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Colorado’s 2026 primary election day is June 30, and general (midterm) election day is Nov. 3. Professor Elias Sacks, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder's faculty director for public scholarship, and Student Body Tri-Executive Gianna Guido, both members of Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s Election Steering Committee, sat down to discuss why this year’s elections will be important for everyone who lives, works or studies in Colorado.ÌýÌý

For those who may not follow Colorado politics closely, what is a primary election and what's at stake on June 30?Ìý

Sacks: A primary election is how each political party selects the candidate who will represent them in the November general election. On June 30, Colorado voters will choose nominees for major offices, including Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and key state races. Whoever wins the primary becomes that party's candidate in the fall.

What major races are on the June 30 primary ballot?Ìý

Guido: The June 30 primary includes competitive races for Colorado Governor, where incumbent Governor Jared Polis is term-limited, opening up that office. Additionally, one U.S. Senate seat will be open, and all eight U.S. House seats. There is also a race for the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoard of Regents District 2 seat, which includes Boulder County. The board governs CU's budget, sets university policy and makes other decisions for our campus.ÌýÌý

There's no presidential race in 2026. Why should people care about a primary for a midterm election?ÌýÌýÌý

Sacks: Midterm elections, and the primaries that feed into them, often determine the balance of power, for years to come, in Congress and in state government.ÌýÌý

In Colorado, decisions about higher education funding, housing, healthcare and environmental policy are shaped by those who control the state legislature and governor's office. These are decisions that also affect CU's budget, faculty and staff working conditions and the communities our students will enter after graduation. Ìý

Can independent voters participate in the primary election?ÌýÌý

Sacks: Yes, Independents (i.e., unaffiliated voters) may vote in the June primary election by casting a ballot for one political party. Voters affiliated with a major or minor party may cast a ballot for candidates of that party.ÌýÌý

What are the key dates and deadlines that voters need to know?Ìý

Sacks: Key right now is the primary election on Tuesday, June 30. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. (MST) on that day.ÌýÌý

One of Colorado's great strengths is that there is no voter registration deadline; you can register to vote through Election Day. However, if you need your ballot mailed to you, you must register online by June 22.Ìý After that date, you can still register online, but you must visit a Vote Center in person to request a ballot.

Guido: I encourage everyone to register sooner rather than later to reduce last-minute stress. If you're already registered, double-check that your address is current, especially if you moved during the past year. Go to . Don't assume you're all set if you haven't checked recently.Ìý

Colorado is a vote-by-mail state. How does that process work? What options do students have for returning ballots?Ìý

Guido: Every registered Colorado voter automatically receives a mail ballot before each election. Students should make sure their registered address reflects where they are currently living to ensure their ballot is mailed to the right place.Ìý

You can return ballots by mail, drop them in a ballot drop box or vote in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center. There is a 24-hour drop box at the University Memorial Center and on the west side of Williams Village, which is available for all elections.ÌýÌý

What if a student has moved recently or is originally from another state—how do they make sure they're voting in the right place?Ìý

Guido: Students have a choice; they can register to vote at their Colorado address and participate in Colorado elections, or they can maintain their registration in their home state and vote there by mail. The important thing is not to be registered in two places simultaneously. Register where you’d like your vote to count.ÌýÌý

What is your message to any student, faculty or staff member who is thinking about sitting this primary out?Ìý

Sacks: I understand potential fatigue. There are a lot of elections, and this one arrives in the middle of summer; it can also be exhausting to try to keep track of everything going on in American politics right now. But, the decisions made in the June primary will define the choices available in November, and those will shape Colorado's leadership—and our nation’s—for years.Ìý

History is full of examples of elections decided by small margins. Your participation is not symbolic; it is consequential. In Colorado, with vote-by-mail and same-day registration, the barriers to voting are as low as they have ever been. There’s no good logistical reason to sit this one out. Ìý

Guido: I'll add that this is your community too. Whether you've been in Boulder for one semester or 10 years, the people elected in this primary will make decisions that affect your tuition, your housing, your safety and your future. So, let's make sure the energy is here on June 30!Ìý