Editor’s note: Aspen Public Radio will continue to update this voter guide through the Nov. 5, 2024 general election. This guide will reflect the upcoming election dates and key information. This guide was last updated on Nov. 5, 2024.
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How To Vote: Step-by-step
Every voter in Colorado receives a ballot by mail. Your ballot will arrive in the mail with the mailing address that you provided when you registered. If you are unsure if you are already registered, check here. If you want to receive your ballot by mail, you must update your registration at least eight days before an election.
Research your candidates and ballot measures
Utilize this election guide and other reputable sources to understand your choices. The Colorado "Blue Book" and local ballot issue notices (also called TABOR notices, referencing the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) can provide additional information on many ballot measures.
Find your polling location
Polling locations are listed below
Make sure you have the proper identification
All voters who vote in-person must provide identification. While there are many forms of acceptable identification, most voters find it convenient to bring their Colorado driver's license or Colorado ID. A Colorado ID is available at no cost to those who are eligible.
Cast your ballot
Mail-in ballots must be received by the county clerk and recorder no later than 7:00 PM on Election Day, November 5. If you want to vote in-person, you may return your mail ballot and vote in-person at a voter service and polling center. Even if you do not return your mail ballot you may still vote in person.
Familiarize yourself with your 2024 sample ballot
Track the status of your mail-in ballot
Local Polling Centers
*will be updated as polling locations are announced
If you wish to vote in-person, you may do so at a voter service and polling center (VSPC). If you plan to vote in person, you can register to vote through Election Day at a local voter service and polling center.
The first day early in-person voting and ballot drop off will be accepted is October 21.
- Glenwood Springs Community Center (early in-person voting available)
- Garfield County Fairgrounds South Hall, Rifle (early in-person voting available)
- Carbondale Town Hall (Election Day only)
- Parachute Town Hall (Election Day only)
24/7 ballot drop boxes
- Carbondale Town Hall
- Garfield County Courthouse, Glenwood Springs
- New Castle Town Hall
- Silt Town Hall
- Garfield County Administration Building D, Rifle
- Parachute Town Hall
- Clerk & Recorder’s Office, Eagle (early in-person voting available)
- Town of Avon Municipal Building (early in-person voting available)
- Clerk & Recorder’s Office, El Jebel (early in-person voting available)
- The Grand View - Vail (early in-person voting available, starting 10/30)
24/7 ballot drop boxes
- Clerk & Recorder’s Office, Eagle
- Clerk & Recorder’s Office, El Jebel
- Town of Vail municipal building
- Town of Gypsum municipal building
- Town of Basalt municipal building
- Mountain Recreation Field House, Edwards
- Pitkin County Administration Building, Aspen (early in-person voting available)
- Basalt Public Library (Election Day only)
- Snowmass Village Town Hall (Election Day only)
24/7 ballot drop boxes
- Pitkin County Administration Building, Aspen
- Snowmass Village Town Hall
- Basalt Town Hall
Ballot drop off locations for Election Day only
- Basalt Public Library
- Church at Redstone
Local Government Information
You can find more information about how to vote in specific upcoming elections through your local government’s website.
- Pitkin County
- Eagle County
- Garfield County
- Town of Carbondale
- Town of Basalt
- Town of Snowmass Village
- City of Glenwood Springs
What’s On The Ballot
Where you live determines what you’ll see on the ballot this year. There are a number of local, statewide and national races and ballot measures coming up in 2024. We have included some of the key elections for our region below; more information, including ballot measures, will be added throughout the election season.
Click here for June 25 primary election results
City of Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs voters will be asked to approve a one-cent sales tax for every dollar spent in town, with the money going to the city's infrastructure fund. If approved, it would be an increase over the half-cent sales tax currently in effect for roads and infrastructure. City officials say it would allow them to do utilities work under streets when they go in to do road repair, but opponents say the city already has the money to fix its streets.
The ballot language is as follows:
"Shall the City of Glenwood Springs taxes be increased $5,000,000 in the first full fiscal year (2025) and by whatever amounts are raised annually thereafter through the imposition, for a limited twenty year period ending in collection year 2044, of a one cent ($0.01) sales and use tax (which authorization represents the extension and increase of expiring voter authorization of a half cent ($0.005) initially approved by the city’s voters at an election held in 2005); shall all revenues from such sales tax be deposited in a dedicated fund to:
- Fund the repair, reconstruction and maintenance of existing streets, alleys, curb, gutter and sidewalks; and
- Fund the repair, replacement and maintenance of underground utilities including water, sewer and other utilities under existing streets and alleys provided that 25% of the revenues shall be spent to fund utility repair, replacement or maintenance;
And shall such tax to be collected and spent as a voter approved revenue change notwithstanding any revenue or expenditure limitations contained in Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution with such expenditures to be reported in the City’s independent audit published on the City’s website?"
