/Steve Schulin | 0% | 710 | 0 | |
| Veterans | Chris Keniston/Deacon Taylor | 0.2% | 5,028 | 0 | |
| Socialist Workers | Alyson Kennedy/Osborne Hart | 0% | 452 | 0 | |
| Independent American | Kyle Kenley Kopitke/Nathan R. Sorenson | 0% | 1,096 | 0 | |
| Kotlikoff for President | Laurence Kotlikoff/Edward Lea | 0% | 392 | 0 | |
| Socialism and Liberation | Gloria Estela La Riva/Dennis J. Banks | 0% | 531 | 0 | |
| Nonviolent Resistance/Pacifist | Bradford Lyttle/Hannah Walsh | 0% | 382 | 0 | |
| Independent People of Colorado | Joseph A. Maldonado/Douglass K. Terranova | 0% | 872 | 0 | |
| American Solidarity | Michael A. Maturen/Juan Munoz | 0% | 862 | 0 | |
| Unaffiliated | Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson | 1% | 28,917 | 0 | |
| Unaffiliated | Ryan Alan Scott/Bruce Kendall Barnard | 0% | 749 | 0 | |
| Nutrition | Rod Silva/Richard C. Silva | 0% | 751 | 0 | |
| Unaffiliated | Mike Smith/Daniel White | 0.1% | 1,819 | 0 | |
| Socialist Party USA | Emidio Soltysik/Angela Nicole Walker | 0% | 271 | 0 | |
| - | Other/Write-in | 0% | 27 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 2,780,247 | 9 | |||
| Election results via: Federal Election Commission | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.
Colorado utilizes a semi-closed primary system. According to Section 1-7-201 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, "An eligible unaffiliated elector, including a preregistrant who is eligible under section 1-2-101 (2)(c), is entitled to vote in the primary election of a major political party without affiliating with that political party."[34][35]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
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.[36][37]
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.[38]
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.[38][39][40]
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.[39]
Verification of citizenship
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.[41] 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:
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:
|
” |
- 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.
Early and absentee voting
Colorado conducts what are commonly referred to as all-mail elections. In Colorado, voting is conducted primarily, although not necessarily exclusively, by mail. Election officials automatically distribute mail-in ballots to active electors starting 18 to 22 days before an election. Colorado law requires county clerks to operate polling locations (Voter Service and Polling Centers, or VSPCs) starting 15 days before an election and continuing through Election Day, excluding Sundays. At these locations, eligible voters can do any of the following:[44]
- void their mail-in ballots to vote in person,
- register to vote,
- update existing voter registration records,
- obtain mail-in ballots, or
- vote in person via paper ballots or accessible voting devices.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2020 State Primary Candidate List" accessed May 11, 2020
- ↑ Eventbrite, "American Constitution Party of Colorado," accessed June 25, 2020
- ↑ Colorado Green Party, "Results of 2020 Presidential Nomination Slate," April 18, 2020
- ↑ Libertarian Party of Colorado, "2020 Special Convention Participation Instructions," accessed June 25, 2020
- ↑ Unity Party of Colorado, "Unity Party of Colorado Convention," accessed June 25, 2020
- ↑ The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ Colorado General Assembly, "SCR18-004: Congressional Redistricting," accessed May 14, 2018
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Colorado," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ Redistricting in Colorado, "Constitutional Provisions," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State Website, "State Candidates," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Audio Recording Instructions," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Unaffiliated Candidate Petition," March 5, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Article 4, Section 501," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Major Party Assembly Designation," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Article 4, Section 601," accessed February 5, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Major Political Parties FAQs," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcostatute602 - ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Article 4, Section 602," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Article 4, Section 604," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Article 4, Section 801," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Article 4, Section 802," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Article 4, Section 1304," accessed March 5, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Election Rules, "Rule 3: Rules Concerning Qualified Political Organizations," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Minor Parties and Qualified Political Organizations FAQs," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcocall - ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Article 4, Section 1102," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Article 4, Section 1101," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 5, Section 7," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 1," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Colorado LegiSource, "Surprise! The 2019 Legislative Session Convening a Week Earlier," September 20, 2018
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Colorado Revised Statutes § 1-7-201," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Primary Elections FAQs," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Mail-in Ballots FAQs," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Colorado Revised Statutes, § 1-7-101," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Voter Registration FAQs," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Voter Registration Form," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Go Vote Colorado," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Acceptable Forms of Identification," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ This information came directly from the Colorado Secretary of State's office via email on September 13, 2016.
