Voting While Trans
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Transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming Coloradans should not face barriers when registering to vote or casting a ballot.

Colorado’s voting laws are some of the most accessible in the country. However, many transgender and nonbinary Coloradans have questions about voting–and may face discrimination at the ballot box. Use this guide to know your rights and how to vote in Colorado.

REGISTER TO VOTE

Voting is one of the most important ways that we can shape the future of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equality in Colorado. By voting in every election, and voting your whole ballot, we can continue to elect pro-equality champions who will fight for all LGBTQ+ Coloradans. View One Colorado’s comprehensive Voter Registration Guide,  and keep reading to access everything you need to make your plan to vote.

Register Online – https://onecolorado.turbovote.org/

In Colorado, you can register to vote online at any time, including on Election Day! If you want to receive a ballot by mail, you must register no later than eight days prior to the election.

To register online, you need:

• Your Colorado ID or Driver’s License number,
• Your current address.
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What is required: Must register under your legal name. Gender is not a required field on any voter registration form, but there is an optional field on the form to select your gender identity.

Pro-tip: Voting by mail-in-ballot is often the most convenient for all Coloradans– especially transgender and nonbinary Coloradans whose identity documents may not match their gender identity or presentation.

How to Register without a Colorado ID or Driver's License

Coloradans without a Colorado ID or Driver’s License, can:

• Submit their voter registration form (en español) to the county clerk by mail, fax, or email it to their county clerk, or
• Bring Ballot to your polling location and ask for a replacement ballot from a member of the County Staff.
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What is required: Your legal name is required on this form in addition to your current address. Gender is not a required field on any voter registration form, but there is an optional field on the form to list your gender identity.

More information: Find Colorado’s County Clerk and Recorder Offices and their contact information at www.clerkandrecorder.org/home
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Update Your Voter Registration After a Name Change

If you are a transgender or nonbinary Coloradan and have legally updated your name, because of One Colorado’s work to pass Jude’s Law - your voter registration will automatically be updated to match your legal name! Due to election filing deadlines that counties must follow, if you filed a legal name change in the 8 months prior to the election, you might receive a ballot with your birth name. If this happens, you should:

• Submit a new Voter Registration Form (en español) to the county clerk by mail, fax, or email it to their county clerk, or
• Visit your voting center and ask for a replacement ballot from a member of the County staff.
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What is required: Include your updated legal name on this form, plus your current address, and your new ID and/or driver’s license number. Additionally, you will need to provide your former legal name in Section 8 of the form. Gender is not a required field on any voter registration form, but there is an optional field on the form to list your gender identity.

More information: Find Colorado’s County Clerk and Recorder Offices and their contact information at www.clerkandrecorder.org/home

Update Your Gender on your Colorado Voter Registration

Whether or not you have updated the gender on your ID, Driver’s License, birth certificate, or other documents, you can update your gender identity on your voter registration.

How to make updates with a Colorado ID or Driver’s License

Follow these steps to make updates online at any time:

• Have your Colorado ID or Driver’s License number
• Go to (https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pub/home.xhtml)
• Enter your general information on the “Find My Registration Voter Registration” page
• Click on the “update my address” link next to your address
• This will initiate the process for updating your registration – including your gender identity.
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What is required: You must register under your legal name, and include your current address. Gender is not a required field on any voter registration form, but there is a field on the online form to check your gender identity. Currently, the form lists the  options “male/female/other.” If those options aren’t ideal for you, you may wish to follow the process below where you can fill out the paper Voter Registration Form and mail, fax, or scan and email it to your county clerk.

Making Updates without a Colorado ID or Driver’s License

If you don’t have a Colorado ID or Driver’s License, you can update your gender identity by:

• Submitting a voter registration form (en español) to the county clerk by mail, fax, or email it to their county clerk, or
• Making an appointment with their county clerk’s office to register to vote in person.
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What is required: Your legal name is required on this form in addition to your current address. Gender is not a required field on any voter registration form, but there is an optional Field 10 on the form to list your gender identity.

More information: Find Colorado’s County Clerk and Recorder Offices and their contact information at www.clerkandrecorder.org/home

CAST YOUR BALLOT

Once you’ve registered to vote, you are ready to cast your ballot. In Colorado, you can vote by mail, drop box, or in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC) in your county. Often, voting by mail is the easiest and quickest way to vote.

Pro-tip:  Go to BallotTrax.coloradosos.gov to sign up for ballot tracking. Enter your first name, last name, date of birth, and residential zip code to access the voter portal or to sign-up. This service notifies you of when your ballot is mailed, when it’s received by your county clerk, and when it’s accepted for counting.

Pro-tip: In off-year elections, there may be fewer VSPCs available. If you do not receive a ballot in the mail, you can call your county clerk’s office to troubleshoot or call Colorado’s Voter Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
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My Ballot is Marked “ID Required”

When voting in-person, or when your ballot is marked “ID Required” you will need to show an accepted form of identification to vote. Accepted forms of ID are listed below.

