Elections ’24: High Stakes, High Drama 

Nov. 5 Is Election Day. Do You Know What’s On Your Ballot? A Primer For How To Vote, And The 26 — Yes 26! — Issues Up For Grabs In Denver And Statewide

By Cara DeGette

Editor, GPHN

It’s October, the month of ghouls and goblins — and campaign-season shenanigans. 

Election Day isn’t until Tuesday, Nov. 5. But Colorado is an all-mail-ballot state — meaning that voters will begin receiving their ballots in the mail shortly after Oct. 11, when ballots are mailed. The presidential battle between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has had civic-minded activists riveted for months, but there is much more at stake beyond who wins the White House. 

While getting ready to fill out their ballots this year, Denverites would be wise to bust out brand-new black or blue pens, and have backups ready to go as well. 

Voters will pick a new president, of course. But they’ll also elect members of Congress, state legislators and a University of Colorado regent. They’ll be asked whether they want to retain a slew of judges — including Colorado Supreme Court justices and others. 

There are 14 statewide issues ranging from abortion rights to same-sex marriage to whether wildcat hunting should be banned, plus another 12 Denver-specific questions. (Click here for brief descriptions of the 14 statewide issues on the ballot. Click here for descriptions of the 12 Denver-specific proposals.) 

In other words, get ready to settle in. Ballots will be long. To be precise, Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul López says they will arrive as three double-sided pages. And he predicts turnout could be as high as 90 percent. That would mean city election workers would process over 1.2 million ballot pages, an all-time record in Denver’s election history.  

“The Office of the Denver Clerk and Recorder implores voters to review and return ballots early,” López said in a statement. “The sooner ballots are returned, the sooner they can be processed and counted. While election results won’t be available until 7 p.m. on Election Day, ballots returned early will be counted and included in the initial unofficial results on election night.”  

Ballots are mailed to every active voter in Colorado. It is critical that your address is up to date. Check GoVoteColorado.gov to register to vote and update your voter registration. You can also call the Denver Elections Division at 720-913-8683 for more information.

In Colorado, Blue Books have been mailed to all registered voters, including in English and in Spanish. The Blue Books include information about all the state ballot issues, including “pro” and “con” arguments for each proposal. A Denver-specific Blue Book that includes pros and cons about local issues is mailed separately.

There are several sites in and around the neighborhood to drop off your completed and signed ballot: Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center at 33rd and Holly Street, the Museum of Nature and Science in City Park, the Montclair Recreation Center in the Lowry neighborhood, and East High School.

After you’ve turned in your ballot, check DenverVotes.org, where you can track it like a package and can confirm it’s arrived and has been counted.

Here are important dates to keep in mind:

• Oct. 11 – Ballots  are mailed for the Nov. 5 General Election. Also this day, all 45 Denver ballot drop boxes open.

• Oct. 21 – Voter service and polling centers open. 

• Nov. 5 – Election Day. In Colorado, you can register to vote and vote in person up to 7 p.m. All ballots must be received by Denver Elections Division by 7 p.m. If you’re voting in person, you must be in line by 7 p.m.