Denver voters to cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on key state and national races

Voters across the Denver metro area will have their polling places open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. According to Ballotpedia, Colorado conducts its elections largely by mail, but in-person voting remains a central component of the day's proceedings. The Associated Press reports that more than 57 million people had already cast ballots as of Monday, surpassing early vote totals from the 2022 election in many closely watched states. This high volume of early voting reflects a widespread desire to participate in what the Associated Press describes as a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term.

In the state's capital city of Denver, as well as in neighboring municipalities including Aurora, Lakewood, Thornton, Arvada, and Westminster, residents are deciding who will fill the state's U.S. Senate seat. Incumbent Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper is running for re-election against Republican opponents. The Associated Press notes that the Senate race is part of a broader national contest where Democrats need a net gain of four seats to claim a majority. In Colorado, the ballot also includes an open governor's race, as the state currently has no incumbent running for the office. This creates a significant opportunity for both parties to shape the direction of state leadership in the coming four years.

The ballot in the Denver metro area includes seven specific state measures that voters will decide on. Amendment 81 proposes requiring law enforcement to notify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security when a person charged with a violent crime or having a prior felony conviction has an undetermined immigration status. Amendment 82 would provide a constitutional right for consumers to purchase natural gas for cooking or heating in homes and businesses. These measures reflect ongoing debates about infrastructure and federal state relations that are prominent in the region.

Amendment 83 aims to establish a right to hunt, fish, and take fish and wildlife in the state constitution through traditional methods. This measure is particularly relevant to voters in the mountains and rural areas surrounding the metro core. Amendment 84 focuses on the mechanics of voting itself, requiring voters casting ballots by mail to place their signature and some form of real ID on their ballot. Given that Colorado relies heavily on mail-in voting, this change could impact how many residents across the seven major towns in the county handle their ballots.

Amendment 85 addresses the readability of the ballot, requiring that future ballot questions be written in plain language at no more than an eighth-grade reading level. This is intended to make the voting process more accessible to all residents. Amendment 86 concerns the future of redistricting, requiring that congressional maps drawn in 2028 be approved by both a nonpolitical commission and the state supreme court. This measure seeks to reduce partisan influence in the drawing of electoral boundaries, a topic of intense discussion in the Associated Press coverage of the national redistricting changes.

Amendment 87 is the most complex of the seven measures, proposing to establish a graduated income tax within the state. This change would allow the state to use tax revenue to fund public assistance, public education, and early childhood education. It represents a significant shift in state fiscal policy and is expected to be a major point of contention between voters in the urban core and those in the suburban and exurban areas of the county. Finally, voters will decide on three propositions related to criminal sentencing and justice, including Proposition 132 on fentanyl-related felonies and Proposition 133 on penalties for human trafficking.

Nationally, the stakes are high as all 435 U.S. House seats and 35 Senate seats are up for grabs. The Associated Press reports that Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats and Democrats hold 45, with two independents who caucus with the Democrats. In the House, Republicans hold 218 seats and Democrats hold 214. The Associated Press notes that one or two seats could tip the balance of either chamber. This midterm election is being watched closely by Wall Street, with Reuters noting that results could add to investor concerns about AI spending and debt ceiling negotiations.

In the governor's races across the country, Democrats are defending five governorships in states that Trump won in 2024, including in Kansas and Michigan. Republicans are defending two in states that Harris won, such as New Hampshire and Vermont. The Associated Press highlights that 19 of the 36 governor races have no incumbent on the ballot, with 15 governors being term-limited. This lack of incumbency is also felt in Colorado, where the open seat allows for a fresh contest between the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Unaffiliated parties.

Voters in the Denver metro area should find their specific polling place at vote.gov or their local election office. The Associated Press emphasizes that anyone in line when polls close at 7 p.m. is entitled to vote. ID rules vary by state, but in Colorado, the specific requirements for mail ballots under Amendment 84, if passed, will apply to future cycles, while current rules apply to today's in-person and mail ballots. The U.S. Postal Service has added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure that mail ballots are counted on time, a critical logistical step for a state that votes largely by mail.

As the day progresses, attention turns to the national picture where the Associated Press describes the election as a test of the president's popularity. Polling from the AP-NORC center shows that 35% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance, while about seven in ten say the country is heading in the wrong direction. In Denver, voters are balancing these national sentiments with local concerns about housing, transportation, and the specific measures on their ballot. The outcome of these votes will determine the control of Congress for the final two years of the current term and set the stage for the next presidential election cycle.