Amendment 84Constitutional amendment · Citizen initiative
ID number on mail ballots
Explain it like I'm 5
Mail voters would still sign their ballot and would also write part of an identification number. It is like adding a second check to make sure the ballot belongs to the right voter, but mistakes could cause extra work or delay.
Yes vote
Mail voters must provide a signature and an identification number on the ballot envelope, subject to the measure’s verification and correction rules.
No vote
Colorado continues using its current signature-based mail-ballot verification process.
The question to ask yourself
Would an added ID-number check improve security enough to justify extra errors, privacy concerns, and cost?
The case for
- Adds another identity check to the existing signature review.
- Supporters say an ID number is more objective than handwriting comparison.
- A correction process can allow voters to fix some missing or mismatched information.
Backed by: Colorado Voter Trust Initiative, Independence Institute
The case against
- Colorado already verifies mail ballots through signatures and related election procedures.
- Missing or mistyped numbers could delay or reject valid ballots.
- The requirement creates privacy and access concerns without an established need.
Opposed by: ACLU of Colorado, League of Women Voters of Colorado, The Bell Policy Center, New Era Colorado, Democratic Party of Colorado
- Money
- The estimates provided range from about $2.5 million in initial state spending to up to $2.7 million initially and about $1.2 million annually, so the exact cost is uncertain.
- Don't be misled
- It is misleading to say this ends mail voting, because it changes verification requirements rather than eliminating mail ballots.