By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
Ballots will begin hitting the mailstream today, June 3, in the state’s primary election, Secretary of State Jena Griswold has announced. Election Day is Tuesday, June 25.
“Ballots are arriving to your mailbox soon,” said Griswold, in a press release. “There is still time to register to vote if you have not already, and I encourage every eligible Coloradan to do so.”
Active voters must be mailed a ballot by Friday, June 7. The ballot will include party-related ballot items and a special election to select what has been termed a “placeholder” in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, completing the unexpired term of U.S. Rep. Ken Buck. In that election, there will be a choice of a Democrat, Republican and two minor-party candidates for the unexpired term.
While all voters will be eligible to participate in the 4th District special election, they will otherwise only be able to participate in their party of choice’s primary or select a primary as an unaffiliated voter. Minor party voters in the 4th District whose party is not holding a primary election will receive a ballot featuring only the special election.
Those Coloradans who are not yet registered to vote may do so in a couple of ways with various deadlines. Register at GoVoteColorado.gov through June 17, in order to receive a ballot by mail. Additionally, registration can be completed in person at a voting center until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Following is other information of importance for voters, provided by the Secretary of State:
- Voters in the 4th District will be provided with 15 days of “early voting”, beginning June 10. Counties with at least 10,000 registered 4th District voters are required to have twice the voting centers as typical by Election Day.
- Voters in the 4th District will be provided an instruction card in mail ballot packets to detail the special election.
- The Secretary of State’s office encourages voters to use ColoradoSOS.gov or GoVoteColorado.gov to access state resources. County clerks may be accessed through GoVoteColorado.gov.
- All registered voters may participate in BallotTrax, an online tracker of their ballot from the point it is sent to the county clerk to the point it is counted.
- Voters are encouraged to return a ballot by mail no later than June 17, ensuring it is counted by an election official by June 25. After June 17, voters should file ballots through a dropbox or at a voting center.
- Registered voters wishing to vote in-person may do so on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This year, 155 voting centers will be available for voters by June 17. Voters may contact their county election office for information on casting an early in-person ballot or to confirm the voting center location. Voters can look up their locations, opening date, and hours at GoVoteColorado.gov.
- Colorado voters can visit GoVoteColorado.gov to: Register to vote or update their voter registration; Find their local county clerk; Find their closest drop box or voting center; Sign up to track their ballot using BallotTrax; Learn about Colorado’s secure election processes; and Find accurate election information.