Denver Opened East Colfax Ballot Drop Box

The new 24-hour ballot location honors community member Ma Kaing.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a metal ballot drop box on a concrete surface, representing civic infrastructure and voting accessibility. — Denver election officials have opened a new 24-hour ballot drop box at Colfax Avenue and Valentia Street, dedicated in memory of local resident Ma Kaing. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Denver election officials have launched a new ballot drop box in the East Colfax neighborhood. The site, located at Colfax Avenue and Valentia Street, was officially dedicated to the memory of local restaurant owner Ma Kaing.

Why it matters

The installation aims to improve voting accessibility in an underserved part of the city. By expanding infrastructure, officials are working to ensure residents have convenient and secure options for casting their ballots.

The new ballot drop box is accessible 24 hours a day and is monitored by surveillance cameras. Bipartisan teams of election workers retrieve ballots from the site multiple times daily.

The players

Ma Kaing

She was a local business owner who operated the Taw Win restaurant and was known for her contributions to the East Colfax community.

The details

The drop box honors Ma Kaing, a beloved community member and owner of the Taw Win restaurant who died in 2022 after being struck by a stray bullet. Her legacy of neighborhood improvement served as the inspiration for the site, which joins other citywide boxes that opened to facilitate the current election cycle.

Ma Kaing was killed by a stray bullet in 2022.
Colorado began mailing ballots to residents in early October 2026.
All Denver ballot drop boxes opened for use on October 5, 2026.
The East Colfax ballot box dedication ceremony occurred on October 5, 2026.

Political Context

The opening of this location follows the legal standards established by the Voting Rights Act. Critics often argue that expanding drop boxes can create security challenges, while proponents maintain they are essential for equitable participation.

Residents in the East Colfax neighborhood now have an additional secure, 24-hour location to deposit their mail-in ballots. This addition reduces travel time for voters in the area and provides a secure alternative to postal mail or polling places.

The takeaway

Reliable access to local drop boxes remains a critical component of the modern voting process. Voters are encouraged to check their ballot envelopes for specific instructions on how to use these secure drop sites.