About a quarter of registered voters in Montezuma County had returned their ballots as of Monday morning, ahead of Tuesday’s 7 p.m. Election Day deadline.
The turnout so far shows that residents are participating in decisions on regional school district seats and local and statewide tax measures.
There are more than 20,900 active registered voters in the county, according to Kim Percell, Montezuma County clerk and recorder. Ballots were mailed Oct. 17.
As of late Monday morning, approximately 5,000 ballots had been submitted, Percell said, with 4,276 returned by Oct. 31 and about 700 collected Monday morning.
“We normally get a good push of ballots on the Monday before and on Election Day,” said Percell.
She noted that this year is a coordinated election, unlike last year’s presidential election, which drew higher turnout.
For Tuesday’s Nov. 4 Election Day, the Cortez Vote Center at the Montezuma County Annex will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drop boxes across the county will remain open 24 hours a day until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Voters are deciding on a range of seats and initiatives, from local to statewide.
Local issues include school board seats and a funding measure for Mancos School District RE-6, as well as tax proposals related to water and the Cortez Cemetery District.
Meanwhile, two statewide propositions ask voters to weigh in on school meal funding.
Preliminary data from the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office as of Oct. 30 shows that 1,650 Montezuma County voters were registered Republicans. Unaffiliated voters totaled 1,520, and registered Democrats numbered just over 700.
Preliminary data from the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office as of Oct. 30 shows that 1,650 Montezuma County voters were registered Republicans. Unaffiliated voters totaled 1,520, and registered Democrats numbered just over 700.
Percell said a team of six bipartisan tabulation judges began work Oct. 28. They will release unofficial initial results shortly after the 7 p.m. deadline.
The team may work until midnight if necessary and resume the next day, though Percell said that was unlikely.
“I don’t expect that, but we always have a pretty good push on the last two days.”
