Voter Voices 2024
- (Photo by InkkStudios for Getty Images Signature via Canva Pro)
About the Project
Voter Voices 2024 is an unprecedented effort led by COLab to organize Colorado newsrooms around election coverage that listens and responds to what Coloradans say matters to them most.
And then to hold candidates accountable for responding to those concerns.
In early April, more than 30 news organizations — representing dozens of newsrooms — took the first step in that listening by launching a shared survey rooted in a single, powerful question: What do you want candidates to talk about as they compete for your vote?
The question is the centerpiece of the Citizens Agenda, a model of reporting that makes voters the center of election coverage.
Colorado newsrooms — tiny, small and larger, print, digital and radio, serving both broad audiences and specific communities, rural, urban and suburban — are putting the survey on their websites, in their papers, in newsletters and on social media. They are using their airwaves, sending reporters out to talk to voters and would-be voters, attending and organizing community events, and parking in coffee shops, outside libraries and anywhere else they can find people in an all-out effort to better hear from all parts of the communities they serve.
Have you added your voice?
Take the survey now.A special thank you to Colorado Public Radio, our key partner in this effort. Their experience in surveying voters, their willingness to share the tools to make this survey possible, not only helped us launch this effort, but also helped set the tone of cooperation among newsrooms that have traditionally competed with one another.
The survey is a tool, a start. Voter Voices is an experiment in collaboration, coordination and coverage, but one well worth trying. We are excited to see it unfold over these next months.
The excitement is catching. Keep scrolling down this page and you’ll find how our Voter Voices partner newsrooms are announcing their participation, plus local and national coverage about the effort.
Join us. If you can vote in Colorado, take the survey. If you’re a newsroom wishing to sign up or a community organization who wants to share with members, just reach out to COLab Managing Editor Tina Griego at Tina [at] COLabNews [dot] co.
Where To Find Top Issues on Your Ballot
How Your Vote Could Affect Democracy and Good Government
How Your Vote Could Affect Housing Policy
How Your Vote Could Affect Climate Change Policy
Where To Find Abortion on Your Ballot
Care About the Cost of Living? Here’s Where You’ll Find It on Your Ballot.
How Your Vote Could Affect Immigration Policy
Voter Guides
More than 7,000 Coloradans used the Voter Voices survey to tell their local newsrooms what they wanted candidates to focus on this election season. Survey respondents’ priorities and questions for candidates resulted in more informed candidate questionnaires and voter guides. Here is a sampling:
- The Colorado Voter’s Guide to the 2024 Election from Colorado Public Radio
- Colorado election 2024: Go deep on coverage from Colorado Newsline
- Colorado Voter Guide: What you need to know to vote in the Nov. 5 general election from The Colorado Sun
- Colorado voter guide: Stories, explainers and endorsements for the 2024 election from The Denver Post
- Election 2024 from Colorado Community Media
- 2024 General Election Voter Guide from KUNC
The Stories
Election Day Is Right Around the Corner. Here’s What Thousands of Coloradans Told Us Matters to Them Most.
Coloradans From Every Political Party, Age Group and Region Want Politicians To Do Something About the Cost of Living
We Are Asking Coloradans What They Want Candidates To Focus on This Election. Thousands Have Answered.
Coloradans Want Their Candidates Focused on Good Government and Democracy. But That Can Mean a Lot of Things.
We Asked, ‘What Matters to You in This Election?’ Here’s a Bit of What We’ve Heard So Far
Voter Voices in Action
Colorado’s Election Is Approaching Fast. Here’s How We’re Covering It — and It’s Not Too Late To Weigh In
El equipo de Noticias Univision Colorado quiere conocer qué temas inquietan a nuestra comunidad para las próximas elecciones del 2024.