What is required:

• Voting in-person: You must bring one of the IDs listed below when voting in-person at a VSPC in your county.
• Voting by mail or drop box: You must include a copy of one of the IDs listed below and include it with your ballot by mail or at a drop box.
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Accepted Forms of Identification for “ID Required” Ballots

What is required: The forms of identification accepted for “ID Required” ballots are different from Forms of ID accepted when registering to vote.

• Not all Forms of ID required must have a photograph
• Your chosen ID must include your legal name
• If the ID has an address listed, it must be your correct, current address
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Forms of Identification List

1. A valid Colorado driver’s license;
2. A valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue;
3. A valid United States passport;
4. A valid employee identification card with a photograph issued by any entity of the United States government or of this state, or by any political subdivision of this state;
5. A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the United States;
6. A valid United States military identification card with a photograph;
7. A copy of a current (dated within 60 days of the date submitted unless the document states a longer billing cycle) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the legal name and address of the elector;
8. A valid Medicare or Medicaid card;
9. A certified copy of a birth certificate for the elector issued in the United States;
10. Certified documentation of naturalization;
11. A valid student identification card with a photograph issued by an institution of higher education in Colorado;
12. A valid veteran identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration with a photograph;
13. A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership;
14. A certificate of degree of Indigenous or Alaskan Native blood;
15. A letter from the director or administrator of a group residential facility indicating that the elector resides at the facility and at the street address listed in the pollbook; or
16. A Division of Youth Corrections ID card issued by the Department of Human Services.

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PREPARE TO VOTE

Getting ready to vote prior to Election Day helps ensure your vote is counted and saves you time on November 7th! Follow the steps outlined below to give yourself the best opportunity for a seamless voting experience. Remember to visit justvotecolorado.org or call Colorado’s Voter Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (English: 866-687-8683 para español: 888-839-8682) with any questions and/or if you face any problems.

Go to www.onecolorado.turbovote.org to check your registration and update if needed. If you vote in person or your mail in ballot requires you supply a copy of your ID, go to https://justvotecolorado.org/faqs/ to see a list of acceptable IDs. Gender identity and presentation don’t have to match your ID! Vote by drop box or in person before 7pm on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024!

Pro-tip: Having an ID that does not match your gender identity or presentation does not affect your legal right to cast a ballot in Colorado. If you face discrimination or resistance from an election worker, call Colorado’s Voter Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
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Voting Preparation Checklist

1. Check your voter registration status at www.onecolorado.turbovote.org
2. Verify and/or update your legal name and address on your voter registration
3. Confirm if any ID is required when you vote.
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1. Go to our voting information page
2. If your ballot is marked “ID Required” – refer back to page 4 for the list in this guide.
3. Confirm your legal name and address on your voter registration match your legal name and address on the chosen form of accepted identification by Election Day.
4. Pro-tip: Don’t worry if your gender identity or gender presentation doesn’t match your name, photo, or gender marker, as that is not required by law!
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Vote by Mail:

1. You received a ballot in the mail if you registered by.
2. You must vote and return your ballot by mail to a US Post Office no later than .
3. You can return your ballot to a drop box in your county by 7:00pm on Election Day
4. Find Voter Service and Polling Centers near you.
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Vote in Person:

1. You can vote in-person at a Voter Service and Polling State in your county anytime before November 5, 2024 at 7:00pm.
2. Bring one of the forms of ID listed on page 4 of this guide to vote in person. Bringing additional forms of ID can be helpful if you have them.
3. What to do if poll workers question your identity or eligibility to vote:

1. Step 1: Show them any other ID you have and the “Information for Poll Workers and Election Officials” section of this document from the National Center for Transgender Equality.
2. Step 2: Look for a volunteer attorney at the polling place who may be there assisting voters who are being told they cannot vote. If no one is around, call Colorado’s Voter Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) for help.
3. Step 3: Request a provisional ballot. If you are forced to use a provisional ballot, ask for follow-up instructions, as you generally must return to election officials within a few days to prove your identity in order for your ballot to be counted. If you cast a provisional ballot, call Colorado’s Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), which can help you make sure your ballot is counted.
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Sign Up for Ballot Tracking:

1. Go to BallotTrax.coloradosos.gov
2. Enter your first name, last name, date of birth, and residential zip code to access the voter portal or to sign-up.
3. This service notifies you of when your ballot is mailed, when it’s received by your county clerk, and when it’s accepted for counting.
   
   

Note: Colorado law requires a person’s legal name to register to vote and update their registration. Gender is optional on voter registration forms. IDs are required for in-person voting and, in some cases, if your mail-in-ballot states so.  This is not ideal for transgender and nonbinary Coloradans who are in the process of their name change and/or don’t have the resources to legally change their names. For a comprehensive and affirming guide on name changes for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive Coloradans, explore One Colorado’s Guide or visit the Colorado Name Change Project.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is intended to supplement general information about voting in Colorado to the public and is for educational purposes only. The information provided does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. If you have further questions or run into problems casting your ballot, call Colorado’s Voter Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (English: 866-687-8683 Para español: 888-839-8682).

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