<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <style> input ~ label {color: red} input[checked]:checked:default ~ label {color: red} input:not(:default):not(:checked):not([checked]) ~ label {color:green} </style> </head> <body onload='document.getElementById("one").removeAttribute("checked");'> <form> <input type="checkbox" name="group1" id="one" value="1" checked/> <label for="one">Should be no red</label><br> <input type="checkbox" name="group1" id="two" value="2"/> <label for="two">Should be no red</label> </form> </body> </html>