Congrats, Bucket Listers! We’ve officially made it to June. You know what that means? It’s primary election season.
On June 30, voters from across Colorado will decide who advances to general elections in a number of key state, federal and local races. While the big-name elections like the gubernatorial and senatorial elections tend to get most of the attention, there’s a lot more on the ballot than most people realize and a lot of it directly decides how Colorado is governed.
Before ballots start landing in mailboxes in about a week, here are five things worth checking off your list to ensure you’re informed and ready.
1.)
Check you voter registration before future you regrets it
We’ve all done it. You move apartments, switch mailing addresses or assume everything is up to date because it was two years ago.
Life happens, and voter registration is something that is easily overlooked until your ballot never shows up in your mailbox. Taking a few minutes now (yes, right now) to double check that everything is up to date can save you a headache and a lot of stress later.
With the primary on June 30, you have until June 22 to register or update your information if you want to vote by mail. If you miss that deadline, you are still able to register and vote in person, so no need to panic.
Head to www.GoVoteColorado.gov to make sure you’re good to go ahead of the primaries. It never hurts to check!and with their wide array of eggs Benedicts. They don’t take reservations, so if you’re unable to book a table on short notice, Snooze might be your best bet.
2.)
Get to know the candidates
Soon enough, your mailbox, television and social media feeds will be full of people telling you why their candidate is the right choice and why everyone else is wrong.
Before campaign season kicks into overdrive and attack ad season enters full swing, spend a little bit of time getting to know each candidate. You don’t need to become a policy expert overnight, but simply a few minutes researching each candidate and what they’re running on can make this process a lot less overwhelming.
Across Colorado, several high profile races are drawing attention headed into the primary, including competitive statewide contests and closely watched congressional primaries. While the big-ticket races tend to dominate headlines, it’s worth remembering that your ballot includes several local town and county offices that directly impact your day-to-day life in Colorado.
Here in Denver and Colorado’s first congressional district, there’s a neck-and-neck democratic primary between 29-year incumbent Diana Degette and 29-year old immigration lawyer Melat Kiros.
Last week, we spoke with Kiros about her policy platform and experience running for congress on the Bucket List Community News Radio Show. The conversation will air this Thursday, June 4, at 3:00 p.m on KGNU, so make sure to tune in!
3.)
Use Bucket List’s Ballot Builder to help prepare
If you’re not totally sure what’s going to be on your ballot, we have good news. You’re not alone and you don’t have to guess.
We’ve launched our Bucket List Ballot Builder. Go to our website and drop down the politics/election tab. After plugging in your address, the tool will show you what will be on your ballot for the primary election. That means you’ll know your specific races, district and ballot before it even hits your mailbox.
The idea is simple: to help you understand what’s in front of you on the ballot before you fill it out. Think of it as a preview, so there’s less surprise and more clarity this election season. You can start doing your research now so you know what to vote for when it’s time.
4.)
Have an informed conversation
Election season can sometimes feel like a contest to see who can avoid talking about politics the longest.
Instead, do the opposite. Try having at least one genuine conversation with a family member, friend, neighbor or coworker about who they’re planning to vote for and why. You don’t need to debate or convince anyone of anything, just simply listen to what issues they think are most important.
Sometimes gaining a new perspective and learning about issues you hadn’t previously considered can make a world of difference on Election Day. In an era of unending scrolling, having a polite conversation is one of the simplest ways to become a more informed voter.
5.)
Make a voting plan before summer gets chaotic
Let’s be honest: June in Colorado has a habit of filling itself.
Between the vacations, weekend trips to the mountains, barbecues, pool parties, weddings and celebrations like Pride and Juneteenth, it’s easy for important dates like Election Day to sneak up on you.
Whether you vote by mail, use a ballot drop box or vote in person, deciding when and how you’ll cast your vote now can save you from a stressful last-minute scramble to make your voice heard.
The good news is that voting in Colorado is about as convenient as it gets. Ballots are mailed directly to registered voters, drop boxes are located all throughout the city and in-person polling centers open as soon as June 15. There’s ample opportunity to cast your vote in this primary, so make sure you get out there and make your voice heard!
The primary is one of those things that’s easy to overlook until it suddenly isn’t. In 2024, only 26% of registered voters participated in the primary election, which was the lowest since 2016. This year, let’s get that number up.
The reality is that a few small steps, like checking your registration, making a voting plan and doing your research, can go a long way to make election season feel like a breeze. Do that now, and you get to skip the stress, skip the guessing and fill out your ballot with confidence when it arrives.
Do you have a listicle in mind? Any ideas can be sent to ryland.c.scholes@gmail.com. And don’t forget to check out our events calendar on our website to see what else is happening in our area.
See you next Tuesday with another Bucket Listicle.
Ryland Scholes
Production Manager & Senior Reporter/ Bucket List Community News
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