By Molly Fitzpatrick
Primary election day is rapidly approaching (June 30)! Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Boulder County elections staff members have been focused on ensuring that our community members can fully and safely participate in our elections process. Our team has been working hard to implement new safety measures while ensuring this election is conducted, as it is every election, with accessibility, security, accuracy, and efficiency at the forefront.
This primary election includes races for U.S. Senate, congressional, state, and local candidates. To participate, you must be registered as a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or unaffiliated voter. Unaffiliated voters who did not select a ballot preference by June 1 received both major party ballots (Republican and Democratic), but may vote and return only one ballot.
Young people who will turn 18 years old by the general election – Nov. 3 – may also register to vote and participate in this primary election. For a list of candidate names and links to campaign websites by party ballot, please visit our website: www.BoulderCountyVotes.org.
The safest way to cast a ballot for this primary election is to vote the ballot that was mailed to you and return it to one of our many 24-hour mail ballot drop boxes throughout Boulder County. We do not recommend that you mail your ballot back at this point. Also, if you still need to register or need a replacement ballot, we have in-person and new “Ballot-to-Go” options available – both designed with COVID-19 precautions in mind.
For those who need to or prefer to vote in person, vote centers are now open. Vote centers (sometimes referred to as voter service and polling centers) are places where voters may cast a ballot in person, request a replacement ballot, register to vote or update registration information, or vote using accessible voting equipment.
If you go in person, you will find new safety protocols we have implemented because of COVID-19, including demarcations to allow for physical distancing between voters, voting booths and stations that are placed at least six feet apart, and plexiglass barriers at our check-in stations. Our election judges are using personal protective equipment, and we request all visitors to wear face coverings.
For a list of vote centers, 24-hour dropbox locations, and more, please visit www.BoulderCountyVotes.org.
We are also excited to announce Ballot-to-Go, a new service for voters who would prefer their ballots to be delivered to their cars. Voters can call ahead to have their ballots issued and prepared for pickup.
We ask that voters first register or update their registration at www.GoVoteColorado.gov. Voters who are already registered and do not need to make changes can call our hotline immediately during vote center hours at 720-440-7886.
Voters who are registering to vote for the first time or making changes to their registration should allow at least one business day before requesting a ballot-to-go. (Note: While voter registration is done online through the state database, a staff member at our office reviews and processes every new registration or registration change that is made.)
Following Centers for Disease Control and public health guidelines, our team has also implemented many new safety protocols in our ballot processing center, where 100-plus community members serve as election judges who help process ballots. Behind the scenes changes include: Six-foot physical distancing or plexiglass barriers separating judges who need to work in bi-partisan teams, PPE worn at all times, and judges/staff are restricted to only areas where they work, with limited movement between ballot processing floors.
Though these measures are necessary to help protect the health of our judges and staff, ballot processing will take longer as a result – so please, once you’ve decided how you will vote, get those ballots in early, if possible.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world. It goes without saying that we are living in a time of immense uncertainty. What is certain, however, is that Colorado voters will still have every opportunity available to participate in our democratic process. Our challenge to Boulder County voters is to continue our high rate of civic participation and to strive toward the turnout we had for the presidential primary. We had approximately 63 percent of voters turnout this past March.
Let’s get those ballots in, Boulder County!
Molly Fitzpatrick is Boulder County’s clerk and recorder.
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June 26, 2020 at 05:02AM
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Guest opinion: Molly Fitzpatrick: There are lots of easy ways to vote - The Daily Camera
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