Floods in Southwest Colorado Change Ballot Rules for Unvoted Residents
Voters in Archuleta and La Plata counties can now cast replacement ballots at any state voting center, though local race options vary by location.
By Enzo Almasi ·
Floodwaters in southwest Colorado disrupted standard election procedures on Monday, prompting officials to adjust voting logistics in Archuleta and La Plata counties. The changes allow affected residents to secure replacement ballots at locations outside their home counties if they have not yet voted.
The Colorado Secretary of State's Office announced that residents in these two counties may visit any polling center in the state to receive a replacement ballot. If a voter goes to a center within their home county, they will receive a ballot containing all local and state races. However, if a voter replaces their ballot in a different county, the replacement document will only include statewide races.
Archuleta County officials closed one polling center and one ballot drop box in Pagosa Springs over the weekend due to flood risks. In response, the county opened two new voting centers and a new drop box. The new voting locations are the Archuleta County Courthouse at 109 Harmon Park Drive and the Pagosa Springs Election Office at 305 Village Drive. Additional voting access is available at the Archuleta County Extension Office at 344 U.S. 84 and the Pine River Library at 395 Bayfield Center Drive.
New drop boxes are located at 10 Solomon Drive in Pagosa Springs and 333 Milton Lane in Arboles. The Pine River Library will function as a joint voter center for both Archuleta and La Plata counties. Archuleta County residents using this location can vote on a replacement ballot that includes local races. Voters should avoid the Ross Aragon Community Center and the Town Hall drop box in Pagosa Springs, which are no longer in use.
La Plata County kept all its voting locations open but is deploying mobile voting centers to local evacuation shelters. This measure ensures that residents displaced by the floods can still participate in the election. Secretary of State Jena Griswold stated that election workers continue to deliver for every eligible voter in the state.
A full list of current voter centers and drop box locations is available on the Colorado Secretary of State's website. Individuals who cannot vote in person or return their mail-in ballot due to flooding may request an emergency ballot online.
Source: The Denver Post
