Douglas County ballots arriving mid-October
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; information provided by Douglas County
Douglas County will mail ballots to registered voters beginning the week of October 12 for the November 3 election. The general election, which will include a vote in the presidential race as well as other local and national issues, will be an all-mail ballot election. To receive a ballot by mail, residents need to be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State by October 26. To register, visit http://www.govotecolorado.gov/.
In Colorado, residents can register to vote up until 7 p.m. on election night at Voter Service and Polling Centers (VSPC). VSPC offer citizens the opportunity to:
- Register
- Update voter registration
- Replace a ballot
- Vote in person (including an ADA accessible voting machine)
- Drop off a ballot
The County offers many VSPC locations that open in three phases, beginning with early voting on October 19. For a complete list of locations, days and times, visit https://www.douglas.co.us/elections/voter-service-and-polling-centers/.
If a voter’s ballot has not arrived in the mail by October 20, contact the County Clerk’s office at 303-660-7444. A ballot can also be tracked by visiting http://www.govotecolorado.gov/ and clicking on “Find my registration” and logging into the voter record; individuals can then check their ballot status.
Douglas County encourages voters to return ballots by mail or to one of the 20 ballot drop boxes located across the County. Ballot drop boxes are open 24 hours, seven days a week beginning October 12 through 7 p.m. on November 3. For a complete list of ballot drop box locations, visit https://www.douglas.co.us/elections/ballot-drop-off-locations/. If returning a ballot via the U.S. Postal Service, it is advised that “domestic, non-military voters mail their completed ballots before Election Day and at least one week prior to your state’s deadline.” All ballots must be received (not postmarked) by 7 p.m. on election night, November 3.
Colorado has conducted all-mail ballot elections since 2014 and is regarded as a national model for election security and high voter turnout. To learn more about the process a ballot goes through and how the Douglas County elections office ensures that every ballot is counted, visit https://www.douglas.co.us/life-of-a-ballot-follow-your-votes-journey/ and watch the short video.
