Voting rights restored to Colorado parolees

A law that restores the right to vote to Colorado parolees goes into effect today, announced Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold in a press release.

Signed by Governor Polis, the Restore Voting Rights Parolees law will permit over 11,000 Coloradans currently on parole to register to vote in upcoming elections.

“Colorado has been leading the way in expanding voting rights for all its citizens and, today, Colorado takes one more progressive step in that direction,” said Representative Herod, who sponsored the bill. “Effective immediately, individuals out of prison and on parole are eligible to vote. I encourage the more than 11,000 people who now qualify to register to and exercise your fundamental right to have a say in our democracy and in our communities.”

This law builds on an existing 2018 law that permits parolees to pre-register to vote. Parolees that are currently pre-registered will automatically become registered voters.

“Voting is one of the single most important ways Americans can engage in their communities, and today we’re restoring this right to tens of thousands of Coloradans. This is a huge step in making our democracy more fair, just, and accessible,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, who sponsored the bill in the Senate.