By Delisa Weeks, Kiowa County Clerk and Recorder

ELECTION INFORMATION:  Ballots for the June 28, 2016 Primary Election will be mailed next week June 6 – June 10, 2016.  The Primary Election will be conducted as an all Mail Ballot Election.  This means there will be no voting at precincts on Election Day June 28, 2016.  The only Voter Service and Polling Center will be the Kiowa County Clerk & Recorder’s Office 1305 Goff Street in Eads, Colorado. 

The ballot you receive in the mail is your official ballot and the ballot you need to vote and return to our office for processing. Ballots are mailed to all Active Eligible Voters that are affiliated with the Democrat or Republican Parties.  As soon as you receive your ballot you may vote the ballot with your choices and then return it to the Clerk & Recorder’s Office during office hours or by mail. 

Remember to allow enough time for the ballot to reach our office!   Postmarks do not count!   Mail-in ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. June 28, 2016. 

       TIPS FOR MAIL BALLOTS:

1. You will receive the ballot, secrecy sleeve and return envelope.   
2. Select candidates and questions you wish to vote on. 
3. Use a blue or black pen that will not bleed through the paper to vote your ballot.  Completely fill in the oval next to the selection you want to vote for. 
4. If you do not want to vote the entire ballot, simply mark your selections and leave the rest blank. 
5. Place your ballot in the secrecy sleeve that came with your ballot. 
6. Place the ballot inside of the secrecy sleeve in your return envelope addressed to Kiowa County Clerk and Recorder, PO Box 37, Eads, Colorado CO 81036. 
7. Before sealing the envelope, please sign the signature affidavit located on the back of the envelope.  This is required in order for your ballot to be processed.  We must compare every signature to make sure that the intended voter was the one who signed the envelope. 

8.  We highly recommend that you:

• Drop your ballot off at the Kiowa County Clerk & Recorder’s Office at 1305 Goff Street Eads, CO 81036
• You may also mail your ballot using the envelope provided. Adequate postage will be required.

QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT:

What if my ballot does not arrive?  If your Primary Election ballot does not arrive by June 16, 2016 please come to the Kiowa County Clerk & Recorder 1305 Goff Street, Eads, CO 81036 to obtain a replacement ballot. 

I spoiled my ballot, now what do I do?  Please call the Kiowa County Clerk & Recorder’s Office at 438-5421 or stop by our office.  You may obtain a replacement ballot during normal business hours; from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

What do I do with my mail-in ballot? You can vote your ballot any time after you receive the ballot.  You can either mail it back with a first class stamp or bring it to the Kiowa County Clerk & Recorder’s Office at 1305 Goff Street, Eads, CO 81036.  You may do this any time up to June 28, 2016. All ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. election day in order to be counted. 

I am unaffiliated.  Can I vote in the Primary?  Unaffiliated voters can affiliate with a party and vote in the Primary Election by completing and returning their letter that was recently sent in the mail from our office or by going to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office, or online at www.govotecolorado.com .  In order to mail a ballot, we need to receive the affiliation declaration by June 20, 2016.  You may come to our office and pick up your ballot through Election Day June 28, 2016.  

REMEMBER: To vote in the Primary Election you must be affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic Party.   Unaffiliated voters can affiliate anytime up to and including Election Day. 

Primary Election Day:  Tuesday, June 28, 2016 ballots will be mailed to all active voters affiliated with Republican or Democratic parties.  Unaffiliated Voters need to affiliate and can do so either before or on Election Day. 

June 6 – June 10, 2016: Ballots for the Primary Election will be mailed to voters this week. 

Saturday, June 25, 2016:  Kiowa County Clerk & Recorder’s Office will be open 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for return of mail-in ballots; issue replacement ballots; register to vote; update address; update name; cast a ballot or vote a provisional ballot.  

General Election: Tuesday, November 8, 2016 ballots will be mailed to all active voters registered in Kiowa County.  

You can reach us at 719-438-5421 for voter and election questions or by email at delisa.weeks@state.co.us.