Voting Access Scorecard - Colorado
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Colorado. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Colorado ranks 7. Nice! But there's still more you can do to make sure everyone has the right to vote. Take action now!Overall score: 22 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later CRS §§ 1-2-201: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/LawsRules/files/Title1.pdf | Y |
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| State offers Election Day registration CRS § 1-2-201: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/LawsRules/files/Title1.pdf | Y |
| State has automatic registration Colorado adopted an automatic voter registration system tied to the DMV in 2017. Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dmv/new-colorado-0#Voter Registration | Y |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) CRS § 1-2-701(1): https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/LawsRules/files/Title1.pdf | N |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes CRS § 1-2-703: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/LawsRules/files/Title1.pdf | N |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Colorado conducts their elections but mail, but allow voters to drop off their ballots in-person. CRS §§ 1-7.5-101 to 1-7.5-210: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/rule_making/CurrentRules/8CCR1505-1Elections.html Locations are determined at the local level. E.g. City of Fort Collins: http://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/ballot-return.php | V |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Colorado conducts their elections but mail, but allow voters to drop off their ballots in-person. CRS §§ 1-7.5-101 to 1-7.5-210: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/rule_making/CurrentRules/8CCR1505-1Elections.html Hours are determined at the local level. E.g. City of Fort Collins: http://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/ballot-return.php | V |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting CRS §§ 1-7.5-101 to 1-7.5-210: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/rule_making/CurrentRules/8CCR1505-1Elections.html | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail CRS §§ 1-7.5-101 to 1-7.5-210: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/rule_making/CurrentRules/8CCR1505-1Elections.html | Y |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail CRS §§ 1-7.5-101 to 1-7.5-210: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/rule_making/CurrentRules/8CCR1505-1Elections.html | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) CRS §§ 1-7.5-101 to 1-7.5-210: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/rule_making/CurrentRules/8CCR1505-1Elections.html | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Colorado conducts their elections but mail; in effect, all voters act by permanent absentee. CRS §§ 1-7.5-101 to 1-7.5-210: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/rule_making/CurrentRules/8CCR1505-1Elections.html | Y |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Since Colorado conducts all of its elections by mail, this is unnecessary. CRS §§ 1-7.5-101 to 1-7.5-210: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/rule_making/CurrentRules/8CCR1505-1Elections.html | Y |
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| State allows voters to register online Colorado Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter-classic/pages/pub/olvr/verifyNewVoter.xhtml | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Colorado Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter-classic/pages/pub/home.xhtml | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Colorado Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter-classic/pages/pub/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml | Y |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Colorado Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/acceptableFormsOfID.html | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Colorado Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/acceptableFormsOfID.html | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) C.R.S. §§ 1-8.5-101, 1-8.5-105: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/LawsRules/files/Title1.pdf | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form CRS § 1-2-302.5: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2014-title-01.pdf | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | N |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | Y |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Colorado Secretary of State: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/COSOS/bulletins/1a66cee | N |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete Colo. Const. Art. VII, Section 10: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Colorado%20Constitution.pdf | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration Colo. Const. Art. VII, Section 10: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Colorado%20Constitution.pdf | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole Individuals can vote while on probation, but not while on parole. Colo. Const. Art. VII, Section 10: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Colorado%20Constitution.pdf | N |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail CRS §§1-1-104, 1-5-801, 1-5-802, 1-7-514, 1-10.5-102, 1-10.5-103: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/LawsRules/files/Title1.pdf | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training CRS §1-6-101(2)(c): https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/LawsRules/files/Title1.pdf | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification CRS §§ 1-5-601.5, 608.5, 615, 617: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/LawsRules/files/Title1.pdf | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Colorado Secretary of State: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/VoterHome.html?menuheaders=5 | N |
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