Coloradans consider tight Congressional races, variety of ballot measures in this historic election
Voters in Colorado will cast ballots for a slew of statewide measures and local contests alongside elections for president and the U.S. House on Election Day. Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican former President Donald Trump and several third-party candidates will compete for the state’s 10 electoral votes in the race to replace outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden.
There are a few closely watched U.S. House races in Colorado. Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert is trying to secure victory in a new district on the east side of the state and Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo has a tight reelection contest against Republican candidate Gabe Evans.
Voters will also consider 14 statewide ballot questions, including one that would enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution. It must receive at least 55% of the vote to pass. Abortion is already legal in Colorado, but many states have taken up the issue since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in 2022. Colorado is one of 10 states that will put an abortion-related measure before voters in November.
Another proposal would repeal language in the state constitution defining marriage as “ only between one man and one woman. ” The U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, but the Colorado measure would preserve the right if the high court's decision were ever overturned. It requires only a simple majority to pass.
Other statewide ballot measures include whether to institute ranked choice voting for general elections, whether to keep the taxes Colorado collects on sports betting and whether to ban the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats.
Since 2008, Colorado has voted for Democrats in presidential elections, and Democrats are on the verge of having a veto-proof majority in the state Legislature.
Colorado is a largely vote-by-mail state. In the 2020 election, about 86% of total votes cast had been reported by 10pm MT on election night.
Election Day
Nov. 5, polls close at 7pm MT.
Presidential electoral votes
10 awarded to statewide winner.
Key races and candidates
President:
Harris (D)
Trump (R)
Kennedy Jr. (Unaffiliated)
Oliver (Libertarian)
Stein (Green)
Terry (American Constitution)
West (Unity)
Huber (Approval Voting).
8th Congressional District:
Caraveo (D)
Evans (R)
Baum (Approval Voting)
Hall (Unity)
Treibert (Unaffiliated).
Ballot measures:
Amendment 79 (Right to Abortion)
Amendment 80 (School Choice in K-12 Education)
Amendment G (Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities)
Amendment H (Judicial Discipline Procedures and Confidentiality)
Amendment I (Constitutional Bail Exemption for First Degree Murder)
Amendment J (Repeal Definition of Marriage)
Amendment K (Modify Constitutional Election Deadlines)
Proposition 127 (Prohibit Bobcat, Lynx, and Mountain Lion Hunting)
Proposition 128 (Parole Eligibility for Crimes of Violence)
Proposition 129 (Establishing Veterinary Professional Associates)
Proposition 130 (Funding for Law Enforcement)
Proposition 131 (Top Four Ranked Choice Voting)
Proposition JJ (Retain Additional Sports Betting Tax Revenue)
Proposition KK (Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax)
Past presidential results
2020: Biden (D) 55% and Trump (R) 42%
Voter registration and turnout
Registered voters: 4,477,527 (as of Sep. 1, 2024).
About 26% Democrats, about 23% Republicans, about 49% unaffiliated.
Voter turnout in Nov. 2020: 77% of registered voters.
AP writers Hannah Fingerhut and Maya Sweedler contributed to this report.
