Voters in Colorado will decide on an initiated constitutional amendment related to voter ID for mail-in ballots — the seventh measure to cover this topic in 2026, and the most to appear on statewide ballots in a single year.
Initiative 362
The initiated constitutional amendment — known as Initiative 362 — would add a new section to Article VII of the Colorado Constitution to require voters to provide both their signature and an identification number, such as:
- the last four digits of their Social Security number;
- a Colorado REAL ID number;
- a Colorado REAL ID driver's license number; or
- the last four digits of another Colorado identification number meeting federal REAL ID requirements.
Additionally, Initiative 362 would require election officials to compare the information submitted by voters to the statewide voter registration database, and if there is any discrepancy in the information:
- the voter must be notified;
- the voter may correct the discrepancy by providing a copy of their identification; and
- the ballot cannot be counted until the discrepancy is corrected.
As of 2026, Colorado requires voters to sign their mail ballot envelope, but does not require additional identification.
The Colorado secretary of state's office certified Initiative 362 for the ballot on Aug. 26, 2026, announcing that its proponents submitted 133,321 valid signatures, surpassing the required minimum of 124,238 to qualify for the ballot.
The Colorado Voter Trust Initiative supports the initiative and has raised approximately $2.2 million in contributions as of July 2026. As of Aug. 27, acampaign has not formed to oppose the initiative.
Currently, 21 states require voters to provide a driver's license number, Social Security number, or other identification number to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot.
Most recently, voters in Oklahoma decided on State Question 846 on Aug. 25, 2026, which created a constitutional requirement for voters to provide proof of identity, as defined by the state legislature, when voting in any election in the state. Voters approved State Question 846, with 54.61% of the vote.
Other voter ID measures are set to appear on the ballot in Arizona, California, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Initiative 362 is the eleventh measure that Colorado voters will decide on in Nov. 2026, appearing alongside nine other citizen initiatives and one legislative referral. Three additional citizen initiatives are currently in the certification process, having submitted signatures to the secretary of state's office.
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