Here’s What Our Readers Told Us They Want From Politicians
How Our Newsroom Will Use Voter Voices Results
Commentary: Candidates Are Almost Completely Neglecting a Top Issue for Colorado Voters
Voter Guide 2024: Democratic State House Primary Races Q&A
Voter Guide 2024: Republican State House Primary Races Q&A
Voter Guide 2024: State Senate Primary Races Q&A
West End Readers Make Voices Heard in Election Survey
Where Republican Candidates in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District Stand on Big Issues
Find Your Participating Newsroom Here
Click on Your Local Newsroom To Go to Its Survey | Coverage Area | Plans to Promote and Publicize |
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Alamosa; Conejos; Costilla; Mineral; Rio Grande; Saguache counties: San Luis Valley | Website; Newsletter(s); Social media; Community event(s) | |
Chaffee; Fremont; Lake; Park and Saguache counties | Website | |
Jefferson County/Arvada | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Denver County | Website; Newsletter(s); Community event(s); On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Adams County/Brighton | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Denver County/North Park Hill; Five Points; Park Hill; Whittier; Sloan's Lake; Highlands; Elyria; Swansea; Berkeley; Sunnyside; Globeville | Newsletter(s); Social media | |
Jefferson County/Evergreen; Conifer; Bailey and Pine | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Douglas County/Castle Pines | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Douglas County/Castle Rock | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Arapahoe County/Centennial | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Statewide | Website; Newsletter(s); Social media | |
Clear Creek County/Idaho Springs; Georgetown; Floyd Hill and the I-70 corridor | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Statewide | Website; Newsletter(s); Social media | |
Statewide | Website; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Statewide | On Air; Newsletter(s); Social Media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Statewide | Website; Newsletter(s); Community event(s); On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Adams County/Commerce City | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Denver County | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Denver County/North Denver | Website; Print; Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Statewide | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Adams; Arapahoe; and Denver counties | Website; Print; On air; Newsletter(s); Social media; Community event(s); On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Douglas County | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
La Plata County/Durango | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media | |
Statewide | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; Community event(s) | |
Elbert County/Elizabeth; Kiowa | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Arapahoe County/Englewood | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Statewide | On air | |
Fremont County/Florence | Website; Print; Community event(s) | |
Larimer County/Fort Collins | Website; Print | |
Fort Collins Public Media (FCPM) | Larimer and Weld counties/Northern Colorado | Starting after primary |
Weld County/Fort Lupton; South Weld County | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Morgan County/Fort Morgan | Website | |
Denver County/Globeville; Elyeria and Swansea neighborhoods and the RiNo Art District | Website; Print; Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Jefferson County/Golden | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel) | Mesa County/Grand Junction | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; podcast promotion; interviews |
Lake County/Leadville | Starting after primary | |
Douglas County/Highlands Ranch | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Jefferson County/Lakewood; Wheat Ridge; Edgewater | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Logan County/Sterling | Website | |
Eagle; Garfield; Lake and Pitkin counties/Roaring Fork Valley | On air | |
Baca; Bent; Cheyenne; Crowley; Kiowa; Kit Carson; Otero and Prowers counties | Website; Print | |
Moffat County | Website; On air; Social media | |
El Paso County | On air; Newsletter(s); Social Media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Weld County | Website; On air; Newsletter(s); Social media; Community event(s) | |
Adams County/Commerce City | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Pueblo County | Website | |
Routt County/Steamboat Springs | Website; On air; Social media | |
Lincoln County/Limon | Website; Print; Social media | |
Denver County/Capitol Hill; Cheesman Park; Congress Park; Alamo Placita; City Park South and Cherry Creek North | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Arapahoe County/Littleton | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Douglas County/Lone Tree | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Denver County | ||
Montrose County | Website; Newsletter(s); Social media; Community event(s) | |
Boulder; Clear Creek; Gilpin and Lakewood counties/Peak-to-Peak region covering Western Boulder County; Western Jefferson county; Gilpin county and Northern clear Creek County | Website; Print; Social media; Community event(s); podcast | |
