Once upon a time, voters could cast a ballot only on Election Day, and no one would know how it turned out until late that night.
Mail-in elections are changing that. Every few days, the state’s county clerks and recorders are issuing reports to the Colorado secretary of state on ballot returns. We won’t know how people are voting until Nov. 4, but who’s voting can be an important part of the picture.
Here’s what has happened in Southwest Colorado as of Wednesday:
La Plata County: 3,213 ballots have been returned, including 1,266 from registered Democrats, 1,185 from Republicans, 725 from unaffiliated voters, 10 from Green Party voters, 21 from Libertarians and six from American Constitution Party voters.
Archuleta County: 831 ballots have been returned, 193 from Democrats, 471 from Republicans, 159 from unaffiliated voters, six Libertarians and two American Constitution Party members.
Montezuma County: 989 ballots have been returned, including 224 from Democrats, 586 from Republicans, 164 from unaffiliated voters, four Green Party, nine Libertarian and two American Constitution Party voters.
San Juan County: 90 votes returned, including 29 from Democrats, 21 from Republicans, 36 from unaffiliated voters and four from Libertarians.
Statewide: 332,050 voters have returned ballots, including 105,401 from Democrats, 145,824 from Republicans, 77,285 from unaffiliated voters, 647 from the Green Party, 2,185 from Libertarians and 703 from the American Constitution Party.
What does it all mean? Pundits and party faithful will all have opinions, but the voters will have the last word Nov. 4.
Tiffany Lee Parker, the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder, expects the next report Friday.
abutler@durangoherald.com
