Registering to vote: a how-to guide

This fall brings the much-anticipated federal election season, and in honor of National Voter Registration Day this Tuesday, CU is making efforts to ensure that students register to vote.

A plethora of voter registration volunteers have been working around Boulder and the CU campus to register as many voters as possible before the time comes to hit the polls on Nov. 4. In case you missed registration volunteers, there is still time left to get yourself registered:

(CU Independent Graphic Illustration/Josh Shettler)

Register in Colorado

To access voter registration forms, residents of Boulder County can visit http://www.bouldercounty.org/clerk/elections/index.htm. Click on “Registers voters” under the subhead Elections Division. Filling out the forms will allow students to vote in county, state and federal elections. Registration must be done on or before Oct. 9. Additionally, those who wish to register must be at least 18 years old on or before election day on Nov. 6.

Check your registration status

Students who are unsure whether or not they are registered are able to check their voter registration and their ballot status by visiting http://www.bouldercounty.org/clerk/elections/promptforname.html. Click on “Registers voters” under the subhead Elections Division. Under “Registration Information,” click “Verify voter registration information.” Registered voter information is updated approximately one to two weeks after registering.

Register outside of Colorado

Out-of-state students who are not residents of Colorado and instead wish to vote in their state of residence can access a voter registration form at http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/contact_your_state.aspx. Click on your state to access your state’s registration information page.

Register via mail 

Mail-in ballots can be requested, and a State of Colorado voter registration form can be downloaded at http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/main.htm. A PDF form for the mail-in ballot can be found under “2012 Election Information.” General election information, election resources and voter information can also be found at the site.

Dee Menzies, Associate Registrar at the Office of the Registrar, said that a campus-wide e-mail was sent eight weeks before the voter registration deadline to the student body providing voter registration links.

“It is federal law that colleges and universities encourage their students to register to vote,” Menzies said.

Any forms that cannot be accessed online are available at the Office of the Registrar and can also be obtained by e-mailing the office at [email protected].

CUSG is also aiding in the university’s initiative to encourage students to register.

CUSG’s Director of Legislative Affairs Julia Harrington, a 22-year-old senior and political science major, said that CUSG is partnering with New Era Colorado, a youth political engagement group based in Boulder, to make sure students vote this fall.

“This is a really important election for young people in general,” Harrington said. “We’ve gotten a good response from students so far. We want to make sure that we’re not only registering people but also following up and making sure they’re getting to the polls to vote.”

CUSG and New Era Colorado currently have a booth set up near the UMC fountain where students can register to vote. For more information about New Era Colorado, visit their website at http://www.neweracolorado.org.

The voter registration deadline this year is Oct. 9.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Alyx Saupe at [email protected]