State Primary 2020 In Boulder County: Deadlines, Ballot Options

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — Monday is the last recommended day for voters to send back their ballots via mail, Boulder County elections officials said. Otherwise, voters can drop off their ballots at one of a dozen mail ballot drop boxes throughout the county.

Monday is also the deadline to either register for the first time and be mailed a ballot or for voters to change their address or request a replacement ballot.

>> Register or update registration here.

Colorado does not have a registration deadline, so after Monday, voters can still go register and vote in person at a vote center.

Elections officials are urging voters to use mail whenever possible; however those who prefer to vote in person can do so at one of three vote centers that are opening Monday.

At a Boulder County vote center, eligible voters can:

• Drop off a ballot
• Cast a ballot in-person
• Request a replacement ballot
• Register to vote or update voter registration information
• Vote using equipment and facilities for persons with disabilities

Remember to bring valid identification. More information about which ID is valid can be found here.

Vote center locations and hours

• Open from Monday through Election Day – June 30 (except Sunday, June 29). Hours vary depending on the day.
• Three locations: in Boulder, Lafayette, and Longmont. Visit boco.org/Vote for addresses and hours.
• The vote center at the University of Colorado’s UMC will be closed for this election due to campus building closures.

Drop Boxes

The 24-hour drop boxes remain the most efficient and secure way to return your ballot, officials said. Find the locations in Boulder County here.

Ballot-to-go option

To help reduce the risk of COVID-19, vote centers will also be offering a new 'ballot-to-go' option for voters who miss Monday’s mail deadline and would prefer their ballot to be delivered to their car. Voters can call the county's hotline at 720-440-7886 to order their ballot, then contact the county when they arrive to have an election judge deliver their ballot to their car. For new registrants or voters with address changes, officials ask that voters make the change online at GoVoteColorado first and then wait at least one full business day before attempting to request a ballot-to-go. If they need a ballot sooner, they will need to come inside a vote center, officials said. June 30 is the last day to return ballots (by 7 p.m.) or vote in-person.

COVID-19 Safety Precautions

To help keep voters, election judges and staff as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, the county has instituted many new safety protocols and practices, including:

• 6-foot distancing, which will be required between all voters, election judges, and staff.
• Plexiglass barriers have been installed where the 6-foot distancing requirement cannot always be met, including vote center check-in stations.
• Face coverings are required for all elections staff and judges, and are strongly encouraged for people visiting a vote center (masks will be provided, as needed).

Elections officials in Boulder County have issued the following important information for voters:

• If you are a Democrat, you will receive a Democratic primary ballot.
• If you are a Republican, you will receive a Republican primary ballot.
• If you are a Libertarian, you will receive a Libertarian primary ballot.
• If you are unaffiliated, you will receive both a Democratic and a Republican ballot, but you may only return one of the two.
• Minor parties other than the Libertarian Party do not have a primary election, so voters registered with those parties are not eligible to participate in this election.
• 17-year-olds are eligible to vote – and will receive a ballot if they are pre-registered – as long as they will be 18 by the general election on Nov. 3, 2020.

Which seats are up for election?

• The top race on the ballot is the U.S. Senate seat.
• For the major parties, the U.S. Senate race is followed by candidates for U.S. house, the state board of education and/or CU regent (depending on your district), the state legislature, district attorney, and county commissioner.

Sample ballots for Boulder County voters:

• Democratic Ballot
• Republican Ballot
• Libertarian Ballot

>> More information for Boulder County voters can be found here.

Don't miss the latest news updates from Boulder Patch: Free Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook | Twitter