The midterm elections are coming up Tuesday, with a loaded ballot where Colorado voters will decide on a new governor, as well as several other state and locally elected positions.
Here is some important information you need to know before Election Day:
Believe it or not, it’s not too late too register to vote. In Colorado, residents can register to vote on Election Day. All you need is one of 13 acceptable forms of identification.
Valid forms include a driver’s license; passport; employee identification card with a photograph; pilot’s license; U.S. military identification card; current utility bill; bank statement or paycheck; certificate of Native American citizenship; Medicare or Medicaid card; birth certificate; documentation of naturalization; student identification card with photo; veteran identification with photo or tribal membership certification.
La Plata County Clerk Tiffany Parker said it is too late to mail your ballot. However, there are several places to drop them off:
La Plata County Clerk and Recorders Office, 98 Everett St., in Durango.Bayfield Town Hall, 1100 Bayfield Parkway, in Bayfield.La Plata County Administrative Building, 1101 East Second Ave.Farmer’s Fresh Market, 535 Goddard Ave., in Ignacio.For people who want to vote in person, there are polling centers at the Clerk and Recorder’s Office, Bayfield Town Hall and the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. Residents in the county can go to any of those locations.
These locations will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day (Tuesday). All ballots must be dropped off by 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Also, for the first time this year, there is a drive-through location to drop off ballots adjacent to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office that Parker set up because of construction near the parking lot of the office.
Several resources are available for last-minute voters who want to learn about the candidates and issues on this year’s ballot.
The Secretary of State’s Office issues a ballot information booklet, known as the blue book, that includes an analysis of each question on the ballot. That can be viewed by visiting the Colorado General Assembly website.
The La Plata County Clerk and Recorder’s Office also issues an information booklet for local issues, which can be viewed at that office’s website.
The Durango Herald has also published stories about local candidates running for office and the many ballot issues, amendments and propositions.
A collection of stories online can be found by clicking “Election 2018” on the Herald’s homepage, next to the “Headlines” menu. Also, students at Fort Lewis College recently released a series of nonpartisan informational videos about the amendments and propositions on this year’s ballot. You can view them at https://bit.ly/2yQDe5V.
Parker said there are 37,156 active voters in La Plata County. Voter turnout, however, takes into account inactive voters as well, putting that number around 46,000 people.
The last presidential election in 2016 generated a 72 percent voter turnout among active and inactive voters. But for midterm elections, Parker said only about 60 percent of voters typically participate.
“I would love to see at least a 60 percent turnout this election,” she said.
Parker said election results will be uploaded to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office website. The first round of results will likely be posted around 7:30 p.m., then another update around 9:30 p.m.
Election results should be wrapped up by 11 p.m.
The Herald will provide up-to-the-minute updates Tuesday evening on its website.
La Plata County Democrats will host an election viewing party at the Henry Strater Theater, 699 Main Ave., in Durango.
La Plata County Republicans will host an election viewing party at the Rusty Shovel Saloon in Durango, 760 South Camino del Rio.
A previous version of this story gave incorrect information about where the Republican watch party will be held.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
