Voting in local and national elections is an important right guaranteed to citizens and is an excellent way for college students to amplify their voices.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that students have the right to register and vote in their college towns if they meet the same requirements as everyone else. Doing so will not jeopardize eligibility for financial aid or insurance. Colorado is a mail-in ballot state that allows early voting beginning 10 days before a primary election and 15 days before a general election. This year, counties will begin mailing ballots on Oct. 11.
To vote in Colorado you must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen.
- Be 18 years old on or before the date of the election.
- Reside in Colorado for 22 days before the election. If you have lived in Colorado since Oct. 14, 2024, you are eligible to vote in this year’s Nov. 5 election.
In Colorado, you can register to vote and vote in person up to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
TRACK YOUR BALLOT
Colorado voters can sign up for BallotTrax — which will allow you to track your ballot from SENT to ACCEPTED.
Election security
The following sites provide information on election security and what is being done to prevent fraud, hacking, and interference:
- Colorado Secretary of State Election Security
- National Conference of State Legislatures (state-by-state round-up on elections and security)
- ColoradoPolitics: A look at the security precautions in Colorado’s mail-in ballot system
- KUNC: Election security in northern Colorado
To report concerns about election integrity or the voting process, the nonpartisan Election Protection offers the following hotlines:
- English (managed by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law): 1-866-OUR-VOTE
- Spanish (managed by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fun): 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
- If you are a CSU Fort Collins student please contact the Larimer County Elections Department at (970) 498-7820.
- If you are a CSU Pueblo student please contact the Pueblo County Elections Department at (719) 583-6000.
- CSU Global students should contact their local county elections office for voting information. Look up your polling place online.
- For additional information and FAQs about voting while in college, visit Voting in College.
What if I can’t vote?
If you’re unable to vote in this country, or from a mixed-status family wanting to support your relatives, here are some ways you can be engaged in the civic process:
- Speak to others about issues you are knowledgeable and passionate about.
- Encourage friends and family who are eligible to vote to exercise their rights.
- Use your voice.
- Share stories of people ineligible to vote to educate others (only share your own or your family member’s voter status story if you are comfortable).
The CSU Fort Collins campus has created a website with information on becoming an engaged participant in your community. While some of the information is Fort Collins-specific, much of it is relevant to all members of the CSU System.
The content of this website is for informational purposes only and should not be understood as legal advice. For help with any legal problems or concerns, including those similar to situations described on this site, contact a licensed attorney.
Have a specific question about free speech or your rights?
Submit it to [email protected].
Some questions and responses may be shared on this site; names will be kept confidential.