Colorado voting deadlines for the November 3, 2026 election

Colorado voter registration closes Oct 26 for the November 3, 2026 election. Every deadline — registration, mail ballot and early voting — with the official source for each.

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Every date

Monday, October 19, 2026 – Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Early voting (hours and locations vary by county)

The required minimum number of Voter Service and Polling Centers must be open starting Oct 19 (15 days before), except Sundays and the first Saturday of the period. Locations, hours, and any additional centers vary by county. In-person voting at Voter Service and Polling Centers continues through Election Day; polls close at 7:00 PM. In-person voting at Voter Service and Polling Centers from Oct 19 through 7 PM Election Day (minimum required centers closed Sundays and Saturday Oct 24). Drop boxes accept ballots from Oct 12 through Election Day. Sites and hours vary by county.

Monday, October 26, 2026
Voter registration deadline (online and by mail)

Register or update online by October 26 (8th day before Election Day) to be mailed a ballot. After that you can still register, but must vote in person. To be mailed a ballot, a mailed registration application must be postmarked by October 26 (8th day before Election Day). If it has no postmark, the date it arrives counts. After that you can still register and vote in person.

Monday, October 26, 2026
Mail ballots: date to know

No request needed: every active registered voter is mailed a ballot (counties may mail starting Oct 2 and must send by Oct 9). To be mailed a ballot, register or update by Oct 26; applications received 7 days or less before the election get no mail ballot and must vote at a Voter Service and Polling Center.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Voter registration deadline (in person)

Register in person at a county Voter Service and Polling Center through Election Day (polls close 7:00 PM). Same-day registration is available in person at any Voter Service and Polling Center in your county, including on Election Day (polls open 7 AM-7 PM).

Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Mail ballot return deadline

Ballots must be in the hands of the county clerk (drop box, VSPC, or delivered mail) by 7:00 PM on Election Day. Postmarks do not count. Military/overseas ballots: sent by 7 PM Election Day and received by close of business Nov 11.

How voting works in Colorado

Colorado mails a ballot to every active registered voter; ballots must be RECEIVED (not postmarked) by 7 PM on Election Day, so mailing close to the deadline is risky. Registration does not close: after Oct 26 people can still register and vote in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center through 7 PM Election Day. Registration through a voter registration drive must be submitted by Oct 13 (22 days before).

What we could not confirm

We publish a gap rather than a guess. These points were not settled by an official source:

Where these came from

Every date above was read from the Colorado election office's own published material, last checked Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Confirm anything you are relying on with your local election authority.

https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/calendars/2026ElectionCalendar.pdf

26-October (Monday) Last day for an individual to submit a voter registration application and still receive a ballot in the mail for the 2026 General Election. (Through the 8th day before an election)

https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-01.pdf

(b) In the case of registration by mail, the valid voter registration application of the applicant is postmarked not later than eight days before the date of the election; (c) In the case of registration by mail where the application has no postmark, the date of registration is the date that the application is received

https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/FAQs/VoterRegistrationFAQ.html

If you miss the above deadlines, you may register in-person at a voter service and polling center in your county through Election Day

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