The fall midterms on Tuesday, November 3 are fast approaching, and I’d like to encourage every eligible voter at CU Denver to participate in this election by casting their vote this fall. Thankfully, the Denver Elections Board and the Colorado Secretary of State have made it easy for the CU Denver community to vote, thanks to plenty of dedicated early voting time, a conveniently located polling place, and an official ballot drop box right here on campus.

The Highlights:

• Early voting on campus begins on October 19. 
• You can vote in-person at the Tivoli Student Union Multicultural Room (261) or drop off a ballot using the drop box outside of Starbucks. 
• Become informed on the candidates and issues, especially the local and state-level races.

Read on for detailed answers to the most common questions about voting on campus:  

Why Should I Vote? 

Voting is a measure of active citizenship. Voting is a powerful way to reclaim governance on the local, state, and national level and transform that governance into something that will serve all Americans, not just the powerful, wealthy, or well-connected. Your vote is your voice and the way to uphold, strengthen, and improve our democracy.

Unfortunately, for most of U.S. history, our overall voting record has been shamefully low. We’ve only surpassed 80% turnout TWICE in our entire history, both occurring in the 19th century: in 1860 (81.2%), and again in 1876 (81.8%). And since 2000, those numbers—despite widespread excitement for specific Presidential candidates—have averaged around 56%. For a country of over 340 million citizens, that percentage is disheartening. And thanks to the toxicity of the current political landscape, many voters feel helpless about how to change any trajectory for the better. They question whether their vote even matters.

Voting—and making yourself informed about the candidates and issues—is especially difficult while attending college, where most students juggle coursework and academic demands with outside jobs, families, and other life responsibilities. But if barely more than half of our population is choosing who gets to represent us, and which laws get passed, we need to make a better effort toward building a government that truly works for ALL of us.

The only way to do that is to vote.

The history of the U.S. is full of examples of races where a candidate won by a tiny margin, or an important ballot measure barely—but successfully—passed. And by voting on all the state and local races and initiatives, not just the federal ones, your vote can more greatly impact your day-to-day life.

When Can I Vote? 

In Colorado, early voting begins—and official 24-hour ballot drop boxes throughout the Denver metro area open—on Monday, October 12. On the Auraria Campus, early in-person voting begins on Monday, October 19.

Where Can I Vote? 

You can vote in-person* or drop off a ballot at the Voter Service and Polling Center inside the Tivoli Student Union Multicultural Room (261), opposite Starbucks.

Early in-person voting hours at the Tivoli: 

• Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, October 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, November 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 3 (E-Day) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The 24-hour ballot drop box at the Tivoli is located outside Starbucks on the building’s west side, next to the stairs. This drop box opens on Monday, October 12 and closes at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3 (Election Day).

*Note that if you don’t live in Denver County and choose to vote in-person at the Tivoli, you will only receive a ballot with state and federal races/issues. To vote in-person on the local issues in the county where you reside, you’ll need to do so at a Voter Service and Polling Center in your county. See locations here.

Can I Vote By Mail?

Due to ongoing federal court challenges and the inconsistency of current USPS mail delivery, I strongly encourage you to drop off your ballots in a drop box (see map) or vote in person. If mailing your ballot is your only option, plan to do so at least two weeks before Election Day.

What If I’m Not Registered?

If you’re a Colorado resident, you can register online anytime here with your current Colorado driver’s license, Colorado-issued State ID, or your Social Security number. If you register to vote by October 20, your ballot will be mailed to you. You can then drop off that ballot at any drop box or Voter Service and Polling Center.

You can also register in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center in the county where you reside (see locations here). You can then pick up a ballot and take it home with you to fill out and drop off later, in case you want to study up on the issues or candidates first.

For out-of-state students living on campus/in Denver County, you can register and vote at the same time at the Tivoli any time between October 19 and Election Day. To do so, you’ll need to declare Colorado your residence (which means you cannot also vote in another state). If you don’t want to declare Colorado your residence, you’ll need to vote in your home state.

I Think I’m Already Registered to Vote: How Can I Know for Sure? 

If you’ve registered to vote in Colorado before, check that your registration is still valid! Moving, not voting in the last few elections, and other issues could mean your voting status is inactive. Visit “Find My Voter Registration” here to make sure, so you’re ready once early voting starts!

What If I Don’t Feel Like an Informed Voter?  

If you’re wondering, “what’s on my ballot?” or “what does that ballot measure/initiative even mean?”, here are some nonpartisan resources that can inform your vote this November:

• Blue Book – Also known as the Ballot Information Booklet, the Blue Book describes and analyzes all potential amendments, ballot measures, and questions that will appear on the 2026 ballot. Published by the State of Colorado, it is mailed to all registered voters and can also be read at any Voter Service and Polling Center.
• VOTE411.org and League of Women Voters – Respected organizations providing nonpartisan information on your state’s candidates, ballot issues, and more.

See you at the polls!