Voters will have the option to respond "Yes" or "No."
Snowmass Village Town Council
The general election takes place Nov. 5. A ballot drop-box will be available at Snowmass Town Hall beginning Oct. 15.
Two town council seats (with four-year terms) and the mayoral seat (with a two-year term) are up for grabs in this year's election.
Mayoral Race (one seat with a two-year term)
- Bill Madsen (incumbent)
- Alyssa Shenk (currently serves as a councilmember)
Town Council
- Tom Fridstein (incumbent; running for a second term)
- Art Burrows
- Debbie Alcorta
- Cecily DeAngelo
In addition to the council seats, a ballot question asks voters about a major workforce housing project on the "Draw Site" behind Town Hall. The project will not require any new taxes or tax hikes, but the town code still requires voter approval based on the significant budget for the concept. The official ballot language is as follows:
"Without increasing taxes, shall the Town of Snowmass Village be authorized to take actions necessary to construct a new workforce housing project consisting of up to 79 units containing 118 bedrooms, located uphill of and adjacent to Town Hall in the area known as the Draw Site, at an estimated projected cost of up to $86 million, to be paid for with tourism tax revenues authorized for workforce housing purposes, rental income, potential grant funds and other public and/or private contributions?"
Voters will have the option to respond "Yes" or "No.”
Town of Parachute
The town of Parachute is asking voters to increase sales and use tax to 50 cents per ever $100 spent, with the revenue going to infrastructure in Parachute. The city says the tax will primarily be paid by people visiting or passing through Parachute, often travelers on I-70. The funds would be focused on improving streets, infrastructure, and downtown areas.
The ballot language for 2B is as follows:
"Shall the town of parachute's sales and use taxes be increased by not more than $365,000.00 in the first full fiscal year and by such additional amounts as are generated annually thereafter, by imposing an increase in the town sales and use tax by 0.5%, from 3.75% to 4.25%, which increase shall take effect on January 1, 2025, and which revenues therefrom, together with investment earnings thereon, shall be used to fund the operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, development, and redevelopment of town streets, sidewalks, utilities, infrastructure, parks, trails, and other public improvements; And shall the town be authorized to collect, retain, and spend such revenues notwithstanding any applicable revenue or expenditure limitation imposed by Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?"
Voters will have the option to respond "Yes" or "No."
Garfield Board of County Commissioners
Garfield County Commissioner District 3 covers the Western portion of the county, from the Utah state line to just east of Rifle. Commissioner District 2 covers the northeast portion of the county, including Silt, New Castle, Glenwood Springs, Glenwood Canyon, and the portion of the county located in the Flat Tops Wilderness. District 1 covers only the southeast corner, including South Glenwood, Cardiff and the town of Carbondale.
- District 2
- Perry Will (R)
- Caitlin Carey (D)
- District 3
- Mike Samson (R) (incumbent)
- Steven Arauza (D)
Pitkin Board of County Commissioners
Pitkin County reorganized its commissioner districts last year in response to new census data. District 1 includes much of Aspen’s downtown core to the south of Main Street, as well as the Red Mountain, East of Aspen and Meadowood communities and some homes on the back side of Aspen Mountain. District 2 includes Aspen’s West End, as well as most of the Hunter Creek, Cemetery Lane, Truscott and Burlingame neighborhoods. District 3 includes most of the Maroon Creek and Castle Creek valleys, as well as West Buttermilk, the Aspen Airport Business Center, Woody Creek, McClain Flats, Juniper Hill, and some homes on Owl Creek Road. District 4 includes most of Snowmass Village and Old Snowmass. District 5 includes Redstone, Lazy Glen, the south side of Basalt, Emma, Meredith and Thomasville.
- District 4
- Jeffrey Woodruff (D)
- District 3
- Greg Poschman (D) (incumbent)
- District 5
- Francie Jacober (D) (incumbent)
- Toni Kronberg (no affiliation listed)
- Steve Child (District 4) is term-limited, and will be retiring from his seat.
In addition to the council seats, there are ballot questions that Pitkin County residents will have to consider.
