How do people register and when is the deadline?
"Online is an option or they can come into our office, but I highly recommend govotecolorado.gov. It's easy, it's quick. Colorado is a same day voter registration, so technically there is no deadline to register to vote. The goal of Garfield County or the state of Colorado is that every eligible voter has a right to vote and is able to vote in this election."
Are there any other deadlines that voters need to be aware of?
"Election day, return your ballot before seven. That is a deadline that every voter should be aware of. We are mailing our ballots on October 11th. Ballot boxes open on October 11th. If you get your ballot, vote your ballot, return your ballot. Don't wait until the last day. So, the biggest deadline, November 5th, before seven o'clock, have your ballot in the box, or mailed."
Where should mail in voters turn in their ballots?
"We have seven ballot drop boxes, one at each municipality. One in front of the courthouse, Carbondale Town Hall, right in front. Glenwood Springs, ours is right in front of the courthouse here. Newcastle is right in front of their town hall. Silt is right in front of their town hall. Rifles Dropbox is at our administrative building where you do motor vehicle, the clerk and recorder's office, and then Parachutes Town Hall has one. And they're all video monitored and they're open 24/7 until election night at seven o'clock.
Early voting starts October 21st. We have two vote centers opening up as required per law and statute. Um, the Glenwood Community Center and the Rifle South Hall, uh, at the fairgrounds will be our vote centers for early voting Monday through Friday, 8:30 to five, and then November 2nd, Saturday, we're open 10 to two. We have a lot of options for the voter to come in."
What if you lose or damage your mail-in ballot? Can you get another one or do you have to vote in person?
'We do replacement ballots. They can request it by calling the office, or again, the vote center is open early October 21st. We have two weeks of early voting available for every voter to a go get a replacement ballot right there, or vote on the ballot marking device."
What has your office been doing to gear up for this election season and where should Garfield County residents go to look for more information?
"We visit with the post office. We visit with law enforcement. We are connecting with everyone that has a part of our elections to make sure that we are all on the same page and that we all are towards the same goal. The best information is information from me or from our website."
That website is Garfieldcounty.com/clerk-recorder or visit vote.gov/register/colorado.
