As of Wednesday morning, 5,846 ballots of the 16,000 ballots that were sent out have been returned and are being processed by election judges, she said. Early and unofficial results cannot be released until election night after polls close at 7 p.m.
“There was an initial rush of ballots, then it leveled off, now it is picking back up,” Percell said. “Presidential elections always have more participation, and this year feels like more than usual.”
It is too late to mail your ballot by standard mail services in time to arrive at the clerk’s office by Tuesday, Nov. 8, so at this point voters should drop off ballots by hand.
They can do so at the clerk’s office at 140 W. Main St., Suite 1, Cortez. In addition to regular office hours and extended election day hours, the office will also be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Election Day, ballots can be dropped off at the county clerk’s office and also at the Dolores and Mancos libraries from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“I advise voters to drop off their ballots at the clerk’s office before Nov. 8 if they want to avoid possibly standing in line,” Percell said.
Don’t forget to sign the envelope with the ballot before dropping it off at the ballot box.
The records and motor vehicle counters at the clerk’s office will be closed Monday and Tuesday, so all staff can focus on handling the election day traffic.
“We’re ready to go, and have trained staff on election procedures so the day goes as smoothly as possible,” Percell said. “We’re processing ballots as they come in so we are caught up when the rush comes in on Tuesday.”
Dolores and Mancos will have five election officials each to handle voter needs. At the clerk’s office, there will be a election staff of 11. There are also six tabulation judges who began processing ballots Monday.
Percell said that on Tuesday, ballots will be counted and unofficial results will be released election night, even if the count goes into early morning.
“We will go until it is done,” she said.
Local results will be posted at www.montezumacounty.org. State and local results will be posted on the state election website at www.sos.state.co.us
There are 20,028 active registered voters in Montezuma County. Check your voter registration status at www.govotecolorado.com, or at the clerk’s office.
If you are a qualified voter and have not received a ballot, you can still register to vote and receive a ballot up to, and on, Election Day.
“If you have not received a ballot, had your ballot returned as undeliverable, need a replacement ballot, need to register to vote, or have any issues, come and see us at the clerk’s office,” Percell said.
Voters are urged to come in before Election Day if they have issues or problems with their ballot. But the voting centers at the county clerk’s office and Mancos and Dolores libraries are prepared to handle issues on Election day as well.
This election there have been more than the usual spoil ballots returned to the clerk’s office, about 50. If a voter accidentally votes for more than one candidate, or changes their mind after filling in a candidate, they can get a replacement ballot.
By late last week, Republicans in the 3rd Congressional District delivered 39,627 early ballots (40 percent); Democrats, 36,062 (36 percent); and unaffiliated voters, 24,240 (24 percent).
For a rural district where Republicans comprise 35 percent, Democrats 30 percent and unaffiliated voters 33 percent, the relatively close gap between Republicans and Democrats is a positive sign for Democrats and their allies.
Statewide, the overall ballots returned by party show Democrats contributing 39 percent, Republicans 35 percent and unaffiliated voters 25 percent.
At this time in 2012, Democrats contributed 36 percent of the vote, Republicans 39 percent and unaffiliated voters 24 percent, according to Colorado-based Magellan Strategies, which keeps a daily count of early returns.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com