Voting 101: UCCS Voter Service and Polling Center, mail-in ballots and absentee voting

With Election Day inching closer, many college students will be casting their vote for the first time.  

Here is a breakdown of useful information to make voting in this election on Nov. 5 easy for new voters and those who just need a refresher. 

Registering to vote and UCCS Voter Service and Polling Center 

To register to vote in Colorado, you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by Election Day and a resident of Colorado for 22 days before the election, according to the Colorado Secretary of State website

Online voter registration must be completed by Oct. 28 to receive a mail-in ballot. After Oct. 28, voters can register to vote and receive their ballot at a Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC), which have many locations across Colorado, including UCCS.  

UCCS’ VSPC will be located in Kettle Creek Room 108. At this location, you can register to vote, update voter registration, request a replacement ballot, drop off your ballot or mark your ballot with an ADA-accessible ballot marking device. 

If voting in person at a VSPC, you will be asked to provide a valid form of identification. You can find a list of acceptable forms of identification here

UCCS VSPC hours: 

  • Oct. 21 – Nov. 1 (excluding weekends): 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
  • Saturday, Nov. 2: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
  • Monday, Nov. 4: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. 
  • Tuesday, Nov. 5: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Mail-in Ballots 

County clerks start sending out ballots Oct. 11, and all ballots are required to be sent out to voters by Oct. 18. If you don’t receive your ballot or need a replacement ballot, you can visit a Voter Service and Polling Center. 

The recommended date to have your ballot mailed is Oct. 28. Alternatively, mail-in ballots can be dropped off at any of the secure 24-hour ballot drop boxes in El Paso County by 7 p.m. on Election Day. One of these drop boxes is located on campus near the southwest entrance of the University Center.  

Absentee Ballots 

Out-of-state students can request an absentee ballot from their home state. Absentee voting varies by state. Students can visit the National Association of Secretaries of State’s website to learn more about how to receive an absentee ballot. 

If students have a permanent residence in Colorado, defined in the Colorado state website as “the principal or primary home or place in which a person lives and whenever absent, has the present intention of returning after a departure or absence,” then they are permitted to vote in the state of Colorado. The decision of what state a student votes in is left up to the student’s discretion. 

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