The Clerk and Recorder’s Office is participating in the UChooseCO campaign to educate unaffiliated voters on how they can vote in the Primary Election on June 26. The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office developed the UChooseCO campaign and will introduce it in Colorado Springs Tuesday, April 3, 10:30 a.m., at the Pioneers Museum.
“In 2016, voters approved Proposition 108. That change in Colorado law permits unaffiliated voters to vote in primary elections without changing their party affiliation,” said Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman. “Our office is available to assist unaffiliated voters with declaring a ballot preference for the upcoming June Primary and any other questions.”
Unaffiliated voters can choose which political party’s primary ballot they would like to receive, either Republican or Democratic, at www.GoVoteColorado.com. We ask they choose their ballot preference by early May before ballot packets are prepared. It is important to note, choosing a ballot preference does not affiliate the voter with that political party; they remain unaffiliated. However, by choosing a ballot preference and receiving just one party’s ballot, unaffiliated voters help the Clerk’s Office reduce the costs associated with printing and mailing two ballots to a voter.
When unaffiliated voters choose a ballot preference, it is only for the current Primary Election, in this case June 26, 2018, and then the preference is removed from the voter’s record. The voter can again choose a ballot preference before the next Primary Election.
By choosing a ballot preference, only one ballot will be mailed to the voter. Unaffiliated voters who do not choose a ballot preference will receive a ballot packet containing two ballots, Republican and Democratic. Ballots will begin to be mailed the first week of June. 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.
Visit http://uchoose.co.gov/ for information and check out social media @UChooseCO. Voters also may contact the Clerk’s Election Department at (719) 575-VOTE (8683) or elections@elpasoco.com.