Today is Election Day, the last day to turn in ballots for the 2018 midterm elections.
Voters can drop off ballots, pick up a ballot or register to vote at several locations throughout the county from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, including at the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorders Office, 140 W. Main St. Suite No. 1; Dolores Public Library, 1002 Railroad Ave.; and Mancos Public Library, 211 E. First St.
Ballot boxes are open until 7 p.m. on Election Day at Dolores Town Hall, 420 Central Ave.; Mancos Town Hall, 117 N. Main St.; and Ute Mountain Tribal Headquarters, 124 Mike Wash Road.
Montezuma County participation in the Nov. 6 midterm general election is already higher than the 2014 midterms, Clerk and Recorder Kim Percell said.
“Turnout has been great. We’ve been very busy,” she said. “The line of cars at the drive-through ballot box behind the clerk’s office has been impressive.”
By Oct. 31, the ballot count was more than 400 ahead of the returned ballots from the 2014 general election.
By Nov. 5, 8,255 ballots had been turned in. Of those who have turned in ballots in Montezuma County, 2,401 were Republicans, 1,493 were Democrats, and 1,419 were unaffiliated, according to the Colorado secretary of state.
Statewide, there were 1.5 million total ballots returned, including 515,131 from Republicans, 519,833 from Democrats, and 461,154 from unaffiliated voters.
Signature verification judges have begun processing the ballots, and by last week, they had processed more than 3,208 ballots. Also, about 100 overseas ballots were sent out for those serving in the military or citizens who out of the country.
Voters are electing Colorado officials, including governor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, state Senate District 6, state House District 58, and state and local judges. Nine Colorado Constitutional amendments and four propositions also will be decided on by voters.
Locally, two races are being contested. Voters will choose one Montezuma County commissioner from four candidates. In the order placed on the ballot, the candidates are Democrat Mary Beth (MB) McAfee, Republican Jim Candelaria, and unaffiliated Steve L. Chappell and Jesse James Sattley.
The commissioner candidates participated in six public forums in the past two months.
For local Senate District 6, voters will choose between Democrat Guinn Unger Jr. and Republican Don Coram. For local State Representative District 58, voters will choose between Republican Marc Catlin and Democrat Seth Cagin.
Also locally, voters will decide whether to extend the 22nd Judicial District Attorney office’s term limit from two consecutive four-year terms to three consecutive four-year terms.
Voters in the Lewis-Arriola Fire Protection District will cast votes on a proposal to raise the department mill levy by 1.41 mills, which if passed would bring the total mill levy to 4.5 mills.
Several Montezuma County officials seeking elected office and are running unopposed. They are Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin, Clerk and Recorder Kim Percell, Ellen Black for Treasurer, Assessor Leslie Kennedy Bugg, Surveyor Ernest Maness and Coroner George Deavers.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
