Colorado is a mail voting state. This means every registered voter in Colorado is sent a ballot in the mail. Voters can then return their ballot through the mail or at a drop off location.
Mail voting isn’t new. It’s been around since the Civil War when ballots were mailed to soldiers who couldn’t vote in person. In 2000, a Citizen’s initiative made Oregon the first state to implement statewide mail voting. Washington came on board in 2012, and Colorado followed suite in 2014. Utah and Hawaii were the latest states to implement mail voting, doing so in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Since mail voting was implemented in 2014, Colorado has seen increased voter turnout. While that does have to do with a number of other factors besides mail voting, it doesn’t hurt that voting is so convenient in Colorado.
Once voters receive their ballots in the mail, they only need to fill out their ballot, put it back in the return envelope that came with it, sign the affidavit on the envelope, and return it by mail or at a drop off location. (If returning by mail, a reminder that you’ll need a .55 cent stamp.) That’s all there is to voting by mail. No waiting in line or fears of a pandemic like the one we’re experiencing right now.
Of course, in order to receive a ballot in the mail you must be registered to vote. If you are registered, you need to make sure all of your information is up to date on your voter record. If you’ve recently moved or no longer have a P.O. Box or alternative mailing address, updating the information on your voter record will ensure a ballot is sent to the place you expect it to arrive. (You can register to vote, check your registration, and update your information by visiting greeleyindie.com and clicking on the links on the righthand side of the homepage.)
We’ll close with 5 important reminders:
1.) Be sure to sign the affidavit on the return envelope.
2.) Try to mail your ballot back by June 24th. This will ensure that it arrives at the Elections office in time. Ballots must be received by 7:00 PM on June 30th, and Postmarks do not count.
3.) The last day ballots can be mailed out is June 22nd, so if you have not received your ballot in the mail by then call the Weld County Elections office at (970) 304-6525. Once June 22nd has passed you will either have to pick up a ballot in person or vote in person.
4.) If you recently registered for the first time, you may need to provide a copy of your ID along with your mail ballot when you return it.
5.) And you can use the instructions provided with your ballot as secrecy sleeve, if you wish.If you have any questions about mail voting or any other questions related to elections, email Greeley Indie at info@greeleyindie.com.