Voting in November
Colorado’s general election will be held on November 8, 2022. This general election includes all of Colorado's executive officers, as well as all of Colorado's seats in the US House of Representatives, and Colorado's U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Michael Bennet. Additionally, there are several ballot issues that will impact Colorado’s kids. Lincoln’s PTSA has compiled a few resources to learn about these ballot initiatives and races. Please note, any opinions shared are individual and do not reflect the opinion of Lincoln Elementary or the Lincoln PTSA as a whole. We hope you talk with your kids about voting and see you at the polls this November!
Register to Vote: Register online here or complete a paper form here. You can register to vote in Colorado up until 7 p.m. on Election Day and still cast a ballot. You can check to see if you are registered here.
Important Dates:
Oct. 17 - first day that ballots may be mailed to voters
Oct. 24 - Nov. 8 - drop boxes are open to accept ballots
Oct. 24 - in-person voting starts at county Vote Centers
Oct. 31 - last day to submit an application to register to vote through the mail or online to receive a mail ballot.
Nov. 8 — Election Day - All ballots must be turned in by 7 p.m. in order to be counted.
Talking to Kids About Voting: (from PBS SoCal) Voting is part of being a good citizen, and now is a perfect time to talk to kids about elections and the democratic process! Here’s how:
Show and tell. Lawn signs, bumper stickers, mailers, ballots and billboards are all signs of the election season. Use them as a starting point to discuss elections happening this year.
Explain voting — and hold a family “election.” Voting is a way for a group of people to decide something. To illustrate the point, hold your own election in your family: Should you have chicken or tofu for dinner? Encourage respectful debate about the pros and cons of each. Have each person cast a secret ballot — majority rules!
Discuss electing leaders, and what that means to you. Elections are a way to choose people to serve in government. The people we elect to serve in government make rules and decide how to spend money we all pay in taxes. We vote for people who we believe would be good at making rules and decisions. Talk with your children about who you support and why.
Talk about rights and responsibilities. Every vote counts! As a good citizen, voting is a way to make your opinion heard and change things that may need changing. It is both a right for people over the age of 18 and a responsibility. Your voice matters!
Discuss a kid-friendly issue. The people that we support as voters are those who support issues we care about. Are you concerned about the environment, education or another issue? Talk with your child about an issue that you can impact by voting.
There are also many great children’s books on voting that you can check out. Here are a few: Come with Me, The Little Book of Little Activists, A is for Activist, What Can a Citizen Do?
Proposition FF: Healthy School Meals for All : Colorado has the option to permanently fund a comprehensive school meal program by leveraging additional federal dollars and limiting state income tax deductions for households with more than $300,000 a year in adjusted gross income. Fully reimburse school districts for offering free breakfast and lunches to all students. Highlights and concerns include:
Provide significant resources to school districts to purchase culturally-relevant, nutritious, fresh food from Colorado farmers and ranchers.
Equalizing and normalizing food access for all students.
Boost the pay of staff who prepare and serve the meals, which would assist with staffing shortages.
Provide districts with the equipment and training needed to make nutritious, from-scratch meals, with minimal reliance on processed foods.
There are questions regarding funding accuracy, both regarding number of individuals taxed and program costs. Leftover funding will go to the general fund, as any extra costs would come out of it.
For more: the Colorado Children’s Campaign, CPR Prop FF Explained, CPR , Chalkbeat. For more post-pandemic data on Colorado families and kids, check out the Colorado Kid’s Count
Proposition 121: Colorado state income tax cut: This ballot measure would reduce the state income tax rate. The permanent rate would be reduced from 4.55 percent of income to 4.40 percent of income. Over time, this has consequences for schools and public infrastructure. There is varied response across political parties.
For more: CPR Prop 121 Explained, Axios 1 minute guide
State School Board: What is the state school board, and what do they do? (from CPR) This nine-member board that sets education policy and supervises nearly 2,000 public schools in the state. It also supervises accreditation for teacher preparation programs at the state’s colleges and universities. The board sets academic and teacher standards, sets rules and regulations for the education laws state legislators pass, oversees yearly state tests, rates schools and districts on their performance, and oversees how teachers are evaluated and licensed. The board also hires the state’s education commissioner and makes sure state and federal education dollars are properly distributed to schools. The board has the power to direct local school districts after years of consecutive low performance and it can overturn individual district decisions on charter schools.
