Coloradans who vote by mail would need to include an identification number on their ballot envelope if voters approve a proposed constitutional amendment this November. Amendment 84 would require voters to write either the last four digits of their Social Security number, their Colorado driver’s license number, or their REAL ID number on their mail ballot envelope for it to be counted.
This measure would primarily affect mail ballots, which are automatically sent to every registered Colorado voter. The vast majority of Coloradans cast their votes this way, while those who vote in person are already required to present valid identification at the polls. As a constitutional amendment, the measure would need 55% of the vote to pass.
The Colorado Voter Trust Initiative is backing the amendment, led by conservative attorney and former deputy secretary of state Suzanne Taheri, alongside conservative former El Paso County clerk Chuck Broerman. This initiative is funded by the Coalition for American Prosperity and Growth. Supporters argue the measure would create a secondary verification method to confirm a ballot belongs to the correct voter, aiming to reinforce confidence in elections.
However, a coalition of voter advocacy organizations and the Colorado Democratic Party oppose the measure. Opponents include the League of Women Voters of Colorado, Mi Familia Vota, and Common Cause Colorado, with two issue committees formally filing opposition with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office. The Bell Policy Center, a liberal nonprofit advocacy group, also weighed in.
Critics contend the proposal introduces privacy concerns for voters without enhancing Colorado's election security. Christo Luna, director in Colorado of Mi Familia Vota, stated that the measure would create "extra administrative barriers, strict new ID mandates or additional verification hurdles" that would make it harder for eligible Latinos and other citizens to participate. Luna also suggested it could lead to more rejected ballots due to discrepancies and would discourage voting due to concerns about sensitive identification information, diminishing trust in government. Aly Belknap, executive director of Common Cause Colorado, stated the requirement could risk identity theft or compromise, noting voters already provide an ID number during registration. Belknap added that the amendment is a “politically motivated attempt” to make voting harder and could delay election results by drawing out processing times for officials.
Beth Hendrix, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Colorado, echoed concerns that the measure would result in more rejected ballots from eligible voters due to simple clerical errors and a substantial increase in workload for election workers. She said handwriting variations could create more opportunities for ballots to be rejected, requiring an expanded “curing” process for unreadable or unmatched ID numbers. Hendrix characterized the amendment as a "solution in search of a problem," emphasizing that non-citizens do not vote, and proven instances of such voting are extremely rare.
Colorado's existing signature verification process for mail ballots is already recognized as “a gold standard,” according to Luna. Thousands of Coloradans already need to cure their ballots through this signature verification process each election, a number that could increase if an ID number also needs verification.
Nonpartisan legislative staff analyzed the measure, estimating it would increase spending for county clerks by $2.5 million in the first year and up to $1.2 million in subsequent years. These costs would cover additional work hours for election judges to verify ID numbers, the creation of a curing process for voters to fix discrepancies, and the redesign of ballot materials and envelopes. The Secretary of State's office would also incur increased costs if the amendment passes. Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said his organization is still evaluating the full logistical and fiscal impact on county clerks, including the cost of redesigning ballot envelopes and the effects on groups like college students who might not have a Colorado license or readily know their Social Security number. Crane noted the association typically avoids taking positions on ballot measures, though some clerks have expressed support while others are against the amendment.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s office has declined to comment on the ballot measure, citing its role in running and certifying elections.