Ignacio and Bayfield plan drive-up voting procedures for municipal elections, which will be held Tuesday, but neither town knows what to expect from voter turnout because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Communities around the state are adapting their voting processes to comply with social-distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. The town governments are using drive-up voting and other precautions to protect the health of voters and election judges. With the virus outbreak, officials are not sure who will come out and vote.

“It’s not an ideal situation,” said Mark Garcia, Ignacio interim town manager. “I’m not excited that we actually have to have an election due to this COVID virus issue.”

State law requires the elections, and Gov. Jared Polis has not canceled any elections in any of his executive orders, Garcia said.

In Ignacio, five candidates are competing for three positions on the Town Board. The candidates include three incumbent town trustees – Alison deKay, Sandra Maez and Edward Box III – and two newcomers, Chris May and Mandy Brown.

Candidates focused on the town’s financial stability and transparency when their campaigns started in early March.

Bayfield has four candidates vying for three open board positions. Candidates include incumbents David Black and Kristin Dallison, and newcomers Aaron Wamsley and Lori Zazzaro.

The town’s recreation economy, small businesses and infrastructure projects were among the top issues for candidates in early March.

In past years, few Bayfield or Ignacio residents have participated in elections.

Ignacio has about 430 eligible voters this year. During the 2018 Town Board election, 58 people voted, said Tuggy Dunton, town clerk and election judge.

Bayfield is larger with about 1,600 eligible voters. In past elections, about 70 to 140 residents voted, said Katie Sickles, interim town manager.

“Our assumption is that we could have seven or 700. We don’t know,” Sickles said.

Bayfield residents will drive up to the polling stations at Bayfield Town Hall and complete their ballots inside their vehicle.

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, residents will be given a pen and protective gloves while voting. Election judges, mostly town staff, will also be wearing personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves.

“We’re going to try to eliminate direct contact,” Sickles said.

Residents can no longer vote using absentee ballots. The town did not receive any absentee ballots before the deadline passed.

Ignacio residents can vote through the drive-up election procedure or through absentee ballots.

Residents can walk or drive to Ignacio Town Hall to vote on election day. Election judges will wear gloves and face masks during the voting process and use disinfectant wipes.

“We’re going to be doing our dead-level best to maintain the 6-foot distance; however, that may need to be crossed,” Dunton said.

Some residents expressed concern about whether the adapted voting procedures meet voting laws or disability requirements.

Garcia said the town did not receive guidance that specifically applied to voting laws or Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for drive-up voting. However, the town is following standard election laws, which require voters to present their name and identification and voter registration.

“It is election law, and it will be adhered to with drive-up voting,” Garcia said.

Absentee ballots are one of the other tools available to governments to meet social-distancing requirements. The absentee voting process involves two steps, and voters must submit their ballots before 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Residents must complete an absentee ballot application by 5 p.m. Friday. They should contact Ignacio Town Hall and request an application be sent to their home address.

Town staff members are checking voicemails on a regular basis so staff can send applications and ballots as quickly as possible, Dunton said.

A resident cannot vote without returning the absentee ballot application to Town Hall. After receiving the absentee application, town staff will send the ballot to the resident’s address. Once completed, the resident can mail it to Town Hall or drop it in the drop box.

The town processed 16 absentee ballot applications as of Wednesday, Dunton said.

Town residents can find more information about candidates and the voting process at VOTE411.org. Residents must enter their address to access local information.

smullane@durangoherald.com