Colorado Links Voter Registration to Organ Donor Signup

Here's a policy idea that immediately got my attention: Colorado decided to link organ donor registration directly to voter registration. When residents register to vote or update their voter registration, they encounter a prompt asking whether they'd like to join the state's organ donor registry. It's a simple nudge — and it works. This is exactly the kind of systems thinking I love: don't ask people to go out of their way, meet them where they already are.

How It Works

The system integrates organ donor registration into the existing voter registration process, both online and at physical registration sites. Residents are presented with a clear yes/no question about organ donation alongside their voter registration form. The process is entirely voluntary — no one is automatically registered as a donor — but the prompt ensures that every eligible adult encounters the question at a natural decision-making moment.

"By meeting people where they already are — at the point of civic engagement — we can dramatically increase the number of registered organ donors." — Donate Life Colorado

Results

Colorado's approach has yielded impressive results. The state consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for organ donor registration rates, with over 65% of eligible adults registered. The voter registration linkage is credited as a significant driver of these numbers, particularly among younger adults who are registering to vote for the first time. That last point matters a lot to me — young people aren't apolitical, and when you give them the chance to act on their values at the moment of civic engagement, they do.

The Power of Nudges

Colorado's success illustrates a key principle from behavioral economics: the way choices are presented matters enormously. By embedding the organ donation question into an existing process that millions of people complete every year, Colorado removed the friction of separate registration. People didn't need to seek out the donor registry — it came to them.

"Most people support organ donation, but many never get around to registering. Removing that friction is the key." — Behavioral economics research on organ donation

Relevance for YCOD

Here's what excites me most: Colorado's model works within an opt-in framework — and it still achieves excellent results. Now imagine what an opt-out system could accomplish with similar nudges built on top of it. We at YCOD advocate for opt-out legislation like Bill A07954 as the ultimate structural change — changing the default saves lives — but we also push for practical measures like Colorado's voter registration linkage that can save lives right now. I've personally urged New York legislators to adopt similar measures even before opt-out legislation passes. We can't afford to wait when 17 people die every day.