Colorado’s Automatic Voter Registration System A Success, One Year Since Implementation

Denver, June 29, 2021 - Colorado’s Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system has proved to be an overwhelming success, with just over 250,000 Coloradans registering to vote through the system since its implementation in May of 2020. AVR was part of the Democracy Package that Secretary of State Jena Griswold worked closely with the Colorado legislature to pass in 2019.

“Enabling Coloradans to easily register to vote is important, but never more so than during a national pandemic,” said Secretary Griswold. “AVR has expanded access to our elections and is allowing more eligible Colorado voters to participate in our democracy. The impressive number of new registrations shows how effective AVR can be.”

Under the AVR system, eligible voters who provide identification that shows citizenship are automatically registered to vote any time they apply for or renew their driver’s license. They are then sent a letter informing them they will be registered and offering the option to decline the registration or affiliate with a political party. This process adds only eligible voters who do not opt out of the registration. If voters do not provide identification that shows citizenship at a driver’s license office, they are walked through a process of registering to vote.

AVR greatly streamlines the interaction with the DMV and reduces the possibility of human error. AVR also ensures voter rolls are more accurate, which means voters get their ballots at the correct address and the counties save postage from fewer ballots mailed to wrong addresses, the rolls are more secure because data is transferred electronically, reducing the potential for human error. Additionally, it provides more convenient options to citizens by reducing the number of trips to government agencies, particularly for working people with multiple jobs or rural residents who may not live close to government offices.

For more information on registering to vote or updating your registration, please visit www.GoVoteColorado.gov.