Ballots for the Nov. 4 election will soon be hitting area mailboxes.
According to an election notice from Archuleta County, mail-ballot packets will be mailed to every active voter registered in Archuleta County beginning Oct. 10.
To be counted, mail ballots must be returned to and “in the hands of” the Archuleta County clerk and recorder no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 4, according to the notice. Postmarks do not count.
The following information is from the notice.
Returning voted ballots
Voted ballots an be returned via mail, polling locations, the county’s secured drop boxes or drop-off locations.
Polling locations
Beginning Oct. 27, the Archuleta County Election Office located at 305 Village Drive will serve as the official Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC).
The VSPC hours will be Oct. 27 through Nov. 3, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. until noon; and Election Day, Nov. 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
On Election Day only, there will be a polling location set up at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association Clubhouse at 230 Port Ave.
Drop boxes
Secure ballot drop boxes will be open 24/7 with video surveillance from Oct. 10 through 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 4.
There are two locations: Pagosa Springs Town Hall, 551 Hot Springs Blvd. (located in front of the building to the left of the entry doors) and the TARA Community Center at 333 Milton Lane in Arboles.
Drop-off locations
You may also drop-off your voted ballot at the Election Office located at 305 Village Drive from Oct. 13 through Oct. 23, Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 27 through Nov. 3, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon; and Election Day, Nov. 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
What’s on the ballot?
The following are the official offices and ballot measures that will be voted on in the Nov. 4 election.
Depending on your physical address, you may not be voting on all referred ballot issues.
State ballot measures
Ballot questions referred by the general assembly or any political subdivision are listed by letter, and ballot questions initiated by the people are listed numerically.
A ballot question listed as an “amendment” proposes a change to the Colorado constitution, and a ballot question listed as a “proposition” proposes a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes. A “yes/for” vote on any ballot question is a vote in favor of changing current law or existing circumstances, and a “no/against” vote on any ballot question is a vote against changing current law or existing circumstances.
There are two state ballot measures on the ballot.
Proposition LL centers on keeping and spending all revenue generated by the 2022 voter-approved state tax deduction limits on individuals with incomes of $300,000 or more, and maintaining those deduction limits, to continue the Healthy School Meals for All program.
The program pays public schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all K-12 students.
Proposition MM centers on a proposed increase to state taxes of $95 million for school meals and school assistance programs by increasing state taxable income for those who have a federal taxable income of $300,000 or more by limiting itemized or standard state income deductions.
That, the question indicates, would be for the purposes of fully funding the Health School Meals for All program to provide free breakfast and lunch; increase wages for employees who prepare and serve school meals; help schools use “nutritious ingredients, instead of processed products and ensure that Colorado-grown and raised products are part of school meals; and support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Municipal ballot measure
Town of Pagosa Springs voters will have the opportunity to vote on Ballot Issue 2A, which seeks a 1 percent sales tax rate increase for sewerage and wastewater reuse facilities beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
According to the ballot issue, taxes would be increased to “construct, reconstruct, improve, repair, better, extend, operate and maintain sewerage and wastewater reuse facilities to serve the town, including facilities of the Pagosa Springs Sanitation General Improvement District.
School district offices
Voters within Bayfield School District 10 JT-R will be voting to elect three candidates to four-year terms on the board of directors. Candidates include Rebecca Parnell, Gary Maestas, Matt Turner and Robert Coronado Jr.
Voters within Ignacio School District 11JT will vote for two candidates to serve four-year terms on the board of directors. Candidates include Christine Sage, Leila C. Baker and James P. Bulwan.
Special district ballot measures
Voters in Colorado’s Timber Ridge Metropolitan District will be asked to vote on Ballot Question 6A, which concerns eliminating term limits for board members and allowing board members to serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms.
Upper Pine River Fire Protection District voters will see Ballot Issue 7B, asking voters within that district to approve a new 1 percent sales tax on transactions in that district.
The issue notes it would exclude sales of food for home consumption, prescription drugs, diapers, feminine hygiene products, farm equipment, machinery and machine tools, school-related activities, and “other categories exempt from state sales tax collection in the Colorado Revised Statutes.
It notes the revenue would go toward providing adequate staffing to address increasing emergency call volume, investing in training and staff retention, maintain fire and Emergency Medical Services equipment and vehicles to extend their useful lives and replace them when necessary, invest in updating firefighter safety gear and equipment, and improve and equip current and future fire stations to maintain response times.
randi@pagosasun.com
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