A week before the 2026 midterm elections, the League of Women Voters of Estes Park invites all Estes Valley youth from kindergarten through 12th grade to participate in its Junior Election. This initiative provides an opportunity for students to practice voting, learn about candidates and ballot issues, and develop essential skills they will need as future voters. The program's central goal is to help young people become informed, confident participants in the democratic process long before they reach the age of 18.
Now in its 10th year, the Junior Election was developed in 2016 by Estes Park resident Judi Smith and her late husband, Kent Smith. Their vision was to introduce young individuals to the electoral process and foster lifelong civic engagement. The program is inclusive, open to every school-age resident of the Estes Valley, regardless of their educational setting. This encompasses students enrolled in the Estes Park School District, the Estes Park Options Program, down-valley public and charter schools, online schools, and home-based education programs.
Students will have multiple avenues to cast their ballots. Estes Park Middle School students will vote during their social studies classes, with teachers integrating the voting experience into classroom instruction. At Estes Park High School, ballots and a designated ballot box will be accessible in the main office. For students who do not vote at school, participation is available at one of three community locations.
The Junior Election utilizes age-appropriate ballots designed to gradually introduce students to the complexities of voting. Primary elementary students will focus on major candidates. Upper elementary students will also consider the Estes Valley Fire Protection District’s ballot question, which seeks voter approval for a 0.5-percent sales tax. Middle school students will receive a ballot that includes an additional question regarding redistricting. Ninth graders have the flexibility to choose either the middle school or high school ballot. High school students are encouraged to engage with the entire adult ballot, encompassing candidates and ballot questions directly affecting Larimer County and Estes Park. Families wishing to broaden the discussion can also include ballot questions from Boulder County or the Regional Transportation District.
The League of Women Voters encourages parents to take an active role in the Junior Election by discussing candidates, taxes, government spending, and the potential consequences of various ballot decisions with their children. This year's ballot offers numerous opportunities for such conversations. Some measures propose amendments to the Colorado Constitution, making them difficult to reverse without another statewide vote. Others suggest new programs or services without identified dedicated funding, potentially requiring lawmakers to reallocate funds from existing programs. Still others ask voters to approve additional taxes to support public services grappling with rising costs. Understanding these distinctions can be challenging even for experienced voters. While schools and teachers are expected to present election information in a nonpartisan manner, parents can share their perspectives, explain their support or opposition to specific measures, and encourage their children to ask questions and form their own conclusions. The League views these family discussions as a critical component of civic education, transforming what once occurred during a trip to a polling place into a "kitchen table" discussion.
Beyond a single voting event, the Junior Election aims to be a multi-faceted exercise. By marking a ballot, students can learn the mechanics of elections, consider competing viewpoints, and recognize the impact of voters’ decisions on their schools, neighborhoods, and communities. After the election, students can compare their choices with the official results and reflect on why voters might have reached different conclusions. For Judi Smith, the program embodies her lifelong belief that civic participation begins well before an individual is eligible to vote. Through consistent participation in elections throughout their school years, the League hopes young people will cultivate the knowledge, habits, and confidence necessary to become engaged voters as adults.
