Some 17-Year-Olds Will Be Allowed To Vote Under New Colorado Law

DENVER, CO — Colorado is enacting a new law that will allow 17-year-olds to vote in the 2020 primary if they turn 18 before the general election. The sweeping new election law, which is aimed at improving young voter turnout, will require voting centers and drop boxes at every college campus.

The nonprofit New Era Colorado advocated for the law, which calls for $3 million dollars in equipment for the new voting centers.

About a third of the states will allow 17-year-olds to vote if they turn 18 before the primary election. Nonprofits such as New Era and Fairvote are pushing all states and political parties to allow 17-year-old voting in the primaries, and some organizations are currently hiring organizers to empower high school students to register and preregister.

"The next generation of Coloradans is the largest and most diverse in our history, and if you’d like to join the fight to amplify their voices and build political their power at all levels of government, you should apply!" A New Era job posting states.

Colorado has some of the highest voter turnout rates in the country, and some county clerks have questioned whether the new in-person voting centers are necessary considering most Coloradans vote by mail.

Colorado's presidential primaries will be held on Super Tuesday — March 3, along with 14 other states. Colorado's primary used to be held in June, but many pushed to change that as the presidential race was largely decided by then. Record voter turnout is expected in 2020.