On Election Day morning, voters arrived in a steady pace to drop off ballots at the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder’s Office.
Several staff assisted voters, and others could be seen in the back processing ballots. Only five voters were allowed at a time in the clerk’s office to comply with state pandemic precautions.
As of Monday morning, 14,326 ballots had been received by mail or drop box out of 18,374 sent out, a 78% voter turnout.
By 6 p.m. Tuesday, 15,338 ballots had arrived – an 80% turnout that surpassed the 2016 count of 13,365.
Clerk Kim Percell said she expected a surge of ballots to come in Tuesday.
The biggest days were Oct. 19-20, when 2,700 ballots came in. In the past two days, 1,800 ballots arrived, she said.
Election judges have been counting ballots for weeks. They stayed late Monday night to process and count votes and were caught up when doors opened Tuesday morning. Overnight, 300 ballots were dropped off at the various drop boxes.
“We’re ready and are keeping up,” Percell said. “We’ve had great turnout. I hope we hit 100%.”
The first preliminary draft results will be announced between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., then again around 9 p.m., she said. The Clerk’s Office will count ballots up to midnight, then start again Wednesday morning if needed.
Montezuma County Sheriff Nowlin stood near the doors greeting people. He said there have been no issues. Deputies patrolled polling places and ballot boxes.
“Everyone seems to be in a good mood,” he said.
No campaign material was allowed within 100 feet of a polling place or ballot box. Orange cones outside the clerk’s office remind people of the rule. Percell takes hourly sweeps to make sure the rule is being followed.
“One guy came in with a campaign shirt, read the sign left and turned his shirt inside out,” Nowlin said.
Candace Hicks, of Cortez, came in to vote with her young daughter.
“It is important to vote, it’s a privilege of being an American citizen. I look forward to it,” she said. “The ballot has a lot of issues on it. Of course, the big debate is president, the country seems divided 50-50 on it.”
Watch parties Tuesday nightTwo watch parties are scheduled for Election Day.
Montezuma County Democrats emailed party members with an invite-only online ZOOM gathering to avoid unwanted disruptions. The meeting is capped at 100 participants.
Attendees may include U.S. House candidate Diane Mitsch Bush, state House candidate Seth Cagin, and State Board of Education candidate Mayling Simpson.
J. Fargo’s Family Dining and Micro Brewery will host an election watch party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Everybody is welcome, said manager Tiffany Ghere. They planned to offer $2 beers. The Montezuma County Republicans planned to attend, said president Allen Maez.
