According to a local U.S. Postal Service official, all general election mail-in ballots must be received at the Cortez post office by 1 p.m. on Monday.
Despite the local deadline, postal officials urge voters not to wait until the last minute. They recommend mailing your ballot this week.
“We’ve already processed thousands of ballots and have delivered them to the clerks in Colorado’s 64 counties,” said Postal Service District Manager Selwyn Epperson. “The Postal Service anticipates a large influx this week, and we are ready to ensure each and every Colorado vote is counted this year.”
More than 14,000 ballots were delivered to registered voters in Montezuma County earlier this month. As of 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, election officials said 3,056 ballots had been counted. Based on average local voter turnout numbers of 45 to 52 percent, it’s estimated that 4,000 votes could be cast by Tuesday.
As a reminder, all ballots require postage. In some instances, extra postage is necessary because of the ballot’s weight.
Those who miss Monday’s postmark deadline should hand-deliver ballots to the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorders office at 140 W. Main St. in Cortez by 7 p.m. Nov. 4.
Only ballots received by that date will be counted. A postmark does not count.
The clerk’s office is open to receive ballots from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Other drop-off sites open only on Tuesday, Nov. 4, are the Dolores Public Library, 1002 Railroad Ave., and the Mancos Public Library, 211 W. 1st St. They are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If you haven’t received a ballot or have questions, call the clerk’s office at 970-565-3728.
About 3.5 million 2014 election ballots were mailed to voters across Colorado in the state’s first mail-in ballot election.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com