General municipal elections for city council are held in odd-numbered years with four council seats up at each election. Council members are elected for four-year terms, except one at-large council member who is elected to a two-year term. The council president (mayor) and president pro-tem (mayor pro tem), who serve as mayor and mayor pro-tem, are elected by the seven member council.

To vote

In a primary election, the voter must declare a party affiliation. This may be done at the time of registration, or an unaffiliated voter may declare a party affiliation at the polls on primary election day. However, the voter MAY NOT CHANGE party affiliation on primary election day.

In a party caucus, a voter is required to be registered with a party for two months prior to the caucus date, which is the second Tuesday in April.

In a general election, held in November of even-numbered years, a voter who did not vote in a general election will be sent a continuation card confirming that he/she did not vote in the last general election and has not changed his/her address. This card is to be completed, signed, and returned to the County Clerk's Office.

Voting qualifications

• U.S. citizen, 18 years of age;
• Residency in Colorado and your precinct for 30 days.

Registration

A citizen may register anytime up to 29 days before an election. A person whose 18th birthday falls on or before election day may register during the year in which they will turn 18, before the registration deadline.

Early voting

Early voting is available at specified locations at least 10 days before a primary election and 15 days before a general election. Contact the County Clerk for locations: 303-795-4511.

Absentee ballots

When voting by absentee, a voter's request for an absentee ballot may be filed with the County Clerk as early as January 1 of the election year, but no later than the close of business on the Friday immediately preceding the election. The absentee voter's ballot must be in the hands of the County Clerk no later than 7:00 p.m. on election day.

Emergency absentee ballots

Should a registered voter be confined by illness after 4:30 p.m. on the Friday before election, an emergency absentee ballot may be requested from the office of the County Clerk before 5:00 p.m. on the Day of the election and returned to later than 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election.

Voting places on Election Day

Please be advised, identification must be presented at all election sites in order to vote in person.

Arapahoe County
For the November 6, 2012 General Election, Arapahoe County will have 32 Vote Center Locations.
http://www.arapahoevotes.com/november-6-2012-general-election/2012-proposed-vote-center-plan/

Douglas County
Registered voters may vote at one of 26 voter-assigned locations throughout Douglas County on Election Day, November 6, 2012. Voters are assigned a voting location based on the voter’s precinct number. http://www.douglas.co.us/elections/

Jefferson County
Polling Place Locations - Find your polling location and sample ballot.
http://jeffco.us/elections/voting-and-registration/service-center-and-early-voting/

Election information

Links to other voter information

• Arapahoe County Election Information
• Jefferson County Election Information
• Douglas County Election Information
• League of Women Voters of Colorado