Colorado Shows Sharp Decline in New Voter Registrations
New Voter Preregistration Opportunities Provide Hope, But Greater Efforts Are Needed
The number of new voter registrations in Colorado has significantly decreased from the spring of 2016 to the spring of 2020, according to newly released data obtained by The Civics Center from the Colorado Secretary of State.
From March-May of 2016, there were 70,261 new voter registrations, while in the same time frame in 2020, there were only 41,681 new registrations. This is around a 40% decline in new voter registrations comparing those two periods. The charts below present more detailed data on this decline.
Colorado has implemented legal and policy changes to encourage youth voter registration over the past few years, however, because of COVID-19, these changes are not having as great an impact as they could.
In 2013, for example, Colorado enacted a law allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote. Until recently, though, Colorado’s online voter registration portal did not allow 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister, despite the new law. Officials recently upgraded the system, and it now includes a preregistration option for 16- and 17-year-olds. The system still has a few hurdles that make registering to vote more difficult for young people. It requires all users to provide a driver’s license or state ID to register to vote online, but many young people do not have these forms of identification. With the health impacts of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines limiting access to DMVs, many young people might be disenfranchised by this ID requirement. Some states, such as Pennsylvania, have implemented online systems that do not require users to have a driver’s license or state ID to register to vote.
Colorado has also implemented an Automatic Voter Registration system. With this system, voters who renew or update their driver’s license will be automatically registered to vote, with the ability to opt-out. The system will work best if it ensures that those who obtain learner’s permits before they turn 16 are contacted and offered the chance to preregister to vote once they turn 16.
Another helpful initiative is the Eliza Pickrell Routt Award, which celebrates schools that register 85% of eligible seniors to vote.
There is still a long way to go to make up for the decrease in registrations due to the pandemic. The Civics Center calls on all state and local officials involved in elections and education to do all they can to get eligible young people registered to vote by November.