2022 Voter Guide

The ACLU of Colorado’s statewide We Are the Vote Voter Guide provides Colorado voters with critical information about civil rights and civil liberties issues that are on the ballot this election. We hope voters will use this guide to educate themselves on initiatives appearing on the ballot, as well as the powers that various elected officials have to protect and extend civil rights and civil liberties. The ACLU of Colorado is a non-partisan organization, and we do not endorse any candidate or political party.

The 2022 Midterm Election is here. All ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on November 8. Return your ballot at drop box or a voting center in your county. Find locations at justvotecolorado.org.

Learn more about our We Are the Vote campaign

What's on the ballot

Ballot Initiatives

Ballot initiatives provide Colorado voters the opportunity to participate in direct democracy by voting specifically on policies and not just politicians. The federal government is no longer able to protect our basic rights, but we can vote for state and local ballot initiatives that give Colorado an opportunity to become a national leader in defending and expanding our hard‐won rights.

2022 voter guide title and list of ballot measures ACLU of Colorado supports and opposes

 

Yes to ending the housing crisis

YES to Ending the Housing Crisis – Colorado is in the midst of a devastating housing crisis that is having a disproportionate impact on communities of color and leading to a cascade of civil rights abuses for unhoused people. The ACLU of Colorado endorses public policies that will help protect and increase access to housing. 

Yes on State Proposition 123 (statewide)

State Proposition 123 will help increase and maintain the number of affordable housing units across the state. 

Yes on Denver Initiated Ordinance 305 (local)

Denver’s Initiative 305 will keep more Denver families in their homes by ensuring access to free legal assistance for renters, so they are not unfairly evicted by landlords.

 

Yes to ending the war on drugs

YES to Ending the War on Drugs – The ACLU of Colorado supports a full and complete end to the failed and racist War on Drugs. The ACLU endorses public policies that take steps toward ending drug criminalization in favor of a well-regulated market and treatment-based approaches, and unwinding the harms of 50 years of failed drug policy. 

Yes on State Proposition 122 (statewide) 

State Proposition 122 will decriminalize the personal use and possession of five types of hallucinogenic and entheogenic plants and fungi and create a natural medicine services program. 

Yes on Colorado Springs Ballot Question 300 (local) 

Colorado Springs Proposition 300 would allow recreational marijuana purchases in the city.

 

Yes to equitable education

YES to Equitable Education – A separate and unequal educational experience has been a primary driver of systemic inequalities for people of color in Colorado.

Yes on State Proposition FF (statewide)

Proposition FF will provide free meals to all K–12 students in participating districts, regardless of their household income. Free school lunches for all removes stigma from students who need free or reduced meals, and improves educational outcomes.

 

Yes to voter accessibility

YES to Voter Accessibility – Voter participation protects our democracy. The ACLU of Colorado believes that voting should be fair, transparent, and easy for all voters – whether that’s through increased ballot transparency or streamlined election dates. 

YES on Proposition GG (Statewide) 

Proposition GG will require additional transparency for state ballot measures by requiring relevant initiatives to include a tax table on the ballot to show just how much cost or savings a family can expect. 

YES on Boulder Ballot Question 2E (local) 

Question 2E will move municipal elections to occur on even years. Aligning local elections with state and federal election calendars reduces voter fatigue and increases voter participation.

YES on Aurora Ballot Question 3A (local) 

Question 3A will restore the right to run for political office despite prior felony conviction. The measure will also bring the city in line with the Colorado Constitution, which protects the right to run for office as a fundamental right of citizenship.

 

Yes to gender equity

YES to Gender Equity – While the tides are shifting, women still make up a disproportionately small percentage of the military and veterans and are often left out of support once their serving or veteran spouse passes away.

Yes on State Amendment E (statewide) 

Amendment E bridges the equity gap, ensuring the same homestead exemption access to spouses when they lose their partner in the line of duty or from a service-related injury or disease.

 

 

No to inequitable tax policy

NO to Inequitable Tax Policy - In the fight toward racial justice, systemic equality, and immigrant justice, funding for families to have their basic needs met requires sound revenue from taxes.

NO on State Proposition 121

The ACLU of Colorado opposes Proposition 121, knowing that a decrease in state revenue might save our lowest income neighbors $5 per year, but will cost the programs that support their access to food, housing, healthcare, and education millions. Hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue loss will have a direct and negative impact on already underfunded necessary programs that help build power and equity across Colorado.

