Ballots for the Nov. 3 general election will be mailed to active registered voters beginning Monday, Oct. 5.
The election will be a mail-ballot election in accordance with Colorado law.
Archuleta County Clerk and Recorder Kristy Archuleta indicated there has been a steady flow of people coming in to pick up ballots due to happenings at the federal level concerning mail ballots, but noted there are no changes to how the election is being conducted.
Archuleta cautioned, however, that voters may have to wait a bit longer to receive their ballots via mail due to Oct. 12 — Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day — being a holiday.
She noted that, if a ballot is not received, call the Archuleta County Elections Office, or go in to receive a ballot.
The last day for a county clerk’s office to mail a replacement ballot is Oct. 26.
What’s on the ballot?
The following offices and items will appear on Archuleta County ballots.
Your actual ballot will include only the issues for which you are eligible to vote.
Federal offices
For U.S. senator, voters will have a choice between several candidates: Republican Mark Baisley, Democrat John Hickenlooper, Forward candidate Bob Chew, Approval Voting candidate Christopher Baum, Libertarian Blake Huber, Unity candidate Adam Withrow and write-in candidate Donald Willoughby.
For U.S. representative for Congressional District 3, voters will have the option to vote for either Democrat Dwayne L. Romero, Republican Jeff Hurd, Libertarian Cory Robertson or unaffiliated candidate Clifton Brown.
State offices
For governor/lieutenant governor, voters will have several options: Republicans Victor Marx/George Washington Markert, Democrats Phil Weiser/Lesley Dahlkemper, American Constitution candidates Stephen T. Hamilton/James K. Treibert, Libertarians Eric Mulder/Wayne Harlos, Unity candidates Jeff Peckman/T.J. Cole, Approval Voting candidates Erik Underwood/Frank Atwood and unaffiliated candidates Greg Lopez/Taralyn Romero.
For secretary of state, voters will choose between Democrat Amanda Gonzalez, Republican James Wiley, Libertarian Sean Vadney, American Constitution candidate Amanda Campbell and Forward candidate Celeste Landry.
Candidates for state treasure include Democrat Jeff Bridges, Republican Kevin Grantham, Libertarian Jodie Barr and Approval Voting candidate Marilee Langer Sturgis.
For attorney general, voters will choose between Republican Michael J. Allen and Democrat Jena Griswold.
For state board of education member for Congressional District 3, voters will choose between Republican Sherri M. Wright and Democrat Barb Clementi.
The race for state representative for District 59 includes a choice between Democrat Katie Stewart and Republican Naomi Reiss.
Archuleta County offices
There are no contested races at the Archuleta County level.
Those appearing on the ballot will include Randy Betts for commissioner for District 3, Archuleta for clerk and recorder, Elsa P. White for treasurer, Johanna Tully-Elliott for assessor, Mike Le Roux for sheriff and Brad Hunt for coroner.
Ron Sutcliffe is running as a write-in candidate for surveyor.
Judicial retention questions
Voters will also be asked to vote yes or no on the retention of several judges, including Justin William W. Hood III of the Colorado Supreme Court; and judges Rebecca Ranking Freyre, Elizabeth L. Harris, Katherine E. Lum, Pax Moultrie, Karl L. Schock and Grant Sullivan of the Colorado Court of Appeals.
Ballot measures
Ballot questions referred by the general assembly or a political subdivision are listed by letter. Ballot questions initiated by the people are listed numerically.
Amendments propose a change to the Colorado Constitution, and propositions propose a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes.
Three Archuleta County ballot measures will appear on the ballot.
Archuleta County Ballot Issue 1A asks if the Archuleta County lodging tax should be increased from 2 percent to 6 percent, generating an increase of about $1,080,000, annually. The increased revenues would be split, with 80 percent going toward county road maintenance and improvement, 10 percent would go toward public safety and emergency dispatch, and 10 percent would go toward child care for the local workforce.
Archuleta County School District 50JR Ballot Issue 5A concerns approving debt of up to $79,900,000 with a repayment cost of up to $156,500,000 if the district receives a Building Excellent Schools Today, or BEST, grant from the state to construct and equip a new pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school and provide funds to Pagosa Peak Open School to update and equip educational facilities for students. District taxes would increase by up to $6,700,000 annual to pay the debt, with the mill levy to be sufficient to pay the principal, premium and interest.
