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Denver’s homeless people offered voting resources as election season heats up

Denver offered the city’s homeless population voting resources in the weeks leading up to Super Tuesday, according to election officials.

The Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Office said it offered election information, setting up a resource table during this week’s “Mutual Aid Monday” homeless resource drive outside of the city building.

As homeless people stocked up on food and resources, the clerk’s office provided election information, candidate profiles and offered to escort them to the Wellington Webb building to submit ballots.

“We need to meet them where they’re at instead of just expecting them to come to us like a voter who is housed,” said Calvin Knutzen, a community engagement specialist with the clerk’s office.

Knutzen said voter registration is “optional” and “open” to homeless people wishing to submit a ballot.

“They’ve got a lot bigger and more important things throughout their day,” Knutzen said. “It’s really when they see us here that it kind of clicks on their mind, ‘Oh, I should probably do this.’”

Amy Beck, an advocate, said interest in the elections will likely grow as the general election approaches.

“I think there’ll be more interest in November. I just don’t see (homeless) voting right now as a high priority,” Beck said. 

Kelsand Virya, a Buddhist nun who founded Mutual Aid Monday, said there are homeless people who want to vote but they sometimes “just don’t know how easy it is.”

“I think they do want to be part of the election,” Virya added. “They want their voice to be heard. They want to vote.”

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