We are almost a month away from the 2020 general election, one of the biggest and most important elections of many of our lifetimes…and now is the perfect time to register to vote! Registering to vote is so necessary, quick, and easy! Here are five things about voter registration in Colorado that you may not know.
- You don’t have to be 18.
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My seventeen-year-old self was shocked to learn this one from a nice lady at the library! In Colorado and several other states, anyone sixteen and older can register to vote! Also, if you turn seventeen on, or before an election day, you’re eligible to vote in the primaries. Registering early is a great way to avoid stress during the election process!
- You can register online or by mail.
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Registering to vote in the age of covid is super easy–you don’t even have to leave your bed! Simply google “register to vote (your state)” and all of the necessary information should pop up. For Colorado, check out this website here, and enter your name, zip code, and birthday to check your registration.
- You can register on the same day you vote.
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Colorado has same-day registration if you vote in person. Even if you aren’t registered, you can still vote by taking just a little extra time at the polls (Ballotpedia). If you plan on voting by mail, however, be sure to register by Monday, October 26 to receive your ballot in time.
- You don’t have to prove citizenship.
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Colorado doesn’t require proof of U.S. citizenship for voting! Note: you are required to have lived in-state for at least twenty-two days before voting. If you vote in person, you may still be required to provide identification (Ballotpedia).
- You can receive a mail-in ballot.
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Colorado uses a vote-by-mail system, so as long as you are registered eight days prior to the election, you will automatically receive a ballot in the mail! In other states, you may also be able request an absentee ballot or request a mail-in ballot. Just be sure to turn in your mail-in ballot early so it arrives in time for the election.
Voting is such an important way to use your voice and fight for what you believe in, sometimes without even needing to leave your house! Today is a great day to register, so go spread the word and be sure to vote this November!