How to Vote
in the 2026 Primary
Everything you need to cast your ballot in Boulder County — from registration to drop boxes to vote centers.
Key Dates
How to Vote
By Mail
Every active registered voter in Boulder County receives a mail ballot automatically — no request needed. Ballots go out around June 8, 2026.
Return postage is prepaid. Boulder County recommends mailing your ballot by June 22 to ensure it arrives by the 7 PM deadline on June 30.
After mailing, you can track your ballot at GoVoteColorado.gov.
Drop Box
Drop boxes are the fastest, most secure way to return your ballot. They are available 24 hours a day once ballots are mailed, through 7:00 PM on June 30.
Find all Boulder County drop box locations at BoulderCountyVotes.gov.
You can also return ballots for members of your household.
Vote in Person
Vote centers open for early in-person voting starting June 22, 2026.
On Election Day, June 30, vote centers are open 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM. You can vote at any vote center in Boulder County — not just the one nearest you.
Bring your mail ballot to cancel it and vote in person, or vote on-site if you didn't receive one.
Find a Vote Center →Voter Registration
Register or Update Your Registration
Colorado has no hard registration deadline — you can register or update your registration all the way through Election Day. Vote centers open June 22, and same-day registration is available at any vote center through June 30.
That said, registering early means your mail ballot arrives automatically. Register, update your address, or check your status at GoVoteColorado.gov.
Need to request a replacement ballot by mail? The deadline for that is June 22, 2026.
Unaffiliated Voters
Not registered with a party? You can still vote.
Colorado has a semi-open primary. If you are registered as unaffiliated, you will receive ballots for both the Democratic and Republican primaries. You must choose one and return only that ballot — returning both will disqualify your vote.
Want to vote a Democratic primary ballot? Simply complete and return the Democratic ballot. You do not need to change your registration.
If you'd like to officially affiliate with a party before your ballot is mailed, the deadline to change your party affiliation is June 8, 2026 — the same day ballots go out. After that, unaffiliated voters will continue to receive both party ballots. You can update your registration at GoVoteColorado.gov.
Student Voters
Voting at school or from home
Students have the right to register and vote either at their home address or their college/university address — whichever they prefer. You cannot vote in both places.
To register at your school address in Boulder County, you must have lived there for at least 22 days before the registration deadline.
Register or update your address at GoVoteColorado.gov. Questions? Contact the Boulder County Clerk's office.
Frequently Asked Questions
I haven't received my mail ballot. What do I do?
If you're an active registered voter and haven't received your ballot by about June 12, contact the Boulder County Clerk's office or visit BoulderCountyVotes.gov to request a replacement. The deadline to request a replacement ballot by mail is June 22. You can also pick up a ballot at any vote center starting June 22.
Can I drop off someone else's ballot?
Yes — you may return ballots for members of your immediate household. You are not permitted to collect and return ballots for people outside your household (this is sometimes called "ballot harvesting" and is illegal in Colorado).
What if I make a mistake on my ballot?
Do not attempt to correct a mistake on a mail ballot. Contact the Boulder County Clerk's office to request a replacement ballot, or bring your spoiled ballot to a vote center and request a new one in person.
Do I need an ID to vote?
Colorado does not require a photo ID to vote by mail. If you are a first-time voter registering by mail, you may need to provide identification information (driver's license number or last four digits of your Social Security number) when you register. Voting in person may require showing ID — bring a Colorado ID, driver's license, or other accepted document. More info at GoVoteColorado.gov.
How do I know my ballot was counted?
You can track your ballot at GoVoteColorado.gov. The system will show you when your ballot was mailed to you, when it was received, and when it was counted.
Is this a full primary, or just a presidential primary?
This is a regular state primary election — not a presidential primary. You'll vote for candidates in federal, state, and local races including U.S. Senate, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Legislature, CU Regent, Boulder County offices, and more. Check out our 2026 Primary Voter Guide to see who Boulder Progressives endorses.