The Office of the Clerk and Recorder has mailed approximately 1,500 Primary Election ballots to El Paso County voters currently living outside of the state. This special class of voters includes the men and women serving in the armed forces, their dependents, and others whose circumstances take them out of the country.
These represent the first ballots sent out for the 2018 election cycle, and (depending on precinct) will contain contests for U.S. House, Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, CU Regent, Board of Education, State Senate, State House and several county offices.
“We’re committed to ensuring that the men and women serving our country who are out of the state, or citizens living overseas, have the extra time they need to vote in each election,” said Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman. “I am proud that our office was able to get these ballots out earlier than the legal deadline to better serve our men and women in uniform who need more time to vote.”
Known as UOCAVA voters (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act), they have an extended opportunity to return their ballot to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office. Whereas local voters must return their ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day (June 26) to count, UOCAVA ballots postmarked by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day will count if they arrive as late as eight days after the election. The postmark is counted as valid only on UOCAVA ballots, and not for local voters.
This 2018 election milestone also serves as an important reminder to local voters that the Primary Election is fast approaching.
“I also encourage all voters to check their voter registration file and their affiliation now to make sure everything is in order and they do not miss deadlines. By taking the time to check your information, you will make sure your voice is heard in this Primary Election,” said Clerk Broerman.
For the first time, Colorado’s unaffiliated voters can cast ballots in the June 26 Primary Election without having to join a party. Colorado voters approved allowing unaffiliated voters to take part in primaries in 2016 with the passage of Proposition 108, joining 22 other states with some form of open primary.
Unaffiliated voters can choose which political party’s primary ballot they would like to receive, either Republican or Democratic, at www.GoVoteColorado.com. If a voter does not choose either party, they will receive both parties’ ballots. It is very important the voter returns only one ballot. If both ballots are voted and returned, neither will be counted.
We ask they choose their ballot preference as soon as possible, before ballot packets are prepared. It is important to note, choosing a ballot preference does not affiliate the voter with that political party; they remain unaffiliated. However, by choosing a ballot preference and receiving just one party’s ballot, unaffiliated voters help the Clerk’s Office reduce the costs associated with printing and mailing two ballots to a voter.