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Primary turnout at 20 percent in La Plata County

Voters can drop off ballots or vote in-person only through Tuesday
Ballots for this year’s Colorado primary are due by 7 p.m. Tuesday. It’s too late to mail them, County Clerk and Recorder Tiffany Lee Parker said Thursday.

La Plata County voter turnout for Tuesday’s Colorado primary is at 20 percent, slightly above the statewide turnout.

Of 22,335 ballots mailed, 4,526 were returned by Thursday morning, county clerk and recorder Tiffany Lee Parker said.

Of them, 2,731 are Democrats and 1,795 are Republicans.

If counting all eligible voters, including inactive and unaffiliated, turnout can be interpreted at 11 percent, Parker said.

It’s difficult to compare this year’s turnout to primary elections in recent years, because in 2014, when total turnout was 14 percent, the Democratic Party was without a contested race.

And in 2012, under state law, the county reported only active voters from major parties – 5,573 out of 16,706 ballots returned, or a 33 percent turnout, which Parker said was “not a true reflection of the voter registration base.”

“This time, I think the district attorney race is drawing out more Democratic voters,” she said.

Assistant District Attorney Christian Champagne and Southern Ute tribal attorney Ben Lammons, both Democrats, are going head-to-head for that office. There is no Republican candidate, so the primary will decide the race.

Statewide totals were updated at 7:42 a.m. Thursday.

Of 990,506 ballots sent to Democrats, 17.5 percent, or 173,916, have been returned.

A total of 997,338 ballots went out to Republicans, who returned 189,079, or 19 percent.

The Colorado secretary of state reported 21.8 percent voter turnout in the 2014 primary, in which four Republicans were vying for the GOP nomination in the gubernatorial race.

The only contested statewide race this year is for U.S. Senate. Five Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination to unseat Michael Bennet, a Democrat, in November.

The mail-in option has changed voting culture in La Plata County; Parker reported a mere 11 people have cast their votes in person at either the Durango or Bayfield locations.

But it’s too late to mail ballots now.

Those who intend to vote in this primary must drop their ballots off at Bayfield Town Hall at 1199 Bayfield Parkway, Ignacio Town Hall at 540 Goddard Ave., the county administration building at 1101 East Second Ave., or the clerk and recorder’s office at 98 Everett St., Suite C, in Bodo Industrial Park.

Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. June 28.

Voters will be able to cast their ballots in person Friday through Saturday or Sunday through Tuesday at the clerk and recorder’s office, Bayfield location or at the La Plata County Fairgrounds at 2500 Main Ave.

Visit www.laplatacountyclerk.org to see sample ballots, polling center hours and deadlines.

jpace@durangoherald.com

How to vote

Ballots were mailed earlier this month to those affiliated with a party. Unaffiliated voters can affiliate with a party anytime through primary election day on Tuesday.

Completed ballots must be received by 7 p.m. Tuesday. Atlhough it’s too late to mail them to ensure they are received by Tuesday, ballots can be dropped off at 24-hour drop boxes at:

La Plata County Clerk & Recorder, 98 Everett St., Suite C, Durango.

Bayfield Town Hall, 1199 Bayfield Parkway, Bayfield.

La Plata County Administration Building, 1101 East Second Ave., Durango.

For more information about the ballot, places to vote in person or drop off ballots during limited hours, visit

http://bit.ly/1sxSqz6

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The Herald’s election coverage includes stories on all contested races and can be found at

durangoherald.com/candidates

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