- 1A
This ballot measure asks Pitkin County voters to authorize a new property tax for a dedicated affordable housing fund in the county budget. It is estimated to raise approximately $8.5 million in its first year, but will fluctuate based on property valuations. The mill levy is 1.5 mills, or a $121 annual increase on their bill per $1 million of value for a homeowner, and a $435 annual increase on their bill per $1 million of value for a commercial property owner. The tax could be collected for 25 years, starting in 2025, before voters would need to approve its renewal. The county has said the funding will go toward affordable housing partnerships, deed restriction buy downs, preservation and maintenance of existing stock, developing transitional housing and other programs to address homelessness and more. - 1B
The Pitkin County Solid Waste Center is an enterprise fund, meaning no county taxes fund its operations. Use fees, like dropping waste, sustain its finances. Technically, the county does not need to go to the voters for an enterprise fund bonding measure. Still, the county is seeking voter approval for the landfill to take on up to $37 million in debt to finance the landfill expansion project. The working face of the landfill, where garbage is deposited, is rapidly running out of space. The expansion project will allow the landfill to function well for decades more. The bonds that the landfill seeks for this project will not impact taxpayers, but be paid back with revenue from use fees at the landfill. - 1C
Pitkin County is the sponsor of the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, which comes with decision-making authority for the Pitkin County Board of Commissioners. This ballot question seeks to amend the county Home Rule Charter to “reaffirm” the board’s authority to make such decisions regarding the airport, including approving a layout for the airport and runway — it would not result in a substantive change from the status quo. The question also references the Common Ground Recommendations, community group-authored goals for the airport on safety, noise and carbon footprint codified by the board in 2020.The board put forth this ballot question in response to Question 200. - 200
Citizen group Our Airport, Our Vote asks voters to divest the Pitkin County Board of Commissioners their authority to alter the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport runway from its Jan. 1, 2024 state without voter approval. This language captures the county/airport plans to relocate the runway 80 feet to the west and widen its taxiway/runway centerline by 80 feet. If passed, it would force the county to host another vote, likely through a special election, to seek voter approval for airport plans that include the runway alterations.
*If both 1C and 200 pass, it is not clear which measure would prevail. The Home Rule Charter states that the measure with the higher vote count would take precedence over the other, but Interim County Attorney Ry Neiley has said that specific language in 1C would allow it to overtake 200. Supporters of 200 have signaled they are gearing up for a legal fight in that outcome.
Eagle Board of County Commissioners
Eagle County Commissioner District 3 (in orange) occupies the western part of the county, from Glenwood Canyon and into the Flat Tops Wilderness, down to El Jebel and part of Basalt in the Roaring Fork Valley. District 2 (in blue) covers from the town of Eagle in the West to north of Edwards and Avon at I-70 in the East. District 1 (in purple) includes the towns of Edwards, Avon, and Vail, as well as Vail Pass in the east.
District 1
- Matt Scherr (D) (incumbent)
- Gregg Cooper (R)
District 2
- Tom Boyd (D)
- Kathy Chandler Henry (District 2) is retiring from her seat.
Congressional District 3
Congressional District 3 covers about one third of Colorado, stretching from the state line with Utah in the northwest all the way down to Pueblo, Otero, and Las Animas counties in the southeast. It bisects I-70 in Eagle County, after Dotsero.
Democrats
- Adam Frisch, Aspen
Republicans
- Jeff Hurd, Grand Junction
State Senate District 5
Democrats
- Cole Buerger, Glenwood Springs
Republicans
- Marc Catlin, Montrose
State House District 57
State House District 57 encompasses all of Pitkin and Garfield counties, as well as the southwest portion of Eagle County that includes Dotsero and the Roaring Fork Valley.
Democrats
- Elizabeth Velasco, Glenwood Springs (incumbent)
Republicans
- Caleb Waller, Silt
State Ballot Measures
Reported by Lucas Brady Woods, KUNC
Coloradans will vote on 14 statewide ballot questions in November. Statewide measures are on the ballot every two years in Colorado and can either be statutory or constitutional. A statutory measure changes state law and only requires a simple majority to pass. A constitutional measure amends the state constitution and requires 55% of votes to pass. Ballot measures can be put there by either members of the public or the state legislature.
Amendment G: Property tax exemptions for more disabled veterans
Amendment G is a proposed constitutional amendment that, if passed, would allow more veterans living with service-related disabilities to qualify for the state’s property tax exemption. That property tax exemption allows certain Colorado residents to reduce a portion of the property taxes on their home.
