On Friday, the Fort Morgan Times sat down with Morgan County Clerk Kevin Strauch to get the scoop on the Presidential Primary voting ballots that were recently mailed nationwide. Here’s what you need to know.
Since 2020, when the State of Colorado returned to Presidential Primary voting, ballots have been mailed out to registered voters. The primary election tells the state parties who they want to represent us as president in the general election. The primaries are all about the parties, and you select the candidate you want to represent the party.
Democrats have an additional line on the ballot this year to nominate a noncommitted delegate. This option is similar to “None of the Above ” and does not commit delegates to vote for any one candidate at the assembly.
You may also notice that delegates who have withdrawn their candidacy are still listed on the ballot. To officially withdraw, they must formally request the withdrawal from the Secretary of State before Primary Election Day on March 5. If you vote for one of these candidates and they have not withdrawn, they could still be nominated to represent the party if enough votes are received. If the delegate did withdraw before election day, none of their votes would be counted.
Anyone affiliated with a party (Democrat or Republican) will receive a ballot and a white envelope. If registered as Unaffiliated, you will receive both Republican and Democratic ballots with a yellow envelope. Only one ballot may be voted and submitted. If you submit both, your vote will not count because your intent is unknown. This allows the Election Office to verify your vote as a Democrat or Republican.
You can mail in your ballot or drop it off at any of the 24/7 secure ballot drop boxes in Fort Morgan at the Morgan County Administrative Building parking lot or a ballot box inside, Wiggins at the Town Hall or Brush at the City Hall.
As of Monday, Feb. 26, the voting service and polling center at the Morgan County Administration Building, 231 Ensign Street in Fort Morgan, will be open during regular business hours through Monday, March 4. On Tuesday, March 5, Primary Election Day, the voting center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can vote in person by voting machine, replace your ballot, or vote on your paper ballot. Spanish ballots are available for voters on the voting machines as well. Additionally, the office will be open on Saturday, March 2, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on, Tuesday, March 5. To count, mailed ballots must also be received at the local Post Office before 7 p.m.; a postmark doesn’t count.
“We go out of our way to visit each Post Office in Brush, Fort Morgan, and Wiggins several times throughout Election Day,” said Strauch. “Postmarks don’t count. Unfortunately, nothing can be done if your ballot is still in Denver at 7 p.m. on Election Night.”
Of the 18,000 ballots mailed out, they expect that only 7,000 – 8,000 will be returned and that the majority of ballots will be received on Election Day. The Election Office receives a steady number of ballots until the Monday before Election Day, at which point it doubles, and the rest are received on Election Day.
On Election Day, the Voter Service and Polling Center stays open until 7 p.m. At that time, If you are in line to vote or drop off your ballot at 7 p.m., you will be able to vote.
Strauch said that Colorado gives everyone who possibly can the opportunity to vote. A sheriff’s deputy takes ballots and applications to the jail for eligible electors to vote, and election judges take ballots to healthcare facilities for their populations to vote as well.
Ballottrax is a program you can sign up for to receive notifications about the status of your ballot. (morgan.ballottrax.net) The information is included on your secrecy sleeve with your ballot. The website also offers information in other languages.
With Ballottrax, the moment that your ballot hits the mailstream, you will receive a notification. You will receive messages when your ballot has been received and again after it is accepted.
If there are any problems with your ballot, a notification will be sent out and will give you information on how to correct it
You will receive a notification if there are any problems with your ballot. A good example is if your signature is rejected, a notice will be sent out, giving you information on how to correct it. All corrections must be received by the eighth day after Election Day. If you receive email notifications, you are offered a link to verify the information. You also have the option to receive updates through text or a phone call.
Strauch said that when his son turned 18 during the last election, he turned in his ballot and his signature was rejected. He was able to track that process through Ballottrax so he could get it fixed before Election Day.
The first round of results will be announced on Election Day at 7 p.m.
“The sooner you want to see the final results, the sooner you should get your ballot in,” said Strauch. “On Election Day, there is always a backlog. By Wednesday morning, we should have all the ballots counted except for signature cures and Military and Overseas ballots.”
Strauch said there have been times when the staff counted ballots until midnight. Results will be released throughout the night until all ballots are counted.
To learn more information about voting, visit the website at https://morgancounty.colorado.gov/elected-officials/clerk-and-recorder/elections-department.
You can also keep up to date with information posted or tips about your ballot on their Facebook page at facebook.com/morgancountyclerk.
