Case Study  

Jail-Based Voting in Denver: A Case Study

In this latest report on providing access to registration and voting for the hundreds of thousands of Americans being held in jails without having been convicted, Tova Wang looks at how Denver – and the State of Colorado – have become a model for the nation.

Man in green jumpsuit puts ballot in box in Denver jail
Credit: Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline

Hundreds of thousands of people are held in jail for pre-trial detention and misdemeanors who have full voting rights. Yet they are often denied actual access to registration or the ballot or don’t know they have the right to vote. As this brief explains, Denver is a model for the country on how to ensure voting rights for all its citizens, including those in jail who have not been convicted of a felony crime. This is the fourth in a series on providing an in-person voting experience for Americans in jails.

Learn More on Voting in Jails

Laws That Govern Jail-Based Voting: A 50-State Legal Review

Additional Resource

Laws That Govern Jail-Based Voting: A 50-State Legal Review

As part of the Ash Center’s ongoing work examining the legal, political, and policy implications of advancing jail-based voting, Aaron Rosewood and Tova Wang examine the statutory basis for jail voting in each state.

Related Resources

Terms of Engagement – Matthew Baum on What Voters Fear, What They Don’t Know and Where They Look
Terms of Engagement main graphic with picture of Matthew Baum.

Podcast

Terms of Engagement – Matthew Baum on What Voters Fear, What They Don’t Know and Where They Look

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, new research raises an urgent question: are Americans operating within fundamentally different information realities? In this episode, Professor Matthew Baum examines what voters know about election rules, where they get their information, and how partisan divides shape perceptions of the voting process.

In Appearance Before Congress, Stephen Richer Testifies at House Hearing on Alleged Noncitizen Voting in New Jersey
Stephen Richer testifying before Congress.

Feature

In Appearance Before Congress, Stephen Richer Testifies at House Hearing on Alleged Noncitizen Voting in New Jersey

On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing featuring testimony from Stephen Richer, a former Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder, election administration expert and Ash Senior Fellow.

The hearing examined allegations that approximately 6,600 noncitizens were improperly registered to vote in New Jersey between June 2023 and June 2024.

 

More on this Issue

In Appearance Before Congress, Stephen Richer Testifies at House Hearing on Alleged Noncitizen Voting in New Jersey
Stephen Richer testifying before Congress.

Feature

In Appearance Before Congress, Stephen Richer Testifies at House Hearing on Alleged Noncitizen Voting in New Jersey

On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing featuring testimony from Stephen Richer, a former Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder, election administration expert and Ash Senior Fellow.

The hearing examined allegations that approximately 6,600 noncitizens were improperly registered to vote in New Jersey between June 2023 and June 2024.