Can People with a criminal record vote in Colorado?

As readers are all likely aware, a presidential election is coming up in November. For that reason, I thought I would address voting eligibility for people with criminal records on the blog. According to the ACLU, approximately 5.85 million Americans with felony (and, in some states, misdemeanor) convictions are barred from voting. However, in Colorado, people with criminal records are allowed to vote in most circumstances! In 2005, Colorado passed SB05-206) which allowed people in jail serving misdemeanor sentences to vote. And in 2019, HB-19-1266 was passed, allowing people on parole to vote.

The only people ineligible to vote due to their criminal record are those serving a sentence of detention or confinement in a correctional facility, jail, or other location for a felony conviction. If the confined prisoner is awaiting trial but has not been tried or who is not serving a sentence for a felony conviction may register and vote! (C.R.S. § 1-2-103). However, proceed with caution if your felony case is pending because as soon as you are serving a sentence for a felony, you are once again ineligible, and it is a class 5 felony to register to vote or vote when you are ineligible. 

So, even with a felony record, you can register to vote in Colorado’s upcoming election!