Currently, the exemption only applies to veterans living with what the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs classifies as a permanent disability. Expanding the tax credit would increase state expenses for reimbursing local governments for the exempted property tax revenue. Amendment G was referred by the legislature with unanimous approval.
A “yes” vote on Amendment G supports expanding the so-called homestead exemption to include veterans with disabilities that prevent them from working — about 3,400 individuals, according to non-partisan legislative council staff.
Amendment H: Independent oversight of the judicial branch
Amendment H seeks to create an independent board to oversee discipline for misconduct within Colorado’s judicial branch. The board would be responsible for holding formal judicial disciplinary hearings and would be made up of judges, lawyers and members of the public.
The board would also hear appeals from the already established Commission on Judicial Discipline. Lawmakers pushed for Amendment H as a way to bring independent oversight to the system, which has been at the center of several scandals over the last few years.
A “yes” vote on Amendment H supports the creation of the independent judicial board.
Amendment I: No bail for first-degree murder
Under Amendment I, people charged with first-degree murder would no longer be able to post bail. If their trial is delayed longer than 90 days, however, the courts would be required to hold a bail hearing.
The measure is an attempt from state lawmakers to fix an unintended consequence of repealing the death penalty in 2020. Currently, the state constitution says only people charged with capital offenses are ineligible for bail. The Colorado Supreme Court then ruled last year that since the death penalty was repealed, no crimes — including first-degree murder — can be considered a capital offense.
A “yes” vote on Amendment I supports removing the right to bail for Coloradans charged with first-degree murder.
Amendment J: Remove obsolete ban on same-sex marriage
If approved, Amendment J would strike an obsolete provision from the Colorado constitution that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
The provision currently states that “only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” The language has been considered obsolete since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, but there are concerns that the court’s conservative majority could reverse that ruling. Amendment J would protect the right in Colorado regardless of what happens on the federal level.
While the measure had bipartisan support in the state legislature, one Democrat and eight Republicans voted against it. The measure only needs a simple majority to pass in November since it’s removing something from the constitution rather than adding something.
A “yes” vote on Amendment J supports removing the ban on same-sex marriage from the Colorado constitution.
Amendment K: Earlier deadline for ballot measures
If passed, Amendment K would move up the deadline by one week for members of the public to submit the required signatures to get a measure on the ballot. The change means that the Secretary of State and county clerks would have more time to review and finalize ballots before sending them to voters. Nonpartisan staff would also have to publish the measure titles and text a month earlier, too.
A “yes” vote on Amendment K supports changing the deadline.
Amendment 79: Abortion rights in the state constitution
Amendment 79 seeks to protect the right to abortion in Colorado by adding it to the state constitution. State lawmakers passed a law in 2022 protecting access to legal abortion in the state, but advocates wanted to go further by putting it in the constitution.
If passed, the measure would also lift a 40-year-old constitutional ban on using state funds to cover abortion services. Proponents hope that lifting the ban would let Medicaid cover abortions and allow for state and local government employment benefits to include abortion.
A “yes” vote on Amendment 79 supports adding an amendment to the Colorado constitution that guarantees access to legal abortion in the state.
Amendment 80: School choice in the state constitution
Amendment 80 seeks to codify parents’ rights to decide how their kids are educated between kindergarten and 12th grade. It says parents’ have the right to choose between public schools as well as neighborhood schools, charter schools, private schools, home schooling, open enrollment options, and future innovations in education.
Colorado parents already have the right to send their kids to public or private schools, or home-school them.
Opponents of Amendment 80 say its intention is to divert resources away from public schools. Supporters are concerned support for charter schools is eroding and hope the amendment would preserve school choice. The state’s leading charter school organization, the Colorado League of Charter Schools, has not taken a stance on the measure.
A “yes” vote on Amendment 80 would amend the state constitution to protect parents’ right to direct their children’s education.
Proposition 127: Big cat hunting ban
If passed, Proposition 127 would ban mountain lion, lynx and bobcat hunting in Colorado. The ban would include killing, wounding, pursuing, trapping, or shooting at one of the animals. The text of the measure uses the term “trophy hunting” to describe the ban; however, it would actually end all big cat hunting in the state.
The measure includes exceptions for self-defense or defense of livestock, property, or vehicles. It would also allow for official wildlife management operations that involve killing or trapping the animals.
