By Randi Pierce
Staff Writer
Ceaseless political commercials are dominating the airwaves, the first presidential debate is in the books, and November’s General Election is just around the corner.
Voters and potential voters have until Tuesday, Oct. 9 to register or change their physical address.
Voter information cards were mailed out to all Active Voters and all Inactive Voters (voters who failed to vote last election) in September, announcing the Nov. 6 election and stating the recipient’s registration status.
Also on that card was the form needed to make changes to a physical or mailing address, apply for a mail-in (absentee) ballot or to become a permanent mail-in ballot voter, meaning the ballots for all elections held by Archuleta County would be mailed to the voter.
That card must be received by the Archuleta County Elections Office by Oct. 9.
All of the above actions can also be done on the web, at www.govotecolorado.com.
Mail-in ballots will be mailed out the week of Oct. 15, and officals ask that requests for mail-in ballots be completed by Oct. 15 to ensure delivery in time for the election. Requests for mail-in ballots cannot be taken after Oct. 30, because there would be an inadequate amount of time for the ballot to reach the voter.
However, voters may request and pick up a mail-in ballot through Friday, Nov. 2 at the Elections Office.
Early voting for the election will run from Oct. 22 until Nov. 2 in the Elections Office, located on the bottom floor of the county courthouse (accessible from behind the courthouse). Early voting will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
No voting will take place the Monday prior to Election Day, nor may you pick up a ballot. At that point, voters will need to vote on Election Day.
Election Day voting will take place at one of three vote centers:
• Archuleta County Courthouse, 449 San Juan St.
• Ross Aragon Community Center, 451 Hot Springs Blvd.
• Restoration Fellowship Church, 264 Village Drive.
All three vote centers can accommodate any voter and are not situated according to precincts.
A state-accepted ID must be shown in order to receive a ballot, and ballots cannot be picked up for someone else, though voters can turn in completed ballots for others.
The official notice of election will be placed in the Oct. 18 edition of The Pagosa Springs SUN. It will show everything on the Archuleta County ballot. It will also show two questions that are for Bayfield School District voters only.
If you have questions, call 264-8331 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
randi@pagosasun.com
