Denver’s historic role in this year’s Democratic National Convention will be just a memory Sunday when rival CU and CSU footballers strap on their pads and step onto Invesco Field for the 80th annual Rocky Mountain Showdown.

But the political air that’s invigorated the city all week won’t be entirely deflated: The University of Colorado and Colorado State University student governments are competing before the game to register the most voters.

CU volunteers plan to race from tailgate to tailgate in Denver’s Mile High parking lot before the 5:30 p.m. kickoff to sign up students who aren’t legal to vote here. CSU volunteers will be doing the same — passing over black and gold tents and stopping at green and gold tailgates in their pursuit to win the inaugural registration competition.

“It’s such a big election, so it’s important to get as many people registered as possible,” said Ryan Biehle, one of three heads of CU’s student government.

Both sides must stop registering at 5 p.m. so officials with the Boulder and Larimer county clerk’s offices can tally the number of “gets,” Biehle said. At half time, he said, someone from the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office will declare the registration victor.

Biehle said this year’s contest could become an annual challenge done in concert with the showdown: “Hopefully we’re starting a new tradition.”

Volunteers, who plan to begin collection efforts about 1 p.m. Sunday, could face some challenges outside Invesco Field at Mile High. In a sea of tailgates, the clipboard-toting registration gurus must find students who aren’t registered — and also aren’t inebriated.

“It’s illegal to register a voter who’s intoxicated,” said Taylor Smoot, CSU student body president. “We’ll have some literature telling people they can’t register people to vote if they are drunk.”

Students also must have an ID to register, and student leaders are reminding their peers — especially freshmen — that even if they’re registered in another state, they must be registered in Colorado if they want to vote here this fall.

“This is a friendly competition because we think it’s important, as a state, to make sure that our voices are heard,” Smoot said.

Beyond this weekend, student governments at both universities have big plans for campus registration this fall.

CU’s goal is to register 5,000 students by Oct. 6, and CSU is aiming to sign up 10,000 voters.

“We shoot high,” Smoot said. “It’s a national record, so we thought we’d shoot for it. But if we get 10,000 voters, that would be remarkable.”