For the first time, people held in the Boulder County Jail were able to vote in person during the 2024 general election, resulting in a significant rise in voter turnout compared with previous years, county officials said.
The county hosted an in-person voting day on Oct. 22, 2024, as required under SB24-072, a Colorado law aimed at improving voting access for incarcerated people. According to election officials, 49 people cast their ballots in person from the jail that day — up from 18 in the 2023 election and 17 in the 2022 general election.
County officials do not track how many people in the jail are registered to vote, making it difficult to determine the overall voter turnout rate. However, with the jail currently holding more than 400 people, turnout among incarcerated individuals remained far lower than Boulder County’s overall turnout of approximately 86%.Under Colorado law, people serving sentences for felony convictions are prohibited from voting. However, those in jail awaiting trial or serving sentences for misdemeanors have the right to vote, according to the Colorado Secretary of State.