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Q1. What is the purpose of a Primary Election and a General Election?

A1. The State of Colorado holds regularly scheduled state elections every two years. During a regularly scheduled election year, a Primary election is held in June, followed by the General election in November. During a Presidential Election year, a presidential primary is also held in March.

The purpose of the Primary election is to nominate candidates from each party's primary ballot for the November General Election. The winner(s) of the November General Election are then elected to hold office. For more information on Primary Elections, see the Primary Election FAQ page.

Q2. What is a Coordinated Election?

A2. A coordinated election is one that the county clerk and recorder conducts on behalf of two or more political subdivisions that are hosting an election on the same day in November. Specifically, for a coordinated election to take place, the election must:

• Have more than one political subdivision holding an election (state, county, municipality, school district, or special district);
• Take place on the same day in November; and
• The eligible voters either are the same for each election or live in overlapping subdivision boundaries.

Generally, the November odd-year election is referred to as the coordinated election. And, like all elections in Colorado, coordinated elections are conducted by mail ballot.

Q3. Where can I find Federal and State election laws?

A3. Federal and State election laws and the Secretary of State election rules are available on the Election Laws, Rules, & Resources page.

Q4. Where can I find a list of all the relevant election dates?

A4. The best resource is the current Elections Calendar. The Elections Calendar has all of the relevant dates for the election cycle, and helpful citations to relevant Colorado law.

Q5. How do I get my ballot?

A5. Every voter in Colorado receives a mail ballot. Your mail ballot will be sent to the mailing address you provided when you registered to vote. To check what address you provided when registering to vote, please visit www.GoVoteColorado.gov.

If you wish to vote in-person, you may do so at a voter service and polling center. To find your local polling locations, please visit www.GoVoteColorado.gov.

Q6. How do I know if my mail ballot has been mailed to me?

A6. There are a few ways for you to check the status of your mail ballot.

• BallotTrax is a free service that you can sign-up for that allows you to track the status of your mail ballot. Once enrolled you will receive notifications by phone, email, or text updating you when your mail ballot is sent, received, and counted. To sign-up simply go to Colorado.BallotTrax.net and enter your first name, last name, date of birth, and residential zip code. You will be prompted to select methods of notification, your language preference, and notification hours.
• Go to www.GoVoteColorado.gov. You can then log into your voter record. Once you are logged into your voter record, it should show you whether your mail ballot has been sent.
• If you run into any snags, are a confidential voter, or have questions about the status of your mail ballot, please contact your local county clerk and recorder.

Q7. If I choose not to vote on a candidate or question, will my other votes still be counted?

A7. Yes. If you choose not to vote for a candidate or a ballot question, the rest of the votes on your ballot will be counted.

Q8. How do I make sure my mail ballot will be counted?

A8. Every valid mail ballot is counted. To be sure your ballot is valid, follow the instructions on the mail ballot envelope. This includes making sure your ballot envelope is signed when it is returned.

For your ballot to count, your county clerk must receive your ballot no later than 7:00 PM on Election Day. If you are unsure whether your ballot will arrive through the mail on time, drop it off in-person at either a drop-box or a drop-off location. There are drop-box and drop-off sites located throughout your county. Drop box locations are open 24 hours per day. If you have trouble finding a drop-box or drop-off location, contact your county clerk and recorder.

If you are registering to vote for the first time, you may need to provide a copy of your ID with your mail ballot. These instructions will be provided by your county clerk with your mail ballot.

Q9. My number is registered on the "Do Not Call" list, but I still receive calls from candidates and political campaigns. Is this legal?

A9. Yes. The law makes an exemption for "political calls" when defining "telephone solicitation." Specifically, Section 6-1-903(10) of the Colorado Revised Statutes, states:

(a) "Telephone solicitation" means any voice, telefacsimile, graphic imaging, or data communication, including text messaging communication over a telephone line or through a wireless telephone for the purpose of encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services.

(b) Notwithstanding [the above definition], "telephone solicitation" does not include communications:

(V) Made for the sole purpose of urging support for or opposition to a political candidate or ballot issue; or

(VI) Made for the sole purpose of conducting political polls or soliciting the expression of opinions, ideas, or votes. In addition to the political phone calls, there is an increase in the volume of political literature sent through the mail.

There is no complaint or removal process established for political calls or mailings. One option is contacting your county clerk and recorder and requesting that your phone number be removed from your voter registration information. But this will NOT guarantee that your phone number will not be obtained from other sources.