By Pamela Bacon
September 14, 2022
ELECTION MYTH BUSTING IN COLORADO:
- If I use anything other than the blue or black pen that does not bleed on the other side of my ballot, like the instructions on the top of the ballot says, my ballot will be disqualified?
- FALSE, in Colorado we recommend using a blue or black ink pen that does not bleed onto the other side BUT you can use any color of pen, even pencil or a sharpie and your ballot will be counted.
- If I don’t put my secrecy sleeve in my mail ballot envelope my ballot will be disqualified?
- FALSE, in Colorado the secrecy sleeve is the voter’s choice to enclose or not enclose. Your ballot will be counted if you don’t have a secrecy sleeve.
- If I don’t turn my mail ballot into my county of residence my ballot will be disqualified?
- FALSE, in Colorado you can return your mail ballot in at any County VSPC or Drop Box in the state of Colorado and that county will forward to your county of residency to count the ballot.
- Mail ballots are counted (tabulated) different than in person ballots?
- FALSE, in Colorado mail ballots and in person ballots are both paper and are counted (tabulated) the same way. They are all ran into a scanner for counting (tabulating).
- If I initial, sign, or write anything on my ballot that will disqualify my ballot?
- FALSE, in Colorado your ballot will be counted. Any marks made by the voter on their ballot that might identify that voter’s ballot will be duplicated on a new ballot by a bipartisan team of election judges with two other bipartisan judges watching them. This is to protect voter privacy.
- If I sign my ballot envelope different than what is printed on my envelope my ballot will be disqualified?
- FALSE, in Colorado your ballot will be counted, signature verification judges are trained on signature analysis, leaving off a middle name or middle initial will not disqualify your ballot.
What might cause a problem with my ballot being counted in Colorado?
- Missing signature on the envelope
- Signature discrepancy, which means the bipartisan election judges that must check every signature can not match the signature on your ballot envelope with any of the signatures on file for you in our election data base.
- Identification Required and was not provided.
BUT WAIT FOR IT: In Colorado you have 8 days after the election (November 16) to cure missing signature, discrepant signature or ID required by filling out a form saying you in fact did vote your ballot and returned it and provide proper identification to the County Clerk and your ballot will be counted.
- How does Colorado get unofficial results out so fast on election night?
- In Colorado, counties are allowed to process ballots starting fifteen days before the election. Tabulation of the results can't happen until polls close at 7:00 p.m. and at that point tabulation can be done and unofficial results printed.
Still have questions? Contact us at 970-522-1544 or baconp@logancountyco.gov
BallotTrax is a free service for Logan County Voters that allows you to track the status of your ballot online, as well as receive messages by text, phone or email when your ballot has been sent to you and received by our Elections Division. Logan County voters may sign up at votelogancounty.ballottrax.net
The Election and Recording Department can be reached at 522-1544 for voter and election questions or recording information. The Motor Vehicle Department can be reached at 522-1158 for license plates/renewals or titling a vehicle. You can also reach our office by email at baconp@logancountyco.gov . Like us on Facebook at Logan County Elections/MotorVehicle/Recording