2026 Voter Guide: This article is part of Johnstown Republic’s guide to the Nov. 3 ballot.
Colorado voters will decide Amendment 84, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voters using mail ballots in federal and statewide elections to provide identifying information in addition to their signature.
The citizen-initiated amendment requires at least 55% of the vote to pass, according to the official 2026 Colorado Blue Book.
What would Amendment 84 do?
Colorado currently verifies mail ballots primarily through a voter’s signature. Election officials compare the signature on the ballot envelope with signatures already on file. If election officials identify a discrepancy, the voter is contacted and given an opportunity to correct the problem before the ballot can be counted.
Amendment 84 would add another identification requirement. A voter returning a mail ballot for a federal or statewide election would have to sign the ballot envelope and provide either:
- The last four digits of their Social Security number;
- Their Colorado driver’s license number; or
- Their Colorado identification card number.
Colorado identification provided under the measure would have to comply with federal Real ID requirements. The additional information would be checked against the state voter-registration database while the existing signature-verification process would remain in place.
If the identification information is missing or cannot be matched, the county election office would notify the voter. The voter would then have up to eight days after Election Day to correct the problem by providing acceptable identification. The ballot would not be counted unless the discrepancy is resolved.
The measure would not change identification requirements for in-person voting.
What does a YES vote mean?
A YES vote would require voters using mail ballots in federal and statewide elections to provide qualifying identification information in addition to their signature.
Mail ballots with missing or unmatched identification information could not be counted unless the voter corrects the problem within the required timeframe.
What does a NO vote mean?
A NO vote would keep Colorado’s current mail-ballot verification system in place.
Voters would continue signing their mail-ballot envelopes, and election officials would continue using signature verification without the additional identification-number requirement.
What would it cost?
The measure is expected to increase state and local government spending for voter outreach, ballot materials, election-system changes and additional verification work.
Legislative Council Staff estimates approximately $1.24 million in state spending in fiscal year 2026-27, followed by $260,000 in 2027-28 and about $555,500 in 2028-29. Future costs would vary depending on the election calendar.
Counties are estimated to incur up to $2.5 million in additional costs during 2026-27 and up to about $1.2 million in future years, with the state reimbursing roughly 45% of county costs. Those expenses include additional election staffing, notifying voters about identification problems, updating ballot materials and modifying election systems.
Arguments for and against
Supporters argue that requiring another form of verification would strengthen mail-ballot security and increase confidence that ballots were submitted by eligible voters. They contend that government-issued identification numbers provide a more consistent verification method while still allowing voters to use mail ballots.
Opponents argue that the additional requirement is unnecessary and could result in eligible voters’ ballots not being counted because of mistakes or identification problems. They also raise privacy concerns about placing identifying information on ballot envelopes and argue that Colorado’s existing signature-verification system already provides an effective safeguard.
What does this mean for Johnstown?
The requirement would apply statewide to Johnstown residents who vote by mail in federal and statewide elections.
Because Johnstown spans Weld and Larimer counties, the applicable county election office would be responsible for carrying out the new verification process. The measure does not establish any separate requirements specifically for Johnstown.
Official information
The complete ballot analysis, fiscal-impact information and text of Amendment 84 are available through the Colorado General Assembly’s official Amendment 84 page.