The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. To save money during these tough economic times, the upcoming election will be conducted by mail only. There will not be early voting at polls or voting at polls on Election Day. In 2008, 174,600 Denver voters voted by mail out of 278,224 ballots cast. You must be registered to vote by that day in order to get a ballot in the mail. Monday, October 5th was the last day to register to vote. To check your record, voters can go the Colorado Secretary of State elections website at www.sos.state.co.us, and click on “Verify Your Voter/Ballot Status” or call 3-1-1.
Voters should make sure to follow the instructions on how to properly complete their ballot. Ten percent of the mail ballots from the November 2007 election were improperly marked with check marks, circles and other marks that could not be counted by electronic ballot counters, and contributed to a delayed vote count. Most voters will mail in their ballots to the Elections Division. They must be received at the Elections Division no later than 7 pm on Election Day in order to be counted.
Voters can return their voted ballots by mail or in person. The return postage for a mail ballot is 61 cents. Voters who choose to drop their ballots off in person can bring them to the Elections Division lobby at 3888 E. Mexico Ave. or the atrium of the Wellington Webb Building at 201 W. Colfax Ave. between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, October 26 – Saturday, October 31, or on Monday, November 2.
The hours on Election Day, November 3, will be from 7 am to 7 pm. In addition to being able to drop off ballots in the lobby of these facilities, a drive through ballot drop-off will also be available at the Elections Division on Election Day from 7 am to 7 pm.
Voters should make sure to deposit their ballots in an attended red ballot box only. Voters should not leave their ballots at any unsecured location or drop them off outside of the posted hours of operation. Voters can log onto www.denvervotes.org to confirm that their voted ballot has been received by the Elections Division.
The November 3rd election ballot will include the following issues:
- Ballot initiative 300 regarding motor vehicle impoundment. Here is the ballot title: “"Shall the voters for the City and County of Denver adopt an ordinance amending the Denver Revised Municipal Code and in connection therewith, requiring the immediate impoundment of a vehicle when the driver is driving without a valid operator's or chauffeur's license, or driving contrary to the restrictions imposed upon their license, or driving while their license has been denied, suspended, canceled or revoked, or when a driver of a vehicle is an illegal alien, while mandating the issuance of a summons without requiring the immediate impoundment of a vehicle when a validly licensed driver does not have such license in their immediate possession but has corroborating identification and proof of insurance, and allowing bond exemptions for rental cars, stolen vehicles, expired licenses renewed within 20 days, and lien holders when vehicles were sold to validly licensed drivers?" To read it click here.
- Election of Denver School Board members in three districts and one At-Large seat. There are 11 candidates for the four seats, only one of whom is an incumbent.
This November, make your voice heard! For more information on the voting options or issues, call the Denver Elections Division at (720) 913- VOTE (8683), 3-1-1 or my office 303-377-1807. You can also visit the Denver Elections Division website.
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Frequently asked questions
I am new to Denver and would like to register to vote. Where can I register?
Unfortunately, the last day to register to vote in the General Election was Monday, October 5. In the future, the easiest way to register is by mail. Click here for a mail-in registration form. You also may obtain a registration application form at any Denver Motor Vehicle office, my Council office, or at the Elections Division main office located at 3888 E. Mexico Ave. Be sure to fill out the form completely and to sign it before submitting.
On Election Day, can I register and vote in that same day's election?
No. By law, you must be a registered resident in your precinct 30 days prior to an election. You are able to register up until 29 days as well. Any registrations submitted after that cutoff day will be deemed as deferred until the end of Election Day.
If I don't vote in or miss any one election, will my registration be cancelled?
No. If you miss voting in any General Election, the Election Division will mail you a card stating that you did not vote in that election. By signing and returning the card, verifying that you have not moved or made a name change, your voter registration will remain on "active" status.
The Election Division tells me my current voter registration is "inactive." Why?
You missed voting in the last General Election and did not return the card that the Election Division sent you. Or the card mailed to you was returned as "undeliverable" by the post office. If you have moved, notify the Election Division that your current registration information has changed and you still wish to remain registered. By updating your registration or voting in the next election and providing the Election Division with your new information, it will become "active" again.
Do I have to prove I'm going to be absent on Election Day to get an absentee ballot?
No. Absentee voting is voting by mail. It is encouraged for all voters as the most convenient way to vote. Absentee voting and early voting allow you to avoid the possibility of long lines at the polling place on Election Day.
It is Election Day and there is no time left to mail my ballot. May I drop it off at the closest polling place? Yes. On Election Day, the Elections Division will have a drive-through mail-in ballot drop off in front of its offices, 3888 East Mexico Ave., from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Turn west onto East Mexico Avenue from Colorado Boulevard, and keep to the right lane to go through the drive-through.
Who is eligible to vote?
I am a student going to school here. Can I vote here also?
Students who claim residence are allowed to register to vote.
Can I vote if I am homeless?
In order to register to vote a homeless person must have a mailing address. This may include a shelter, a homeless service provider, or a private residence, but may not be a post office box or general delivery.
Is alcohol permitted to be sold and/or served on Election Day?
Yes. There is no Election Day restriction upon the sale of alcoholic beverages by those lawfully licensed to do so.
Is there somewhere I can get election results after 7:00 p.m. on Election Day?
This Elections Division website, DenverGov.org/Election_Division/, posts and updates results as they become available, beginning at 7pm on Election Night. You can also watch Denver Channel 8 or visit the Denver 8 TV website for updates.