Election Guide Menu

Odd-year elections have tended to be very locally-focused in Boulder, but in 2025, outside forces might influence local issues to a larger extent than most of us are used to. Since January, the new administration in Washington has taken or considered actions that could seriously impact local budgeting, education, jobs and the economy, healthcare, food assistance, human rights, public safety, science, digital and personal security, energy and the environment, and too much more.

For many people living in and around Boulder, some of what’s happening in 2025 probably seems contrary to our values. Words and phrases and concepts like concentration camps, standing armies, eugenics, grift, masked and unidentifiable armed forces, and maybe even worse are permeating our daily discourse.

There are certainly people who don’t mind what’s going on, and to each their own, but my concept for the 2025 election is “Dawn of the New Abnormal.” We’ve seen perhaps the beginnings of a very, very different paradigm, and we ought to take very seriously that the new administration wants to cement its favored structural practices or policies solidly in place.

But for those who still hope for a good life locally, whining isn’t going to help. Leaders and residents will have to step up with new ideas, revised priorities, resistance to at least the worst of the worst, and persistence in the face of it all. On top of that, some of our most pressing issues didn’t just pop up in 2025 – they’re ongoing challenges we’ve faced for years, and we can’t just forget about our everyday business even in the face of the new abnormal.

This year, I’ll be posting about candidate elections for Boulder City Council and Boulder Valley School District Board of Education (School Board), along with six ballot measures – two for the State of Colorado, two for Boulder County, and two for the City of Boulder. Please click on the menu boxes at the right to find information about each category.

Lest this opening come off as too sour, I still have hope and I still think Boulder County is a great area with caring people, natural and creative beauty, a lot of intelligence, and folks who are thinking about a better future. I always enjoy getting out into the community, meeting new people, and being exposed to new ideas when I do these voter guides. We’ll see how it all turns out!

Voter Information

This year, “Election Day” is November 4, but that’s just a deadline in Colorado. We’re a mail ballot state, and all registered voters will get a ballot in the mail at the address of their current voter registration. Ballots usually arrive in mid-October, so voters have the opportunity to spend a few weeks researching candidates and issues before actually voting.

Here are a few key points about the act of voting:

• All voted ballots must be in the hands of election officials by 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 4 for the ballot to count. This is a hard deadline, although people who are in a line by 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 4 will still be able to cast a ballot that counts.
• If you haven’t voted by Oct. 27, it’s recommended that you hand-deliver your voted ballot to a drop box or official elections office – instead of returning it by mail. This is to make sure it reaches election officials by 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 4. You want your ballot to count, yes?
• Here’s a link to find drop boxes or voting locations: https://bouldercounty.gov/elections/information/voting-locations/ 
• Even though we’re a mail ballot state, you can still vote in person if that’s what you want. Visit the Clerk’s site linked above for locations of vote centers and elections offices.
• If you lost your ballot, damaged your ballot, or never received a ballot, you can still vote (assuming you’re a legal resident and registered, of course). In Boulder County, visit this site for more info on how to exercise your right to vote: https://bouldercounty.gov/elections/
• Voting is easy in Colorado, but you do have to be registered to vote in the first place. In Colorado, you can register right up until Election Day, and just visit the county website linked above to learn more.