Larimer County | Website; Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Adams County/Northglenn and Thornton | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Douglas County/Parker | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
El Paso County: Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City and Ute Pass | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; Community event(s); On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Pueblo County | Website; Print; On air; Social media | |
Boulder; Chaffee; Custer; Delta; Denver; Eagle; Garfield; Grand; Gunnison; Lake; La Plata; Larimer; Mesa; Montezuma; Pitkin; San Miguel and Weld counties | Website; On air; Newsletter(s); Social media | |
Statewide | Website; Newsletter(s) | |
Montrose County/Nucla; Naturia; Norwood an Surrounding Areas | Print; Social media | |
Montrose County/Nucla; Naturia; Norwood and Surrounding Areas | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; Community event(s); On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Grand County | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media | |
Eagle; Garfield; Gunnison and Pitkin counties/Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys | Website; Print; On air; Newsletter(s); Social media | |
Eagle; Garfield; Gunnison and Pitkin counties/Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys | Website; Print; On air; Newsletter(s); Social media | |
Routt County | Website; On air; Social media | |
Summit County | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media | |
Denver County/Capitol Hill; Cheesman Park; Congress Park; Alamo Placita; City Park South and Cherry Creek North | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters | |
Adams County/Westminster | Website; Print; Newsletter(s); Social media; On-the-ground collection by reporters |
Click on Your Local Newsroom To Go to Its Survey |
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Fort Collins Public Media (FCPM) |
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel) |
More About the Project
What Voters Are Telling Their Local Newsrooms
What Are Colorado Voters Worried About?
The Daily Rewind Podast: “Vox Populi”
An Unprecedented Experiment in Election Coverage
Making Sure Voter Voices are Heard
Traditionally, news outlets have covered elections from the top down. That is, there are often lots and lots of stories about the men and women running for office — their promises, personas, foibles and gaffes. And that means there’s a lot less on the real engine running beneath each election — you...
We at Colorado Newsline committed to provide better election coverage. We told readers in October that “we’re demoting the horse race and elevating constituent interests.” In other words, we want to focus less on polls, dollars and endorsements and more on families, individuals and every resident who is affected by the outcome of elections.
El Comercio de Colorado se enorgullece de anunciar su asociación con Colab y CPR en el proyecto Voter Voices 2024. Este esfuerzo tiene como objetivo principal escuchar las preocupaciones y prioridades de los votantes de Colorado en el ciclo electoral actual, para informar y escribir historias más receptivas...
This election year is going to be different. Sure, there are a host of candidates, races and issues that are already heating up interest among Sentinel readers. But how, and what election news the Sentinel brings you, and tens of thousands of readers across the region, will be different this year. We’re making you, and all our readers, virtual Election Desk Editors...
Earlier this year, Ark Valley Voice made a commitment to our readers for what we called “engaged elections”. Our coverage of this year’s elections would be grounded in what voters want candidates to discuss as they compete for votes. Not what the candidates want to talk about. We said we would be asking what issues matter most...
As previously announced, creating a more participatory democracy will remain a top priority for The Florence Reporter. By creating opportunities for our readers to engage with diverse perspectives through interactive forums, opinion pieces, and community discussions, we can create a space for respectful dialogue. This will foster...
A movement has been under way for some time now, one rooted in what can be a hard truth for some news organizations: Traditional election coverage hasn’t been serving communities well. It’s been too driven by the horse race, by polls and pundits, by the competition to be first and by listening too much to candidates and not enough...
The Durango Herald is partnering with multiple news outlets across the state to understand what is driving Coloradans this election year. Voters are at the heart of every election. We want to know what issues most matter to you. Your hopes and concerns will set the agenda for...
The Denver Post is joining newsrooms across the state to seek voter input to guide our reporting. A movement has been under way for some time now, one rooted in what can be a hard truth for some news organizations: Traditional election coverage hasn’t been serving communities ...
Every election impacts everyone in some small or large way. That is why voters are at the heart of every election. Now, we want to know what issues are most important to you. The Daily Sentinel has an online survey on our homepage at www.gjsentinel.com where we are asking our readers what are those most important issues...
