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Understanding the June primary election

Tiffany Lee Parker

You have probably all noticed that it is election season, and while the General Election is still almost six months away, Colorado’s primary is fast approaching.

Voters in the June 28 primary will be able to weigh in on a number of local, state and federal races, including for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, University of Colorado Regent, Colorado House District 59, 6th Judicial District Attorney, La Plata County commissioner districts 2 and 3 and county surveyor. There are a few important things to know about the primary, which functions a little bit differently than the General Election.

The first thing to note is that presidential candidates will not be on either party’s primary ballot. That is because since 2003, Colorado has selected its presidential candidates through the Democratic and Republican parties’ caucus process. But voters who are affiliated with either political party can weigh in on their respective party’s primary races. Because primaries are party-specific, voters will only see their party’s candidates for each race on their ballot – and not all of the races have contests. In fact, most do not.

The rules governing primary elections say that if there is a contest in one of the races in either the Democratic or Republican party, then a full primary election is required for both parties. That can mean that one party’s primary ballot has no contested races at all, though in the June primary, both parties have contests. For Republicans, there are five candidates for the U.S. Senate, two for the U.S. House of Representatives District 3, and two for the State Board of Education.

On the Democrats’ ballot, the 6th Judicial District Attorney is the only race with a contest. That is particularly significant in that there is no Republican candidate for that position. The Democratic primary winner will be the next district attorney.

Voters who are already affiliated with either party will automatically receive a ballot in the mail in early June. To be sure your address is current or to register to vote, visit www.govotecolorado.com or stop by one of our offices – 98 Everett Street Suite C in Bodo Park or in the Bayfield Town Hall, 1199 Bayfield Parkway. One important and slightly quirky rule: If you are already affiliated with a party and want to change your affiliation to a different party, you must do so before May 31 in order to vote in that party’s primary this June – either in person or by mail.

If you are not yet affiliated with a party, you can do so by June 20 and still receive a mail ballot. After June 21, you can affiliate with a party at any of the county’s voter service and polling centers, and vote in person. Those are located at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave., and our offices in Bodo Park and Bayfield. Any affiliated voter can cast his ballot in person at one of these centers June 20-28.

For those returning mail ballots, we have several secure drop-sites throughout the county, where you can return your primary ballot any time before 7 p.m. June 28: at our offices in Durango and Bayfield, at Ignacio Town Hall, 540 Goddard, and at the La Plata County Administration Building, 1101 E. Second Ave., in Durango.

You may also mail your ballot back to us, using one 47-cent stamp, but keep in mind that we have to receive your ballot by 7 p.m. June 28: Postmarks do not count. For that reason, we recommend you mail your ballot no later than June 21 – or use one of the secure drop boxes for free!

Please visit www.laplatacountyclerk.org for details about the voter service and polling centers’ hours and do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. And remember, whether and how you participate in the primary has no effect on your ability to vote in November.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” Please vote in the June 28 primary and stay tuned for details about the General Election in November.

Tiffany Lee Parker is the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder. Reach her at 382-6296.



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