Early returns show Colorado off-year election turnout rebounding in 2025
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With a little over a week to go until Election Day, early data released by Colorado elections officials show 2025 mail ballot returns significantly outpacing figures from the past two off-year elections.
Over 354,000 Coloradans had returned their ballots as of Friday, according to a press release from the secretary of state’s office, which compiled return figures reported by the state’s 64 county clerks.
By comparison, a reported total of 266,094 voters had voted at the same point two years ago. As a percentage of active registered voters across the state, this year’s early returns put Colorado on pace for highest off-year election turnout since 2019.
The state holds coordinated elections in odd-numbered years to elect candidates for certain school boards, municipal offices and other local races, often alongside one or more statewide ballot issues. In 2025, Colorado lawmakers have referred two measures to the ballot, Propositions LL and MM, which would shore up funding for the state’s universal school meals program.
As usual, older Coloradans have made up the vast majority of voters returning a ballot so far this year. More than half of all ballots cast as of Friday were returned by voters aged 65 or older, according to the secretary of state’s data. By comparison, voters aged 18 to 34 accounted for just 8.9% of all early ballot returns.
Voters without a party affiliation, who make up half of all active Colorado voters, had returned 142,827 ballots as of Friday. Registered Republicans had returned 107,094 ballots, outpacing registered Democrats, who had returned 100,332.
Colorado voting basics
In Colorado, all active registered voters are mailed their ballots beginning 22 days before Election Day. Voters who haven’t received a ballot, or are eligible to vote but not yet registered, it’s not too late.
Election Day is Nov. 4. Eligible Coloradans can register to vote or update their registration at GoVoteColorado.com. Today is the last day to register to vote and still receive a ballot in the mail. After today, eligible voters can still register and vote in person at a polling location until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
State and local elections administrators say the best way to return a ballot is by dropping it off, either in a secure drop box or at an in-person polling location. Voters who have already received a ballot can also return it through the mail, but today is the last day it’s recommended to do so to ensure enough time for delivery. A completed ballot must be received by the local county clerk by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Information about ballot drop box and in-person service locations is available at local county clerks’ websites. Voters can sign up for the state’s BallotTrax system, which tracks the status of ballots and notifies voters when their ballot is received and counted.
On average, about 1% to 2% of mail ballots in each election in Colorado are rejected because of a signature discrepancy or other issues. Voters whose ballots are rejected should receive a BallotTrax notification or a letter from their county elections office, which will include the steps they need to take to “cure” the problem and ensure their ballot is counted.
