January 22, 2024 – The Office of the Clerk and Recorder has sent over 5,100 ballots for the March 5, Presidential Primary to all Democratic, Republican and Unaffiliated voters classified under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). These voters with special circumstances include the military and their dependents living out of state, and voters who reside out of the country. Holding the highest amount of active UOCAVA voters in the State of Colorado, the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office pays special attention to these voters.
“Eligible voters who are out-of-state military and citizens living out of the country receive special accommodations to ensure they are enfranchised for each election,” said Clerk Steve Schleiker. “Ballots are mailed to these voters in advance of others, and they have an 8-day extension to return their ballot. Our office’s duty is to guarantee every eligible voter, regardless of personal circumstances, is unencumbered in their democratic right to vote.”
Besides receiving their ballots earlier, the UOCAVA voters also have an extended time to return their ballot to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office. Whereas local voters must return their ballot by 7:00 PM on Election Day to count, UOCAVA ballots postmarked by 7:00 PM on Election Day will count if they arrive as late as eight days after the election. The postmark is counted as valid only on UOCAVA ballots, and not for local voters. UOCAVA voters can vote and return their ballot by mail, fax or email to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office.
Because this is a Primary Election, unaffiliated voters will receive a ballot packet containing two ballots: a Republican candidate ballot and Democratic candidate ballot. It is essential the unaffiliated voter only votes and returns one ballot. They should destroy and discard the other ballot. If the unaffiliated voter returns both ballots voted, neither will be counted. The voter needs to vote only one ballot.
UOCAVA voters may obtain additional information by contacting the Election staff members who have expertise in this area at uocava@elpasoco.com. They also may visit the website for the Colorado Secretary of State.
The Clerk’s Office wants all eligible voters to “make a plan to vote” and be prepared in advance of February 12, when ballots will be mailed to non-UOCAVA voters. This is an all-mail ballot election and voters’ registration must be up to date for their ballot to be mailed to them. Voters are encouraged to visit http://www.govotecolorado.gov now and check that the address on their registration record is correct. For additional election information visit our website EPCVotes.com.