Archuleta County Cuts Voting Sites as Flood Risk Grows
Voters in the affected region can now cast replacement ballots at any state voter center or request emergency mail-in options before the deadline.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Southwest Colorado faces continued water threats, prompting officials to adjust how residents cast their votes this year. The Colorado Department of State confirmed on Monday that several voting locations in Archuleta County are no longer open for ballot returns.
The state agency issued the changes to prevent voters from traveling to closed sites. Officials stated that voters should stop attempting to return ballots to the specific locations now offline. The adjustments apply strictly to Archuleta County, while voting hours and sites in Conejos, La Plata, Montezuma, and Rio Grande counties remain unchanged.
Eligible voters who have not yet voted can visit any voter center in the state to get a replacement ballot. If an Archuleta resident goes to a center in their home county, or to the Pine River Library in Bayfield, they can vote on all local contests. Those visiting a center outside their home county will only be able to vote on statewide races.
Voters who still possess their mail-in ballots can return them to any drop box or voter center in the state. The deadline for these returns is 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. The ballots will be sent back to the county clerk for signature verification and tabulation.
For those who cannot vote in person or return a mail ballot due to flooding, the state offers an emergency ballot option. Applicants can request this through the Department of State website. A full list of open voter centers and drop boxes is available online, where users can enter their current address to find nearby options. Voters with specific questions should contact their County Clerk directly for assistance.
