Dear Mile High City -

In every election cycle, there are moments where democracy feels distant — issues taking shape somewhere else, driven by faceless names, debated on television, and decided by people and forces beyond our reach. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Democracy is never distant. It’s personal and local. It takes shape in the choices we make, the votes we cast, the neighbors we live and exist with, and the quiet decision we all make every year to fill in that bubble and seal that envelope, even when the world feels out of control.  

This is especially true in a primary election. 

The fact is primaries never get the attention of a general election. They don’t usually come with the same headlines, sense of urgency, or volume. However, if you take one thing from this letter, let it be that nothing could be farther from the truth. In many races, the primary is where the real choices for November are shaped. It’s where candidates move forward, where policy is born, where priorities are crafted, and where the future of our city, state, and country are formed. The primaries give voters a powerful opportunity to influence the direction of society.  

Primary voters have the strongest voice. The more consistently you participate, the harder you are to overlook and the more campaigns notice you. Campaigns love primary voters because primary voters reliably show up. Your participation helps shape who moves forward and what issues rise to the top. When you vote in a primary, you’re not just casting a ballot – you are showing that you are engaged, informed, and paying attention.  

That participation is how voters move from feeling invisible to feeling heard, and in a primary election, that voice can carry farther than you can imagine.  

Your voice belongs in this election. Use it.  

Hon. Paul D. López

Your Clerk & Recorder

Ballots Due Back By June 30!

There is less than a week to get your ballot turned in for the State Primary Election!  

You have until 7 p.m. on June 30 to return your ballot to the Denver Clerk & Recorder and have your voice count. We encourage you to use one of Denver’s 48 secure ballot drop boxes, which are available 24/7, or vote in person at one of our 16 Voter Service & Polling Centers, located around the city. If you do choose to vote in person, please remember to bring your ID.

Do not mail your ballot back to us! 


It's now too late to put it in the mail in order and have your vote counted. All ballots must be in the possession of the Clerk & Recorder by 7 p.m. on June 30! 

If you have ANY questions about your ballot, election security, or the voting process, call our office at (720) 913-VOTE (8683). 

Check Out Our New Elections Results Dashboard

Our Voter Infrastructure & Logistics Team has been hard at work over the last several months rebuilding our elections results dashboard to make it more user friendly and simplify the dashboard layout.

For the 2026 State Primary Election, visitors to our dashboard page will see data broken down by party, voting method, precinct, and date, along with a look at total ballots returned, total ballots tabulated, ballot counting progress percentage, and turnout percentage.

This is another step in our efforts to make the election process as transparent as possible!

Clerk López and Team Prepare Denver Voters for the Primary Election

Clerk López and Denver Clerk & Recorder (DCR) staff are leading conversations and attending civic engagement events across Denver to help community members prepare for the June 30 State Primary Election. These events— held with State House Districts, neighborhood groups, and local nonprofits — cover important election updates, provide locations of 24-hour ballot drop boxes and Voter Service and Polling Sites, and share key messages to encourage voter participation. Several events also gave voters the opportunity to turn in their ballots on-site, with the support of bipartisan election judges. 

We extend our gratitude to the organizations that have hosted Clerk López and DCR over the past month:

House District 2 Democrats

House District 3 Democrats

House District 4 Democrats

House District 6 Democrats

Washington Park East RNO

Hecho en Westwood

COLOR Latina

Drinking Liberally

Kavod Senior Life

Denver Metro Village

Interested in hosting a community conversation or event with Clerk López? Complete our Speaker Request Form to get started!

DCR & City Council Work Together to Update Denver's Lobbying Laws

On June 15, Denver City Council unanimously passed a resolution that made significant updates to lobbying activities which will help the public understand who is influencing decisions, the issues being influenced, and how these processes happen.  

Starting January 1, 2027, these changes bring Denver in line with state law and peer cities. New changes will:  



• Require lobbyists to publicly disclose who is paying them to influence city decisions 
• Make it easier for the public to see what specific issues, policies, or legislation lobbyists are trying to influence 
• Require disclosure of organized campaigns designed to influence public opinion on city issues 
• Increase transparency related to meetings between city officials and lobbyists 
• Prevent former elected officials and political appointees from immediately becoming lobbyists by creating a mandatory waiting period before they can lobby city government

Thank you, Councilwoman Sarah Parady &

New Special Election Webpage

On June 1, Councilwoman Sarah Parady announced her intention to step down from City Council effective August 5. DCR would like to thank Councilwoman Parady for her years of partnership with our office on a range of issues, from election security to the budget process and, most recently, the success of DCR and City Council's lobbying effort.  

