CU Boulder Librarians Distribute 400 Ballot Guides to Students

400 Blue Books Vanish from CU Boulder Library Shelves as Students Rush to Decode November Ballot

Four hundred. That is how many Colorado Blue Books—the state’s official voter guides—moved off the shelves of the University of Colorado Boulder’s University Libraries in the weeks ahead of the November election, CU Boulder University Libraries reported.

Students, particularly first-time voters and those whose mailed copies went to a different address, turned to librarians for help understanding the statewide ballot measures. Government Information Librarian Allan Van Hoye and his colleagues answered dozens of questions, steering students toward reliable research tools beyond the printed booklets.

The Blue Books, produced by the Colorado General Assembly’s Legislative Council, contain summaries and fiscal analyses of every statewide ballot measure. While the state mails them to registered voters, many students never receive a copy, leaving them to hunt for trustworthy information on their own.

15-ish minute guide to Boulder ballots

“Colorado has a strong tradition of allowing ballot issues to be initiated by the public. This makes being an informed voter even more important,” said Allan Van Hoye. “Blue Books are an easy way to begin learning about ballot issues.”

Students who had heard about the service from friends brought their own questions about specific measures and the voting process itself. The Libraries had ordered 400 copies, and all 400 were distributed.

“There is a lot of information about ballot measures,” Van Hoye said. “Librarians can help you navigate these sources and help you research issues that matter to you.”

With the election now upon voters, the demand for clear, nonpartisan explanations of the ballot has only intensified, and the library remains a resource for students seeking to research the issues before casting their votes.