Voting Initiative In Denver Jails

Published on July 13, 2023

“Denver Votes,” as the Denver Elections Division slogan goes, promotes voting throughout the Denver Metro area. Since 2011, voting opportunities have been extended to those in our care, including voter registration and mail-in ballots. Continued efforts to improve voter rights within secured environments led to the first in-person event for the general election in 2020.

The 2023 voting year continues to foster DSD’s voting initiative in partnership with the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC), League of Women Voters, and the Denver Elections Division, providing a platform for eligible detained persons to vote. Most recently, Denver residents cast ballots for a new mayor, city council seats, and ordinances. Votes for these races and initiatives were cast in-person, by those in our custody, at the Downtown Detention Center (DDC) and Denver County Jail (COJL) for the initial election and then for the subsequent runoff.

Data provided by the Elections Division shows how exceedingly important these voting events are to the community we serve:

• 80% of DDC voters and 60% of COJL voters were either newly registered to vote at an event or received required updates to voter records to be eligible to vote.
• 51% of voters who registered during a DDC or COJL event cast a ballot during the 2023 election compared to just 33% of Denver residents.

The Denver Sheriff Department continues to pave the way for voting initiatives within secured environments and appreciates the support of sworn and professional staff and for helping to make this initiative possible.