All Colorado ballots must be received by 7 p.m. Nov. 4. The state offers secure, convenient voter registration for eligible residents – those who will be 18 by Election Day and have a Social Security number, driver’s license or state ID. Voters can register online at GoVoteColorado.gov, through their county clerk’s office or automatically at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Colorado also allows same-day registration at any Voter Service and Polling Center within a voter’s county.
Although the November ballot does not include elections for state or federal representatives, it remains crucial to local governance – especially for choosing school board members and deciding on local tax measures that directly affect our communities. These decisions form the foundation of our self-governance, and every citizen has both the right and responsibility to participate.
Voting rights are a cornerstone of our American democracy, but the U.S. has no standardized national voting system. This leaves voter access vulnerable to changing state and federal laws. The most significant current challenge is the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (H.R. 22/S. 128), passed by the U.S. House and pending in the Senate.
On its surface, the SAVE Act appears reasonable – it aims to ensure that only lawful U.S. citizens vote in federal elections. However, the bill would dramatically change voter registration procedures nationwide, including here in Colorado. It would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship – such as a passport, certified birth certificate or naturalization certificate – before anyone could register to vote in a federal election.
Under this proposal, states could no longer accept registration applications without such documents. Online, mail-in and voter-registration drives would be invalid unless proof of citizenship had already been provided in person. This would fundamentally alter how Coloradans register and could restrict many current, accessible methods. The bill also includes enforcement provisions requiring states to periodically verify and purge voter registrations that lack documentation.
Voting-rights advocates warn that this measure could disenfranchise eligible voters, including those who have voted for years but lack up-to-date citizenship records. Millions of Americans do not possess a passport or certified birth certificate that matches their current legal name. For instance, many women who changed their names after marriage may have no matching documentation linking their current surname to their birth certificate. The SAVE Act offers little clarity on how such voters could prove citizenship, placing an unfair burden on them.
The restrictions on registration methods could particularly harm rural residents, students, Native Americans and low-income voters, who may find it difficult to access the required records. Moreover, the bill shifts the burden of proof from election officials to individual voters and directs states to establish systems that regularly identify “noncitizens” using yet-to-be-defined databases. This could lead to arbitrary voter purges influenced by officials currently in power – an alarming precedent for election integrity.
Alongside concerns about voter access, redistricting remains a critical issue for fair representation. Districting defines the geographic boundaries determining which voters elect which representatives – whether for Congress, the state legislature or local offices such as city councils and school boards. After each U.S. Census, these maps are redrawn to reflect population changes. When done fairly, redistricting ensures balanced representation. When manipulated, it can dilute the voting power of particular communities, especially racial or language minorities.
Colorado stands out as a model for reform. In 2018, voters approved amendments Y and Z, creating two Independent Redistricting Commissions – one for congressional districts and one for state legislative districts. Each commission consists of 12 members: four Democrats, four Republicans and four unaffiliated voters. Their mission is to remove partisanship from map drawing, relying on transparent criteria such as equal population, compactness, respect for communities of interest and compliance with the Voting Rights Act.
Unfortunately, not all states follow Colorado’s example. Texas and other Republican-led states are pursuing mid-decade redistricting to strengthen partisan control, bypassing the traditional post-census timeline. In response, California will be considering countermeasures to redraw its own maps, arguing it must offset Republican gains elsewhere. If this tit-for-tat redistricting spreads, the result could be a chaotic and deeply partisan reshaping of national representation.
So, fellow Coloradans, exercise your civic duty: stay informed, register early and cast your ballot. In doing so, you help preserve not just your rights, but the strength and legitimacy of our democracy itself.
Concetta C. DiRusso, Ph.D., and Paul N. Black, Ph.D., are professors emeritus at the University of Nebraska, Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and members of the Professional Associates at Fort Lewis College. Black is a Durango native; both live in Durango.