Upper San Juan Health Service District Ballot Issue 7B would allow the district, which operates as Pagosa Springs Medical Center and operates emergency medical services, to continue to, retain and spend revenues above limits identified in the Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
The ballot will also include 14 state ballot measures.
Amendment 81 asks about requiring law enforcement to notify the Department of Homeland Security when a person is charged with either a violent crime or any crime if the person has a prior felony conviction if law enforcement cannot determine that the person is lawfully present in the United States.
Amendment 82 asks about creating a new law granting the right for consumers to purchase natural gas for cooking or heating in homes or businesses, and for distributors and utilities to sell natural gas to consumers.
Amendment 83 asks about creating a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest fish and wildlife; establishing hunting and fishing as the preferred means of managing fish and wildlife populations; and preserving the right of the state to regulate hunting, fishing and wildlife management.
Amendment 84 asks about requiring a voter to sign and include the last four digits of the Social Security number, driver’s license or identification card number on the outside of the mail ballot, as wells as provisions for correcting mistakes.
Amendment 85 asks about requiring ballots questions to be written in plain language and at no more eighth-grade reading level, as well as prohibiting a state statute from requiring language that conflicts with the requirement for citizen-initiated measures.
Amendment 86 asks about reenacting the current congressional redistricting process.
Amendment 87 concerns implementing a state graduated income tax to “increase or improve” levels of public services, including K-12 public education, heath care, and early childhood care and education.
Proposition NN asks about increasing investment in K-12 public education by 2 percent each year for the next 10 years by raising the limit on state fiscal year spending.
Proposition 132 concerns changing criminal penalties for fentanyl and certain synthetic opioids; increasing the felony classifications of drug-related crimes for distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, sale or possession of fentanyl and certain synthetic opioids; creating mandated treatment for certain drug felony violations; and changing sentencing provisions for crimes related to fentanyl and certain synthetic opioids and drug-related deaths.
Proposition 133 asks about modifying existing laws and creating new laws concerning human trafficking of a minor, as well as increasing the penalty.
Proposition 134 concerns limiting participation in K-12 and collegiate school sports based on the participant’s biological sex.
Proposition 135 concern prohibiting surgery on a minor for the purpose of altering biological sex characteristics.
Proposition 136 asks about capping the state income tax at 4.4 percent of federal taxable income for individuals and corporations.
Proposition 137 concerns creating a new law to increase water and land conservation funding through allowing the state to keep and spend a portion of revenue from the state sales tax on sporting goods and equipment.
Returning voted ballots
Voters can return voted ballots by mail, through a drop box or to the Archuleta County Elections Office/Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC), located at 305 Village Drive.
Archuleta County election materials caution against returning ballots via mail to ensure they are received in time and to instead deliver them personally to the VSPC or a drop box.
It also cautions to affix adequate postage if returning your voted ballot by mail.
Ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 to be counted. Postmarks do not count.
Secure drop boxes with video will open on Oct. 5 and will be located in front of the Pagosa Springs Town Hall (551 Hot Springs Blvd.) and the TARA Community Center (333 Milton Lane in Arboles). They will be open 24/7 through 7 p.m. on Election Day.
The elections office will serve as the VSPC beginning Oct. 19.
From Oct. 19-30, it will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Oct. 31, it will be open 8 a.m. to noon. On Nov. 2, it will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 (Election Day).
On Election Day only, the Archuleta County Extensions Office, located at 344 U.S. 84.
Ballots can be tracked via Archuleta.BallotTrax.net or www.govotecolorado.gov
Additional voter
information
Voters can make sure their registration is up to date by visiting the Archuleta County Elections Office at 305 Village Drive, which is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., or online at www.govotecolorado.gov.
The office can be reached at (970) 264-8331.
Eligible Coloradans can also register to vote and update their voter registration at GoVoteColorado.gov through Election Day.
Visit www.archuletacounty.gov or www.govotecolorado.gov for additional election information.
randi@pagosasun.com
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