The La Plata County Clerk and Recorder’s Office has received ballots from voters across the county at a steady rate, with just over 10,000 ballots, or 22% of ballots sent out, received as of Friday, County Clerk Tiffany Lee said.
“It is tracking exactly like we normally see for a coordinated election (on an odd-numbered year) with these types of issues on it,” she said.
Lee expects a total turnout of about 40%. With eight separate tax questions, varying from one municipality to another, voters certainly have a reason to be motivated to participate in the election, she said.
Durango voters in particular have shown high interest in the Durango School District election, she said.
“We’re getting quite a few phone calls about the candidates and people wanting to know what party affiliation they are,” Lee said.
The Clerk and Recorder’s office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, she said.The Clerk and Recorder’s three service centers – the office itself, a center at Fort Lewis College and the Pine River Library in Bayfield – will be open Monday.
“If people choose not to use a (ballot box), they’re welcome to come in and vote in person. Just make sure they bring a form of ID,” she said.
Lee said voters should no longer mail ballots because they will not be received in time to be counted. Voters should use ballot drop boxes or vote in person at the service centers.
Ballot drop boxes are located around La Plata County. Durango residents can find drop boxes at:
- The La Plata County Administration Building at 1101 East Second Ave.
- The La Plata County Fairgrounds at 2500 Main Ave.
- The Fort Lewis Community Concert Hall at 1000 Rim Drive.
- The La Plata County Clerk & Recorder’s Office at 679 Turner Drive, Suite C.
Bayfield residents can drop off their ballots at a drop box at the Bayfield Town Hall at 1199 Bayfield Parkway.
Ignacio residents can deliver their ballots to the Ignacio Town Hall at 540 Goddard Ave.
Tuesday is election day. Voters have until 7 p.m. to deliver their ballots to a drop box or service center.
According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, 700,103 ballots had been received by election offices across the state as of Friday. In other words, 17% of ballots sent to 4.1 million voters across he state had been returned.
Unaffiliated voters held a hefty lead in participation over Democrats and Republicans with 285,175 unaffiliated ballots counted as of noon Friday.
Republican ballots turned in slightly outweighed Democratic ballots at 204,332 to 202,432.
cburney@durangoherald.com
