Colorado Democrats during the Colorado caucus on March 1. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)
This election cycle, Colorado voters didn’t even have to go to the polls to vote. Voters will also pick a new Senator, as well as seven U.S. Representatives to represent the state in Congress. The state is using a unique by-mail system, so every registered voter receives a mail ballot.
Here’s what you need to know as you head to the polls:
POLLING HOURS & LOCATIONS: If you still plan on voting in person rather than by-mail, polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. local time. If you are in line before 7 p.m., you can still vote. To find out where you can go to vote, click here to visit the Voter information Project Tool and enter your registered voting address. To find out if you are registered to vote, click here to visit the Colorado Secretary of State website.
Colorado began early voting on October 24, although ballots were already sent out to voters by then. As the Denver Post reports, over 3,125,3000 ballots were sent out to active voters on October 17. Over half of Colorado voters are expected to have already voted before November 8, when the ballots are finally counted.
REGISTRATION GUIDELINES: Voters are allowed to register at their local poling place through Election Day. To find out if you are registered to vote, click here to visit the Colorado Secretary of State website.
TRACKING RESULTS: There are several ways to track results in Colorado. Complete results will be available from the Colorado Secretary of State after the election. Some of the local media outlets to follow for results on Election Day include ABC7 The Denver Channel, The Denver Post and 9News.
WHAT’S AT STAKE IN FEDERAL RACES: Colorado has nine electoral votes up for grabs and the state is considered key to a victory for either Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Recent polls show Clinton leading Trump by single digits, with an average lead of 2.4 percent, Real Clear Politics notes. Barack Obama beat Mitt Romney in the 2012 election, 51.45 to 46.09 percent. Obama also won the state in 2008, but Colorado’s electoral votes also went to George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet is up for re-election against Republican Darryl Glenn.
Colorado also has seven U.S. Representatives in Congress, and they are all up for re-election, as Representatives only serve two-year terms. Here are the races:
- 1st District: Diane DeGette (D; Incumbent) vs. Casper Stockham (R)
- 2nd District: Jared Polis (D; Incumbent) vs. Nicholas Morse (R)
- 3rd District: Scott Tipton (R; Incumbent) vs. Gail Scwartz
- 4th District: Ken Buck (R; Incumbent) vs. Bob Seay (D)
- 5th District: Doug Lamborn (R; Incumbent) vs. Misty Plowright (D)
- 6th District: Mike Coffman (R; Incumbent) vs. Morgan Carroll (D)
- 7th District: Ed Perlmutter (D; Incumbent) vs. George Athanasopoulos (R)
WHAT’S AT STAKE IN STATE RACES: Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has two years left of his first term, so he will not be up for re-election until 2018. However, all 65 members of the Colorado House of Representatives are on the ballot, with Democrats trying to keep a three-seat majority. Some Colorado State Senators are up for re-election as the 35 members are elected to four-year terms. Republicans currently have a one-seat majority in the Colorado State Senate.
Each county has a sample ballot on their official government site. To find your county’s website click here.
Colorado Public Radio also has audio programs available that explain each measure on the ballot for voters.