Election Day is right around the corner. Here’s what thousands of Coloradans tell us is what matters most to them.

Throughout the high-risk, high-anxiety process 2024 electionColoradans who took our Voter Voices survey were consistent on their top concerns: Democracy and good government.

That’s the main takeaway from more than 7,200 people who weighed themselves at any time from early this spring to this week.

Other major issues? Economy, climate and environment, immigration and abortion.

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But dig into the details of who answered the survey and the top topics, and their rankings rise and fall based on age, gender and politics. The younger the voter, the more priority “social justice and equality” is. Women rank abortion much higher than men. Conservatives ranked immigration and personal freedom higher than liberals and moderates.

Still, “democracy and good government,” including upholding and protecting the rule of law and access to voting, finding the balance between national security and individual freedom, and halting the erosion of civility and compromise, dominated Voter Voices’ responses.

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“Without democracy we have no say, no civil rights, no human rights. Everything depends on Democracy, or nothing else will work,” wrote Grand Junction resident Maria Cuthbert, a Latina who describes herself as politically liberal.

Sean Pond, a registered Republican from Nucla, said democracy is moving away from the power of the people and toward the dictates of the government.

“I believe in the right of all Americans to choose,” Pond said in an interview. “I don’t think the federal government, the state government, should be telling people, whether they’re men or women, what they should do with their personal choices.”

Conservatives who took the Voter Voices survey were much more likely than liberals to say they had no confidence that national elections would be conducted fairly. But people across the political spectrum showed much greater faith in the reliability and security of Colorado’s election system.

The anxiety, disappointment and uncertainty reflected in the answers reflect the research findings. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll Three-quarters of those surveyed said democracy was under threat. And just like this poll, the how and why of this threat is shaped by political affiliation.

Voter Voices It was an effort led by the Colorado News Collaborative and Colorado Public Radio. More than 60 Colorado newsrooms participated and asked voters in their communities what they want candidates to talk about when competing for their votes. Thousands of community responses were used by local newsrooms to inform election stories, voter guides, candidate forums and polls in Colorado.

The survey was not a scientific survey, and its overall rankings of top voter issues reflect a bias toward older, white women among respondents. the same demographic group that is generally more likely to vote. The responses also skew to the left; This is a reflection of the blue Front District, where most Coloradans live.

But the survey also received hundreds of responses from rural voters, conservative voters, young voters and people who identify as Latino, Black, Asian, Native or of another ethnicity; together these accounted for more than a quarter of all responses. They are people whose experiences on important issues such as the cost of living, immigration, or the environment influence their priorities in ways that differ from those of the larger response pool.

“What do you want candidates to focus on when competing for your vote?” Review the written answers to the question. and a more nuanced picture emerges of how Coloradans view the risks of this election. So are the places where conservatives, liberals, and moderates have some agreement: a desire, or a clear demand, for elected officials to escape the clutches of hyperpartisanship and work together with civility and common sense.

As one woman from Rio Grande County put it: “Republicans are not always right, and not all Democrats are always right. There needs to be balance somewhere in the middle.”

Here are other issues Voter Voice respondents said they want candidates to focus on.

“The facts about the economy and how it affects ordinary people every day are important,” said a moderate woman from Arapahoe County. “As someone who once thought I would be middle class and it would be easy, I no longer believe that is possible.”

“To address how they view the Constitution as guiding their role in governing,” one Wiggins conservative wrote. “I would also like them to announce their plans to take control of the bureaucracy and give the power to make laws to the legislature rather than unelected bureaucrats.”

A man who described himself as a liberal from Brighton said he wanted to “listen to debates on (candidate) policies on the economy, immigration and the Israeli conflict. He not only rambles on vaguely, as politicians often tend to do, but also tells people his plans for development It gives you an idea of ​​what it will look like at this stage.

“If we don’t have democracy, no issue will matter,” said a moderate from Longmont. “As a black man with a biracial son and daughter, I worry that their rights are being violated, not to mention my own.”

“Tax reform!” Craig, a self-described liberal, wrote: “I am low-income and live in a camper trailer because I can’t afford the rental prices or the cost of buying a place. “I would like to see the rich pay their fair share instead of taking all these tax benefits/cuts.”

“How are they going to work with Congress to lower costs for Americans while also strengthening our borders and helping our allies in a way that is efficient for everyone,” said a young conservative voter from Jefferson County.

“To me, a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions is the most important right to protect,” wrote a liberal woman in Denver. “I feel lucky to live in a state that accepts this, but I think the Dobbs decision has distanced me from being a full citizen of our country. “This will be the most important problem as long as no woman in the country can benefit from vital health services.”

A woman in Silverthorne wrote: “Although people may not see it this way, the health of planet Earth is the most important issue today. “If we do not have a planet capable of feeding 9 billion people, all other social, economic and political issues will come into discussion.”

“I think the biggest issue affecting Colorado is water,” said a liberal woman in Aurora. “I also think we are creating our own housing problems by allowing developers to build high-end units and not ensuring that housing development is appropriate to the income levels of those living in the community.”

Water was also a top priority for the Sterling conservationist, who emphasized its role in “protecting our agriculture, which is vital to the Eastern Plains and Western Slope.”

“I believe America’s role in the world is a critical issue that the government must address in the coming years,” said one Littleton moderate. “Global poverty has been swept under the carpet for too long, and it will take mass awareness and mobilization movements to truly make an impact.”

“I want to know how they plan to stop mass immigration on both the southern and northern borders,” wrote a conservative man in Grand Junction. “I would also like to know how they plan to reduce deficit spending and work toward balancing the budget.”

An elderly woman from Lafayette wrote that immigration is a concern, but the solution, she says, lies in fixing the legal immigration system. “Our family went through this in California in the 50s. “We were Canadians and I think the system is now very broken and not fair to those who want to be legal.”

“Given two assassination attempts on a GOP candidate and 394 mass shootings in 2024, why are candidates opposing modernizing gun background checks through an upgrade to a computer system, licensing and required training, and red flag enforcement?” a woman in Denver asked.

“Respect the individual’s right to decide what is best for them. Our nation is polarized because we judge other people’s choices (abortion, gun ownership, religious beliefs, etc.),” said a Lone Tree moderate.

And speaking on behalf of many participants, he added: “There is a lack of common sense to the detriment of our future.”

Find out where your game makes the most impact democracy and good government, economy and cost of living, housing, environment and climate, migration And abortion by following the links. Our voter guide is also ready to help.

Tina Griego is managing editor of the Colorado News Collaborative. Colorado Public Radio’s public affairs editor Megan Verlee contributed to this story. You can learn more about the Voter Voice project Here.