Should City Council announce via resolution that an At-Large seat is vacant, Denver Elections will hold a Special Election to fill that seat in conjunction with the November 3, 2026 General Election.  

DCR launched a new webpage with all the information needed for a City Council Vacancy Election.  

Athmar Park Box Opening Celebration

The Denver Clerk & Recorder celebrated the opening of our 48th 24-hour drop box earlier this month!  



In a press conference on June 8, Clerk & Recorder Paul López joined District 7 Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez and Denver City Librarian Nicolle Davies to open the brand new Athmar Park ballot box in the historically underserved neighborhood in Denver's west side.  

“The top priority as Denver’s chief elections official is expanding secure access to the ballot box regardless of zip code, and this newest drop box is a critical step to accomplish that goal in an area that has been overlooked and underserved for far too long,” Denver Clerk & Recorder Paul López said.

“Access to democracy should never depend on your zip code,” District 7 Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez said. “Bringing a ballot drop box to Athmar Park is about making voting easier, more convenient, and more accessible for west side residents. I’m proud to partner with Clerk & Recorder Paul López to help ensure every resident has a safe and trusted place to participate in our democracy close to home.”

Several members of the Denver media corps were on hand as well to capture the event.

Congratulations, Denver Elections team!

DCR Celebrates Another Successful Pride Marriage Marathon

The Recording team issued 20 marriage licenses on June 5 during our second year of the Pride Marriage Marathon!  



Couples from all over came to DCR to celebrate that love is love, and we were thrilled to play a role in their special day!

This was DCR's second Pride Marriage Marathon, part of Denver's month-long Pride celebration. Our huge thanks go out to the Denver County Court Judges who volunteered to officiate marriages: Judge Kelly Cherry, Judge Nicole Rodarte, and Judge Renee Goble.

DCR Celebrates Loving Day

Each year, DCR celebrates "Loving Day" by offering marriage certificates to couples looking to tie the knot without needing an appointment.

Loving Day, celebrated each year on June 12, commemorates a 1967 Supreme Court ruling which struck down state bans on interracial marriage. The day, named after case plaintiffs Mildred and Richard Loving, celebrates multiracial families and the ongoing quest for equal rights for all.

This year, DCR issued 23 marriage licenses on Loving Day!

Clerk López Hosts Community Conversations in North and East Denver

As a lead-up to the 2026 Primary Election, Clerk López hosted Coffee Chats — or Civic Cafecitos — in five diverse Denver neighborhoods to connect with local residents on issues important to them about elections, voting, and civic engagement. Recent events were held at Convivo Café in Northwest Denver and Whittier Café in East Denver, both cherished spots for neighborhood gatherings and civic participation.



We would like to thank our community partners who made these events a success: Amigas in Tech, Civically Fit, Latina Initiative, and Colorado Black Women for Political Action! 

Celebrating Juneteenth and Encouraging Civic Participation

The Denver Clerk & Recorder and Clerk Paul López were honored to join this year's Denver Juneteenth Parade on Saturday, June 20 in the historic Five Points. Marching alongside our neighbors was a powerful reminder of why civic engagement matters.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Americans learned of their freedom. It is a day to celebrate Black history and culture and recommit to the values of justice and equality. It’s also a day to recognize the ongoing work of ensuring access to the ballot box. As the office that administers Denver's elections, we see protecting that right as a direct extension of the freedom Juneteenth represents.

We’re Marching in the Vizzy Pride Parade!

This Pride Sunday, June 28, the Denver Clerk & Recorder will be marching in the Vizzy Pride Parade as part of Denver’s Pride Celebration! The parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. from 17^th and Franklin Street. Keep an eye out for our team in the parade and cheer us on as we celebrate alongside Denver’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community. We’ll be handing out Let’s Vote! fans and look forward to seeing you along the route.

Happy Pride, Denver!🏳️‍🌈

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