YOUTH AND THE VOTE

Please select a state from the dropdown below to view detailed information and resources regarding Youth Voting in that state.

Colorado

2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Midterm
General
Midterm
General
Midterm
General
VOTER TURNOUT 18-29
31.40% 55.10% 41.80% 54.50% 39.90% Frey*
VOTER TURNOUT 18-24
17.10% 43.10% 38% 48.60% 33.60% Census*
VOTER TURNOUT 18-19
57% CIRCLE*
REGISTRATION RATE 18-24
35% 66% 68% 55.60% 48.20% Census*

COLORADO

Vector

33.60%

YOUTH TURNOUT

Ages 18-24 (Census)

COLORADO YOUTH VOTE

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TOP STRATEGIES/INITIATIVES TO INCREASE REGISTRATION & TURNOUT

State Policies and Initiatives

High school Initiatives

  • Secretary of State portal for high school voters
  • Colorado encourages pre-registration from age 16.
  • Colorado law requires every high school to name a deputy registrar to help students register on-campus.
  • High school students can work at the polls on Election Day as Student Election Judges.   
  • Colorado’s Secretary of State recognizes high schools that register at least 85% of their seniors with the Elsa Pickrell Rout Award.
  • Winning high schools with at least  85% of their eligible students registered to vote. 2022-2023 winners:
    • Cloud City High School
    • Woodland Park High School
    • Limon Public School
    • Central High School
    • Cripple Creek
    • KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy
    • Denver East High School

College and University initiatives

  • 21 campuses are participating in ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge; 3 campuses won Platinum Awards for 2020 voter turnout rates > 80%. 2022 awards will be announced in November 2023.
  • The Secretary of State sponsors the Colorado Campus Voting Challenge in collaboration with ALL IN and NSLVE and encourages all Colorado colleges and universities to participate.
  • Colorado College registered 84.6% of its students in 2020 and won awards for highest registration and best plan. It sponsors CC Votes, a portal that offers students voting information and support and many opportunities for civic engagement. 
  • Other 2020 Colorado Campus Voting Challenge Award Winners:
    • Arapahoe Community College – Highest Voter Registration & Highest Turnout, 2-year Institution;
    • Northeastern Junior College – Most Improved Voter Turnout Award, 2-year Institution:
    • University of Denver – Most Improved Voter Turnout Award, 4-year Institution: and
    • Colorado State University–Best Campus Democratic Engagement Action Plan Award, 4-year Institution.
  • COLORADO CAMPUS VOTER GUIDE
OTHER INFLUENCES
  • 29,000 ballots were rejected in Colorado in 2020 with 65% coming from young voters (18-24), many of whom did not provide adequate identification with their absentee ballots.

  • The Denver Broncos encourage all eligible Coloradans to register and vote.
  • New Era Colorado “is the leading voice for young people in Colorado politics . . . We work alongside our peers to grow our generation’s power. We fight for a better Colorado for everyone.” They report an 82% turnout of young people they register to vote.
  • CC Votes includes links to a comprehensive list of NGOs working in Colorado on voting and civic engagement.
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This profile was prepared by Your Voice Matters, a nonpartisan initiative to increase registration of youth.

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