The Pueblo Star Journal is partnering with multiple news outlets across the state to understand what is driving Coloradans this election year. Fill out this survey and help inform our coverage! What issues do you care about most as we head into the 2024 election? Let us know by filling out a brief survey. Voters are at the heart...
The Coloradoan is collaborating with other newsrooms across the state for the Voter Voices 2024 survey as we all seek to listen to what matters to voters this election cycle. Want to participate? Click the hyperlinked text in the online version of this story or scan the included QR code to take the survey.
Voters are at the heart of every election. We want to know what issues most matter to you. Your hopes and concerns will set the agenda for how we report and write about the issues — and the stakes — of the 2024 election. Please take a few moments to tell us what you think candidates should be talking about...
Los votantes son el corazón de cada elección. Queremos saber qué temas son más importantes para ti. Tus esperanzas e inquietudes marcarán la agenda sobre cómo informamos y escribimos sobre los temas, y las implicaciones, de las elecciones de 2024. Por favor, tómate unos momentos para...
What you have to say matters... Our ultimate goal is to make election coverage more meaningful, more relevant and more personal for everyone in Colorado — and we hope you’ll help us do it.Fill out this survey and help inform our coverage!
Rocky Mountain PBS is partnering with multiple news outlets across the state to understand what is driving Coloradans this election year.
Fill out this survey and help inform our coverage!
The 2024 election holds huge stakes for Colorado — and for you. Why it matters: We want to know what issues matter most in your mind. State of play: Axios Denver is joining the Colorado News Collaborative, a consortium of media organizations, in a listening project that will help guide our coverage of...
Voters are at the heart of every election. We want to know what issues most matter to you. Your hopes and concerns will set the agenda for how we report and write about the issues of the 2024 election. Please take a few moments to tell us what you think...
We are asking residents in Northwest Colorado what their priorities are in this election cycle. The 2024 Voter Voices survey is short and built around the question, “What do you want candidates to talk about as they compete for your votes?” What are your top three concerns? How do you feel about the election process?
... Traditional election coverage doesn’t serve communities well. ... This has made many voters disillusioned. At Bucket List Community Cafe we want to change that. We want everyone to vote, be engaged and trust the process—especially those who are Gen Z. That’s why Bucket List Community Cafe is joining...
A movement has been under way for some time now, one rooted in what can be a hard truth for some news organizations: Traditional election coverage hasn’t been serving communities well. It’s been too driven by the horse race, by polls and pundits, by the competition to be first and by...
Voters are at the heart of every election. We want to know what issues most matter to you. Your hopes and concerns will set the agenda for how we report and write about the issues — and the stakes — of the 2024 election. Please take a few moments to tell us what you think candidates should be talking about...
Voter Voices 2024 asks Colorado voters what their priorities are in this election cycle so that we can report and write more responsive, representative and fair stories. We want to capture not simply the odds, but the stakes. The heart of Voter Voices is a short survey...
A movement has been under way for some time now, one rooted in what can be a hard truth for some news organizations: Traditional election coverage hasn’t been serving communities well. It’s been too driven by the horse race, by polls and pundits, by the competition to be first and by...
Maestros y padres: ¿Creen que los candidatos presidenciales de 2024 deberían hablar acerca de educación y priorizar el tema? ¿Qué temas te preocupan más? Cuéntanos en una nueva encuesta estatal. La encuesta, llamada Voter Voices, es parte de un esfuerzo...
Voter Voices in the National Spotlight
The collaboration announced today in Colorado is without precedent in the history of the citizens agenda approach to campaign coverage, which goes back to 1990-92. https://t.co/fON4XzUToN
— Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) April 2, 2024
News in Focus
Headlines, resources and events aligned with API's four areas of focus
Civil Discourse & Democracy
+ Colorado newsrooms collaborate on Voter Voices project (Colorado Public Radio)
The project, which includes newsrooms across the state, is aimed at learning what voters want candidates to focus on, the issues people care about and how much they trust the system. Many of the participants have long been competitors, notes CPR editor Megan Verlee, but she says it’s important that citizens, not politicians, drive coverage decisions.
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