Voter Registration

Voting is our democratic right as U.S. citizens and the first step is to register to vote. Learn about the criteria to be eligible to vote below. Once you have established your eligibility, register online at GoVoteColorado.gov, by the below form, or in person at the Election Department. In addition, eligible voters who provide proof of citizenship will automatically be registered to vote any time they apply for or renew their driver’s license. Learn more on the Colorado Secretary of State’s Voter Registration FAQs page, under question 8. Learn how to register to vote by watching this video here.

Information on voter registration and updating your registration is available at
www.GoVoteColorado.gov

El Paso County Election Department

Phone Fax
719-575-VOTE (8683) (719) 520-7327

Email elections@elpasoco.com

Mail
Elections Department
PO Box 2007
Colorado Springs, CO 80901

Who Can Vote?

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE:

You must be a U.S. citizen.
Citizens who are 15-17 years old may preregister to vote.
You must be 18 years old on the date of an election to be eligible to vote in any election.
You must have resided in Colorado 22 days immediately before the election in which you intend to vote.
No person while serving a sentence of detention or confinement in a correctional facility, jail, or other location for a felony conviction is eligible to register to vote or to vote in any election. Learn more about voting and convictions.

Register to vote at www.GoVoteColorado.gov or visit the page Voter Registration for more information. You can also learn how to register to vote by watching this video here.

RESIDENCY INFORMATION

Definition

When applied to voter registration, the term residence generally means the principal or primary home or place in which a person lives. A residence is a permanent building or part of a building and may include a house, apartment, condominium, room in a house, mobile home, or building.

Address

On voter registration forms, your residential address means the address that verifies you are a resident of El Paso County. Your mailing address is the address where you want to receive your mail ballot for the upcoming election.

Not Permanent

An elector who has no fixed permanent address may use any address that he or she considers a “home base” where the elector regularly returns to and has the intent to remain. You must provide a legal residence or “home base” to register to vote. Once that residence is established, it exists until a new residence is established. But you may not have more than one legal residence.

College Students

If you are an El Paso County resident, but are a student at a university or college outside of El Paso County, please be sure to update your mailing address as soon as possible to reflect the best address for you to receive your mail ballot. Learn about voting options for students attending school out-of-state.

VIOLATIONS

It is unlawful for any person to procure a false voter registration. A violation could result in a fine of up to $5,000, or imprisonment in the county jail for up to 18 months, or both.

Any person who votes in an election knowing that they are not entitled to vote commits a class 5 felony.

How to Register to Vote

It is important that registered voters keep their records up to date with their current information. All active registered voters automatically are sent a ballot in each election. The voter may not receive their ballot if their voter record has Inaccurate or out-of-date personal information.

Here are the three ways you can register to vote and update your voter record:

Online

Register online at the Colorado Secretary of State’s website. A Colorado Driver’s License or ID Card Number is required to verify your identity when applying online.

Form

Complete the Colorado Registration Form. Refer to information on the form regarding identification required. Return the form to our office by mail, email or fax.

In Person

Register in person with the Election Department, located at the Main Office on the second floor of the Citizens Service Center.

IS THERE A DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE?

Colorado allows you to register to vote through Election Day.

The timeframe when you register, though, may affect the method by which you can vote.

If you register to vote online at least 8 days before an election, you will be MAILED a ballot.
After the 8^th day before an election, you must visit a Voter Service & Polling Center or our office to register and receive a ballot in person.
If you register to vote through a voter registration drive, your application must be submitted no later than 22 days before an election.

View and Update Your Voter Registration

Visit www.GoVoteColorado.gov to update your registration online. You will need a Colorado Driver’s License or ID Card. If you are under 18 years old, or have designated your voter record as confidential, you cannot update online.

Use the paper Colorado Voter Registration Form if you cannot update your registration online. Then return it to our office (see contact information above).

Address Change

Temporary Address/Mailing Address

Your residence determines the precinct and districts to which you belong and subsequently the ballot you will vote. To receive your ballot somewhere other than your residential address, indicate this on your voter record. For example, “snowbirds” or college students away from their county may need a temporary mailing address.

Name Change

Party Affiliation

Withdraw Registration

These updates may not be done online. Complete the paper Colorado Voter Registration Form and return to our office. You may affiliate with a political party, change your affiliation, or choose unaffiliated. Visit the Colorado Secretary of State Withdraw My Registration for the online form. A link to the paper form is also available on this site. This form should be completed when you move out of Colorado.

Cancel Registration for Deceased Person

When a person is deceased, their name may be removed from the voter roll by a family member who sends a signed letter to the Clerk and Recorder in the county where the deceased person resided. The full name, birth date and address of the deceased should be included.

If a ballot is received for a deceased individual who resided at that location, check the deceased box on the back of the ballot packet and place in the United States Postal Service mail. This cannot be deposited into a ballot drop box. The deceased voter then will be removed from the voter rolls.

Unaffiliated Voters

Unaffiliated voters can vote in all elections.

In a Primary Election, a registered unaffiliated voter will receive a mail ballot packet with both a Democratic and Republican Party ballot. You may vote only one ballot. Discard the ballot you choose not to vote. Return your one voted ballot in the return envelope and sign the back. Please note that if you vote and return both ballots, neither will be counted.

In a General Election, a registered unaffiliated voter will receive the same ballot as voters from major parties. Your ballot must be received by the Clerk and Recorder’s Office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Return your ballot in one of the secure 24 hour ballot drop boxes, by mail or in person. Postmarks do not count.

If voting in person during a Primary Election, the unaffiliated voter will choose which party’s ballot to vote.

Voting a party’s ballot will not affiliate you with that party, you will remain registered as unaffiliated. Please note there is a Minor Party called No Labels. This is not the same as being an unaffiliated voter.

Do you have questions? Contact the Elections Department at 719-575-VOTE (8683), elections@elpasoco.com.