Voting basics: How to vote while experiencing homelessness

Ballots are seen at the Weld County Elections office in Greeley on June 25, 2024. (Andrew Fraieli/Colorado Newsline)

All Colorado citizens who are at least 18 years old have the right to vote, even if they are experiencing homelessness.

This story is part of a series on voting basics in Colorado.

1. Felony convictions and voting
2. Register to vote
3. How to vote
4. Signature verification
5. Military and overseas voters
6. Accuracy and security
7. Homelessness and voting

A voter who doesn’t have a permanent address can register at a location they consider a “home base” or a location they regularly return to, such as a park or a homeless shelter.

If the location where someone experiencing homelessness registers cannot receive mail, the voter must also designate a mailing address where the local clerk can mail their ballot, such as a P.O. Box. If the voter cannot access their mail ballot, they can vote in person at a local polling center, but they must provide a valid mailing address to register.

Cathy Alderman, spokesperson for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, said people experiencing homelessness are able to list service providers like the coalition as their residential and mailing address when registering to vote. She said the coalition will work to locate voters once their ballots come in the mail.

Alderman said the coalition goes to shelters to help make sure people using homeless services know about their right to vote and help register people. The coalition has also taken people to the polls to vote in person during past elections.

“We just try to provide as many resources as we can about how you can get your ballot, either in the mail, in a drop box, or to someone who could do that for you,” Alderman said.

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Someone who lives in a recreational vehicle can register at a campground or lot they typically go back to.

Voters who are going through an eviction or foreclosure may have to update their registration if they no longer live at their address. If they still live at their address and have not yet been evicted, they can vote from that address. As soon as someone has a new address, they should update their voter registration to reflect that.

Alderman also said the coalition has worked with the secretary of state’s office in the past to reach voters experiencing homelessness and provide additional information and resources. She said government outreach to let voters know their voice matters regardless of their housing status can help improve their trust in government.

“I just think that’s really important, because a lot of people experiencing homelessness have many reasons not to trust the government,” Alderman said. “That really starts to rebuild that trust, and that can be really important for folks that are unhoused.”

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