Elected Offices

State and local elected officials play a key role in protecting civil rights in Colorado. Life-altering decisions on housing access, racial justice, criminal justice reform, and LGTBQ+ rights are often made by state and local elected leaders. Now more than ever it is important to ensure all voices like yours are heard in local races. 

Colorado General Assembly

The General Assembly is Colorado’s state legislative body consisting of two chambers: the house with 65 seats and the senate with 35 seats.  State legislators are responsible for creating and deciding on state laws and control the state budget. Decisions made at the state legislature affect local counties and municipalities and can even affect other states by setting policy precedents. State senators and house members can vote to uphold or reverse state laws on civil liberty issues such as reproductive freedom, criminal justice reform, and education. 

Attorney General

The state attorney generals are the top legal officers in Colorado.  They protect Colorado from federal overreach on important civil liberties and civil rights issues like healthcare, immigration, data privacy and criminal legal reform.  They have the ability to issue legal guidance or formal opinions to state agencies, including opinions on the constitutionality of abortion bans, immigration enforcement, and classroom censorship.   They can also advise the state legislature and state agencies on ways to protect Coloradans from discrimination and ensure equal access to services. The attorney general can also join or initiate lawsuits challenging discrimination.  laws or policies. 

Secretary of State

Secretary of state is Colorado’s chief elections officer with responsibility for oversight and administration of elections. The secretary of state can expand voting access by implementing programs like online voter registration or mobile signature verification. They can also advocate for and advise on voting related state legislation.   

District Attorney

District Attorneys, are elected prosecutors. the most influential actors in the criminal justice system. They have the power to decide who should be charged with a crime and can decline to press charges. Prosecutors’ decisions and their influence over local and state criminal justice laws have been one of the primary drivers of incarceration and racial disparities throughout the justice system. District attorneys can exercise prosecutorial discretion to not bring charges against those accused of violating classroom censorship laws and education gag orders that restrict teachers and students from being able to learn about issues related to race and gender in the classroom. They can also decline to prosecute crimes related to HIV status, sex work, and other criminalization that disproportionately affects LGBTQ people; train staff to respectfully manage cases involving hate crimes and domestic violence; and establish data collection to track treatment of LGBTQ victims and defendants. 

County Clerk

Colorado’s county clerks act as the local election administrator and run the day-to-day operations of registration and voting. They are  responsible for recruiting and training election officials, mailing absentee ballots, and counting and canvassing election results. County clerks also play a role in issuing permits for parades and protests, including  for LGBTQ parades or events, recruiting or training poll workers to ensure they are LGBTQ-friendly, or ensuring that same-sex couples can access marriage licenses. 

School Board

School Board representatives can pass important policies to protect LGBTQ students from harassment, discrimination, and bullying, including ensuring students in their district have the right to access restrooms and play sports in accordance with their gender. They can also either endorse or fight back against attempts to restrict school curriculums limiting how race, sexual orientation, and gender identity may be talked about in school, and push back against attempts to remove books by and about LGBTQ people from school libraries.

How to Vote in Colorado

Community activists, women, and civil rights leaders1 fought for generations to gain the right to vote. We can honor that legacy by voting this November. 

Ballot drop boxes begin opening on October 17 and all ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.  

How to return your ballot 

  • Drop-box: Locations are secure, monitored, and available 24/7. 
  • In-person: Vote at a Voter Service Polling Center (VSPC) in your county. You can also visit a VSPC to receive assistance, replacement ballots, and register to vote. 
  • By mail: Two stamps are recommended. October 31 is the last recommended day to return your ballot in the mail. After that, use a drop-box or go in person. 

Where to vote

Find a drop box or Voter Service & Polling Center in your county by visiting the Colorado Secretary of State’s website at GoVoteColorado.gov Return your ballot at drop box or be in line to vote by 7 p.m. on Election Day Tuesday, November 8.

Where to return your ballot

Voting rights 

  • You can register for the first time or check or update your registration online.  
  • You have the right to same-day voter registration and can register to vote up to 7 p.m. on Election Day.  
  • Yes, you have the right to vote in Colorado if you 
    • have a criminal record including those currently on parole and incarcerated pretrial or for a misdemeanor.  
    • are under the care of a legal guardian or confined to an institution.  
    • are displaced, homeless, or voting away from home (e.g., college student, military, caretakers). 
  • You have the right to vote free of intimidation and coercion. 
    • Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE or 888-VE-Y-VOTA 
  • Voters in these counties have the right to Spanish language election materials and assistance.

For more information: 

Additional Nonpartisan Resources