Being an Unaffiliated Voter
In Colorado, unaffiliated voters receive two ballots in the Primary Election—one from the Democratic Party, and one from the Republican Party—but can only vote one. Here's how it works!
Unaffiliated Voters
Pick and Vote One Ballot
To vote as unaffiliated voter in a primary election, all you need to do is:
- Pick one ballot to vote
- Discard the other ballot
Please note: Picking a ballot to vote will not change your political party affiliation. Individual ballots are never connected to voter records. All ballots are anonymous. We use the signature on your return envelope to verify your identity. More instructions on how to vote can be found on your voter instructions or our upcoming elections page.
Place it in the Security Sleeve
Once you vote your ballot:
- Refold your ballot exactly as you received it
- Place it in the provided secrecy sleeve
- Then, place both the ballot and the secrecy sleeve in your official return envelope. (Don't forget to sign the back of the envelope!)
You can return your ballot by mail, ballot box, or vote center depending on what works best for you. To find ballot boxes and vote centers near you, you can visit our where to vote page.
Do Not Return Both Ballots
Return one and only one ballot. Returning two voted ballots will disqualify all of your votes. Pick one ballot to vote and discard the other one.
Requesting a Minor Party Ballot
For the 2026 Primary Election, unaffiliated voters can request a ballot from the Unity party. For more information about how to request a minor-party ballot, keep reading.
While unaffiliated voters will only receive Democratic and Republican ballots in the mail, you can request a minor party ballot by mail or in-person.
By Mail
Requesting a Minor Party Ballot by Mail
To request a minor party ballot by mail, contact our Office before June 22 at (970) 498-7820 or [email protected]. After June 22, you'll need to request a minor party ballot in-person.
In Person
Requesting a Minor Party Ballot In-Person
To request a minor party ballot in-person:
- Before June 22: Visit our Office at 200 W Oak St Suite 5100, Fort Collins, CO 80521 Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm (excluding holidays)
- On or After June 22: Visit one of our vote centers. Locations and hours for vote centers are available on our Where to Vote page.
Questions?
If you have any questions, reach out to our Office by phone or email at (970) 498-7820 or [email protected].