A “yes” vote on Proposition 127 supports banning mountain lion, lynx and bobcat hunting in Colorado.
Proposition 128: Parole changes for violent crimes
Proposition 128 would make it harder for people convicted of certain crimes to be paroled.
If the measure passes, those convicted with murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery, and in some cases assault, kidnapping, and arson, would have to serve 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. It would also make anyone convicted of one of those crimes three or more times ineligible for parole.
A “yes” vote on Proposition 128 supports the harsher parole eligibility requirements.
Proposition 129: New veterinary associate job
Proposition 129 would create a new position in the veterinary field called a veterinary professional associate. Veterinary professional associates would be able to provide certain care including examination and diagnosis, tests, and some surgeries, as long as they are under the supervision of a vet.
Veterinary professional associates would require a master’s degree in veterinary care, but unlike a veterinary technician, would not be licensed. Supporters of the measure say it’s a way to address the shortage of vet care in the state. Veterinary professionals oppose it and say the new position won’t have enough training for their proposed responsibilities.
A “yes” vote on Proposition 129 supports creating the new position.
Proposition 130: Law enforcement support fund
If passed, Proposition 130 would create a new $350 million law enforcement support fund. The Peace Officer Training and Support Fund would send money to counties, municipalities and agencies for a variety of uses focused on law enforcement, including recruitment, retention, training, pay increases, and general operations. The measure would not allow the money to replace existing law enforcement funding and would have to come out of the existing state budget.
The funds would also pay for a new $1 million death benefit for families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
A “yes” vote on Proposition 130 supports creating the new law enforcement support fund.
Proposition 131: Statewide ranked-choice voting
Proposition 131 seeks to make sweeping reforms to the state’s election system. If passed, it would implement ranked-choice voting for all state-level races.
In a ranked-choice system, voters list candidates by preference instead of choosing just one. Ranked-choice voting formats are already in place in some Colorado communities, including Boulder and Telluride, and have been approved by Broomfield and Fort Collins.
The measure would also change the state’s primary elections so that all candidates in a race run against each other regardless of party affiliation.
State lawmakers have expressed skepticism over the reforms and passed a last-minute provision this spring that could get in the way of implementing ranked-choice voting even if Proposition 131 passes. The provision requires ranked-choice elections to be tested in local communities for a period of time before they are used in state and federal races.
A “yes” vote on Proposition 131 supports ranked-choice voting in state elections and open primary races.
Proposition JJ: Sports betting revenue and water conservation
Under Proposition JJ, the state would be allowed to keep, and use, all the tax revenue it collects from sports betting operations. The money would be dedicated to water conservation and protection projects.
Officials expect to raise significantly more money from sports betting than was originally predicted when voters legalized it in 2019. The Taxpayers Bill of Rights, or TABOR, requires the state to get voter approval before retaining the excess tax revenue. The measure had bipartisan support in the legislature.
A “yes” vote on Proposition JJ supports letting the state keep all sports betting tax revenue and use the money for protecting and conserving water.
Proposition KK: Gun sales tax and mental health funding
Proposition KK is proposing a new sales tax on firearms and ammunition. If it passes, gun manufacturers, dealers, and ammunition sellers would be responsible for paying the 6.5% sales tax, but would likely pass on those costs to their customers.
The money raised from the new tax would fund mental health services for veterans and at-risk youth, school safety, gun violence prevention, and crime victim support services.
The measure passed the legislature along partisan lines. All Republicans and one Democrat voted against it.
A “yes” vote on Proposition KK supports the proposed new sales tax on guns and ammo.
Our Mission
Aspen Public Radio’s mission is to support, nourish, and enrich our community by providing informative, entertaining, and educational radio and digital programming in a reliable and professional manner.
We’re using our mission statement to guide our election coverage this year, and into the future. We aim to focus on impact and context — showing how candidates and ballot measures will affect our community. And we want to make sure our stories are accessible and engaging, so voters can make informed decisions.
That’s why we created this election guide, with information on how to vote, details on local forums, and links to coverage from multiple sources, including our own stories. We’ll be updating it throughout the election season.
As we cover this year’s elections, we want to hear from you. Tell us about the issues that you think are most important in the upcoming elections and what kind of stories you’d like to hear by filling out our 2024 Elections Survey.
You can also reach out to us any time, at news@aspenpublicradio.org. We’ll consider your ideas, and possibly use them as a basis for further reporting, as we continue to cover the civic process from Aspen to Parachute.