WTF is the Primary Election?

2024 Election Day: So nice that we’re doing it twice. 

ICYMI: It’s a big election year in Colorado and nationwide. In addition to the Nov. 5 general election, New Era is turning out young voters for the June 25 primary, too. Election Day for the primaries is on June 25—so mark your calendar and remember to vote or be in line by 7 p.m.! 

There’s another reason it’s a big year for the New Era Colorado AF team: we’re endorsing candidates for the first time since the Obama era, bbs. Take a second to learn about our Youth Agenda Champions to see if their names will appear on your ballot.

Things to actually remember: 

• Monday, June 3: Check your mailbox! Ballots start to get mailed out to voters today.
  • Moved since the last election? Want to make sure you receive your ballot in the mail? Make sure your voter registration is updated by Monday, June 17. (Check your voter registration status at GoVoteColorado.gov.) 
  • Yes, students can vote in the Colorado primary elections—as long as they’ve lived in Colorado for at least 22 days before Election Day. As long as you’ve lived in Colorado since June 3, you’re good to vote! 
• Monday, June 17: In person voting starts at Voter Service Centers (VSC) open across the state! June 17 is the last day to register to vote or update your voter registration online to receive a ballot in the mail.
  • It’s also the last day we recommend mailing your ballot back to ensure it’s received by 7 p.m. on June 25. After today, just drop off your ballot at a drop box or VSC. 
• Tuesday, June 18: 24-hour drop boxes start to open. Find the one closest to you at JustVoteColorado.org*. 
• Tuesday, June 25: It’s finally Election Day. Be in line at a Voter Service Center in your county by 7 p.m. to register to vote/update your registration or drop off your ballot at any drop box in the state!

Remember: In Colorado, it is never too late to register to vote. You can register to vote or update your registration at a Voter Service Center in your county—just be in line by 7 p.m. on Election Day. 

We know you probably have some questions. We got you.

WTF is a primary election? | Who did New Era CO AF endorse? | Who can vote? | How can I register to vote? | How Do I Vote? | Acceptable IDs

WTF is a primary election, and why do they matter?

Primary election (n): a preliminary election where voters select the candidate(s) they want to see represent their political party on the ballot for the upcoming general election. 

Basically, the 2024 primary election is young voters’ chance to determine which candidate they would like to see represent their party on the ballot this Nov. 5. 

We know young people aren’t driven by party politics or ride or die for candidates like generations before us used to: we care about the issues and the progress candidates make on the problems we face. By participating in the primary election, young voters can learn which candidates fight for young people’s political priorities (and how), helping us all our collective power as one-third of the electorate to drive the change we want to see. 

Tired of the same old promises? Your vote is your voice in this primary election—so use it!

Who did New Era Colorado AF endorse?

Despite record youth turnout in the last three national elections, we haven’t seen meaningful progress on young people’s priority issues. We believe that by endorsing Youth Agenda Champions in the 2024 primary and general elections, we have a better chance of passing Youth Agenda policies and creating the world young people want to live in. For the 2024 primary election, New Era Colorado AF is proud to endorse: 

2024

Who can vote?

To be eligible to vote in Colorado, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be 18 years old or older by Election Day (Tuesday, June 25)
• Live in Colorado at least 22 days before Election Day (Monday, June 3)
• As of July 2019, if you are serving a sentence of parole, you may register to vote and vote in Colorado. For more information about voting with convictions, please visit VotingWithConviction.org.

County clerks will automatically send ballots to registered voters who are eligible to participate in the 2024 state primary election.

Voters who are affiliated with a political party may only vote in their party’s primary election and will receive only that ballot. Unaffiliated voters will receive both major party ballots and may vote in only one primary election. Unaffiliated voters who vote and return more than one party’s ballot will have neither ballot counted.

Voters wishing to change political parties or withdraw their party affiliation in order to vote in another party’s primary must do so by Monday, June 3. Updates can be made easily online at GoVoteColorado.gov.

Yes, students have the right to vote in the state primary election. If you’re attending school in Colorado and will be 18 by June 25, you can register to vote up to and on Election Day.

How can I register to vote?

In Colorado, we’ve worked pretty damn hard to provide more accessible avenues so that everyone can exercise their fundamental right to vote. There are a few different ways you can register to vote or update your voter registration:

• Register to vote online using your CO ID or your Social Security Number (last 4 digits). 
• Voted in Colorado before but maybe moved since then? Check your registration at GoVoteColorado.gov. 
• Starting on June 17, you can register in-person at a Voter Service Center in your county up to and including on Election Day. Find one near you.
  • If you’re registering in person and want to check off voting in the same go, bring an accepted form of ID with you. 
• If you want to register to vote via mail, provide the last 4 digits of your SSN or your CO ID by June 17 to be mailed a ballot.

How Do I Vote?

You have all the options for how to vote: You can mail your ballot back, drop it off, or vote in person.

If you want to drop it off…. 

• All you need to do to vote at a drop box is to drop off your ballot at any drop box or voter service center in the state by 7 p.m. on Election Day, June 25. 

If you want to vote in person… 

• Be in line with your ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day
• Head to the nearest VSC in your county, your one-stop shop to register, vote, update your address, or solve any election-related issue
• Be sure to bring your ID with you (yes, Colorado student IDs are accepted!)

If you want to mail it in… 

• We recommend you mail your ballot back by June 17 in order for it to be received by Election Day at 7 p.m. (postmarks don’t count!)
• Be prepared to include a photocopy of your ID (peep the instructions on your ballot for deets)
• Put two stamps on it (just in case!) 

Still have questions? Text or call: 

• 866-OUR-VOTE – English
• 888-VE-Y-VOTA – Spanish
• 888-API-VOTE – Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Tagalog 
• 844-YALLA-US – Arabic 
• 301-818-VOTE – ASL (video call)

Acceptable IDs

via JustVoteColorado.org*

Digital IDs can now be used for voting. Any officially accepted form of ID can be provided digitally, including digital student IDs. Other accepted IDs include: 

• A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.)
• A valid U.S. passport.
• A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado.
• A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S.
• A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector.
• A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector.
• A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood.
• A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector.
• Certified documentation of naturalization.
• A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S.
• A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans’ health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector.
• A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership. Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S.
• Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S.
• Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility.

Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification.

*Just Vote! Colorado Election Protection is a non-partisan voter assistance project and is not affiliated with or promoting any party, candidate, or ballot issue. Just Vote! Colorado is not affiliated with or responsible for the content of this piece.