What Colorado voters need to know ahead of the 2026 midterm election
Oct 19, 2026, 9:28 AM | Updated: 3:50 pm
Election officials expect about 80 percent of Denver voters to cast a ballot this year. That’s a big number for a midterm, and it means most of your neighbors plan to vote.
The Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Office says it’s planning for that kind of turnout because this year’s ballot is packed with federal races, local and statewide contests and ballot measures. Officials say turnout like that is unusual outside a presidential election.
In other words, this ballot is long. Bring a snack. Maybe two.
The good news is you have more ways to vote. On Monday, 13 more voter service and polling centers opened, bringing Denver’s in-person voting locations to 14. About 40 centers will open in phases before Election Day. Each one can register voters, replace ballots and handle in-person voting.
If you’d rather skip a line, which is what every Coloradan wants at a brunch spot, the DMV and now a ballot box, Denver has 29 drop boxes around the city.
The city mailed more than 467,000 ballots to active voters. As of Friday morning, about 22,000 had been returned. Officials say that’s normal, because Denverites famously wait until the last minute. They expect 40 to 50 percent of ballots to come back in the final few days. Basically, this whole city treats Election Day like a term paper that’s due at midnight.
A few things to know before you procrastinate:
- Sign your envelope. Officials call it “the single most important thing” you can do. Your ballot can’t count without your signature.
- Mailing it? Do it by Oct. 26. After that, use a drop box. The Postal Service is good, but it doesn’t work miracles.
- Voting in person? Bring ID. Colorado accepts 17 forms of identification.
- Deadline: Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
I won’t tell you who to vote for. That’s between you, your conscience and the 40-minute argument you’ll have with your uncle at Thanksgiving. I’ll just say this: Eight out of 10 Denver voters are expected to show up. Don’t be the one who left a ballot under a pizza coupon on the kitchen counter.
