Chaffee County ballot returns for the Nov. 2 coordinated elections are not at their normal levels, according to Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder Lori Mitchell. In a media message on Sunday, Oct. 31 she noted, “We only received in 228 ballots since yesterday morning. Our county is still way above most counties in percentage returned, but not quite where we usually are just two days out.”
Mitchell gave no reasons for why the ballot returns are lower than normal this year.
The county ballot return stands at 31.3 percent:
The Ballottrax voting tracker allows registered voters to track the progress of their ballot, to acceptance through being recorded.
Number Percent
Total Mail Ballots returned 4,978 31.3
Buena Vista School District 2,196 30.6
Salida School District 2,782 32.0
Salida Ward 1 603 37
Salida Ward 2 487 30
Salida Ward 3 394 24.6
“I still have hope that Chaffee will come through with a great showing in the home stretch and we are ready,” said Mitchell.
Voting and Ballot Drop-off Locations:
- The Salida Vote Center at the Scout Hut (210 East Sackett Ave) will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 2.
- The Buena Vista Vote Center at the Community Center (715 East Main St) will be open on Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 2.
“Bipartisan election judges, who are your neighbors appointed by the political parties, are working diligently to process ballots and count your vote,” said Clerk Lori Mitchell. “Ballots take time to process, so if you want your vote in the ‘big reveal’ of results shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, you should consider voting early.”
Ballot processing began at 9:00 a.m. on Monday and will continue at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Election Day, November 2.
While it is too late to mail in your ballot, voters can still drop their ballot off at several locations across the county. Mail Ballot drop-off locations can be utilized 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through curb-side ballot boxes in Salida at the Chaffee County Elections Office, 104 Crestone Ave. and in Buena Vista at the Motor Vehicle Branch Office, 112 Linderman Ave.
The County’s Voter Service and Polling Centers are the one-stop-shop for all voter services, including registration, mail ballot replacement, and voting. Whether voters cast a mail ballot or vote in person, all voters still vote on a voter-verified paper ballot.
The Salida Motor Vehicle office will be closed on Tuesday, November 2 to motor vehicle transactions. Online services are available at www.mydmv.colorado.gov or in-person at the Buena Vista Motor Vehicle office at 112 Linderman Avenue, Buena Vista, CO.
The County Clerk’s office continues to field questions from curious voters regarding the election process, including this recent question by Chaffee GOP Chair Alan Seeling; “What do you do if Judges and Watchers have been sent home and then there are ballots to load into Dominion?”
Mitchell answered: “Not sure what you mean. We do not send watchers home when activities are taking place. If you are referring to whether election activities can continue whether watchers are present or not, the answer is yes, as occurs in every election.”
Visit the Chaffee County Elections Office website at www.chaffeeclerk.colorado.gov or www.GoVoteColorado.gov for additional information on the 2021 Coordinated Election.
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