Although many do not realize it, people experiencing homelessness are eligible to vote, especially in Colorado.
There are ways around not having an address. Some states like Colorado allow people experiencing homelessness to check a box on their voter registration application designating themselves as homeless. They give an address where mail can be picked up, such as St. Francis Day Shelter or Father Woody’s Haven of Hope.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness published an extensive toolkit that non-profits can use to engage their clients in voter registration drives. “The purpose of providing a place of residence is to ensure the person is registering to vote in the proper district and to assign the voter a polling place,” according to the toolkit. “A traditional dwelling or physical residence is not required, and one may list the place one considers their residence, or where they sleep at night, which can include a shelter, bench in the park, or even under a freeway.”