Update, 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31: The MET number has been corrected.
Election Day, Nov. 5, is just around the corner, and voted ballots for the Nov. 5 general election must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Postmarks do not count.
Local election results will be posted on www.PagosaSUN.com when available on Election Day.
As of Wednesday morning, Oct. 30, 5,240 ballots had been returned in Archuleta County, according to the County Clerk and Recorder Kristy Archuleta.
Archuleta reported to The SUN on Tuesday, Oct. 29, that the election has been running smoothly with steady returns.
She also recommends that voters no longer mail ballots back to ensure they are returned in time.
“Please do not mail ballots anymore,” Archuleta states in an email to The SUN. “It is best to utilize our drop boxes or hand deliver directly.”
The county has two ballot drop boxes with video surveillance that are open 24/7. One is located on the sidewalk outside 449 San Juan St. (the former county courthouse). The other is at the TARA Community Center in Arboles.
Ballots can also be returned to a Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC).
The election’s office, located at the back of the former courthouse at 449 San Juan St., is open as a VSPC. It is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 2; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day only, additional VSPCs will be set up at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association (PLPOA) Clubhouse located at 230 Port Ave. and the Archuleta County Extension Office, located at 344 U.S. 84.
Archuleta further notes that Monday, Oct. 28, was the last day the elections staff could mail ballots, so anyone needing to update an existing voter record or register to vote should go to the election’s office at 449 San Juan Street to pick up a mail ballot or vote in person.
Those eligible can register to vote up to and including Election Day at www.govotecolorado.gov or at the county’s elections office.
More information on registering to vote is available at https://www.archuletacounty.org/192/Elections.
Free bus routes on
Election Day
On Tuesday, Archuleta County announced Mountain Express Transit (MET) will offer free regular route bus rides on Election Day.
In a press release, the county indicates the stops nearest the VSPC and drop box at 449 San Juan St. are at the Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library, Hot Springs Boulevard or the Community United Methodist Church.
It indicates the nearest route stop to the VSPC at the PLPOA Clubhouse is at the Bonanza Avenue and Vista Boulevard intersection. It notes residents with difficulties traveling on foot from the route stop to the polling center can make arrangements for help with the remaining distance by calling the MET no later than noon on Monday, Nov. 4.
The MET can be reached by calling (970) 264-2250.
Partial state systems passwords released
Archuleta also issued a statement to The SUN Wednesday morning following the announcement from the Colorado Department of State that the department “is aware that a spreadsheet located on the Department’s website improperly included a hidden tab including partial passwords to certain components of Colorado voting systems.”
Both the Colorado Department of State and Archuleta indicated there is no immediate threat to Colorado’s elections.
“Does this effect Archuleta County? Yes and no,” Archuleta wrote in an email to The SUN. “The passwords were put out there in error but it’s a two part process to change anything. Secretary of State’s office and Dominion Voting Systems both have separate passwords and have to have physical access to our equipment to change anything.”
Archuleta adds the county’s equipment is stored under 24-hour video surveillance, and she and the elections administrator are the only ones that have key-card access to those areas.
“Since our counting room was entered unauthorized, we have upped the security and have motion sensors, additional cameras and an alarm on that door now along with our already existing security,” Archuleta adds.
The state, via a press release, also explained the security measures.
“Colorado elections include many layers of security,” the press release explains. “There are two unique passwords for every election equipment component, which are kept in separate places and held by different parties. Passwords can only be used with physical in-person access to a voting system.”
It adds, “Under Colorado law, voting equipment must be stored in secure rooms that require a secure ID badge to access. That ID badge creates an access log that tracks who enters a secure area and when. There is 24/7 video camera recording on all election equipment.”
Further, according to the press release, “Clerks are required to maintain restricted access to secure ballot areas, and may only share access information with background-checked individuals. No person may be present in a secure area unless they are authorized to do so or are supervised by an authorized and background-checked employee. There are also strict chain of custody requirements that track when a voting systems component has been accessed and by whom. It is a felony to access voting equipment without authorization.
“Every Colorado voter votes on a paper ballot, which is then audited during the Risk Limiting Audit to verify that ballots were counted according to voter intent.”
The press release further explains the department “took immediate action as soon as it was aware of this, and informed the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which closely monitors and protects the county’s essential security infrastructure. The Department is working to remedy this situation where necessary.”
“We strive to uphold the integrity of our democracy and will not allow any unauthorized person to have access to our equipment,” Archuleta wrote. “Our election model in Colorado leads the nation how we conduct elections and this will not interfere with our processes. We maintain logs and seals in every aspect of our elections and will continue to do so.”
randi@pagosasun.com
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