Denver Installs New Ballot Box on Colfax Avenue

The citys 49th official ballot box is now open for residents outside The Rose on Colfax.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting a solitary ballot box on a concrete sidewalk, evoking civic infrastructure in Denver. — Denver officials opened a new ballot box at Colfax Avenue and Valentia Street, dedicating the site to late activist Ma Kaing. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Denver officials have opened a new ballot box at Colfax and Valentia to improve voting access for the local community. The site was dedicated to the late community activist Ma Kaing, who was killed by gunfire in July 2022.

Why it matters

The installation aims to bridge a geographic gap in polling infrastructure for an underserved neighborhood. By placing the box at this location, officials reduced the travel time for residents who previously had to go two miles to reach the nearest option.

This new unit is the 49th ballot box in Denver, bridging a two-mile gap to the nearest previous facility at the MLK Library in Aurora. The installation is the result of a two-year planning and development process.

The players

Ma Kaing

A community activist whose memory was honored through the dedication of the new ballot box.

The Rose on Colfax

The site in Denver chosen to host the new ballot box for local neighborhood access.

The details

The ballot box was officially opened following a community ribbon-cutting ceremony. The site at The Rose on Colfax was chosen specifically to serve residents who had been previously underserved by existing infrastructure.

July 2022: Ma Kaing was killed by gunfire.
October 26, 2026: Ballots were mailed to Denver voters.

Political Context

Some advocacy groups argue that the two-year timeline for this installation demonstrates bureaucratic inefficiencies in current election administration. Opponents of this specific placement have occasionally voiced concerns over the security and monitoring of external ballot drop-off sites in urban corridors.

Residents can now utilize the site at Colfax and Valentia to submit their ballots closer to home instead of traveling to the MLK Library in Aurora. This change reduces the commute for local voters and simplifies the process for participating in the ongoing election.

The takeaway

Expanding the number of drop-off points is a strategy used by municipalities to lower the barrier to entry for local voters. Residents are encouraged to verify the security and operating hours of their nearest box before traveling to submit their ballot.