Election FAQs

What are mail ballot elections and why are they conducted by mail?

Mail elections started in Colorado after the passage of HB13-1303 Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act in 2013. Voters enjoy the extra time to review the ballot, candidates and issues before casting a vote from the comfort of their own home.

Mail ballot elections are an alternative to polling place voting. Prior to each election, a ballot is automatically mailed to all active Gilpin County voters at the mailing address on record in the Statewide Voter Registration System. The ballot is then returned via mail, drop box, or in-person to the County Elections Office.

Mail ballot elections are more cost effective than polling place elections, they create an effective paper trail, and increase overall voter turnout.

I am not registered to vote. How can I do that?

You can go to GoVoteColorado.gov and register. You can also register when you obtain a driver's license, or fill out a paper form at the Clerk's Office. You must be a resident of Colorado for 22 days prior to the election. You can register to vote up to and including Election Day but the Clerk cannot mail you a ballot less than 8 days before an election. After 8 days you must vote in-person or get a paper ballot at the Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC).

What do I have to do to vote by mail?

You must be registered and have your primary residence in Gilpin County to receive a ballot. Ballots are mailed to active voters approximately 18-22 days before the election. Once you vote your ballot, just place it in the return envelope. Make sure to sign and date the affidavit on the envelope and mail it back. You can drop off your ballot at one of the 24 hour ballot drop boxes in Gilpin County at the Gilpin County Courthouse, 203 Eureka St, Central City; Gilpin County Community Center, 250 Norton Dr, Black Hawk; or Gilpin County Public Works, 135 Tolland Rd, Rollinsville. You may also drop your ballot in one of the over 400 drop boxes across the state.

What if I have moved and have not updated my registration?

Mail ballots will not be forwarded to your new address. Go to GoVoteColorado.gov at least 8 days prior to the election and update your voter registration. After 8 days you will need to come to the Gilpin County Courthouse at 203 Eureka St, Central City, to update your address and obtain a ballot or vote in person.

What if I change my name?

You cannot vote using your old name. Your name and signature must match on your ballot. You will need to go to GoVoteColorado.gov and change your name. You can also change your name by filling out a form in-person at the Clerk's office. You will need to provide ID showing proof of name change.

I will be out of town when ballots are mailed. How do I make sure I get a ballot?

If you return prior to Election Day, you will have time to vote and return your ballot when you get back.

If you are away for an extended period of time (for example, away at college), you can go to GoVoteColorado.gov and add a ballot address to your voter registration. You will need to allow sufficient time to mail the ballot back as postmarks do not count. Please be sure to remove the ballot address from your record once you have returned to your regular address.

You may also come to the office no sooner than 45 days before the election to request a ballot in-person.

What if I make a mistake while voting my ballot?

At the top of your ballot you will see directions on how to correct a mistake. You may also contact the Elections office for instructions on how to obtain a replacement ballot. You can come in to the Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC) for an election judge to 'spoil' your ballot you make a mistake on and to issue a new ballot.

The most common mistake we see is voters using a pen other than a blue or black ball point pen. A sharpie or other marker will bleed through the ballot paper, making it difficult to determine the marks you made to select a candidate or issue.

Will my vote still count if I forget to put my ballot into the secrecy sleeve?

Yes, all eligible ballots will be counted whether or not they are sent back in the Voter Instructions that can act as a secrecy sleeve.

What if I forget to sign my return envelope and I have already mailed it or dropped it in a drop box?

If your return your mail ballot without signing the Affidavit on the envelope, will will contact you by a mailed letter, however we encourage everyone to sign up for BallotTrax so that you can be immediately emailed/texted to notify you of this discrepancy as well as include information as to how to 'cure' your signature. BallotTrax also notifies you of when your ballot has been mailed to you, and when we have received it after you returned it.

You will have up to 8 days after the election to complete the signature cure process so that your ballot will be counted. You will need to include a copy of your ID whether you return the letter or complete the process online.

Why do I have to sign the back of the ballot envelope?

Your signature on the back of the ballot envelope will be compared to your signature on file in the Statewide Voter Registration System. All signatures from all your ballot envelopes are kept on file. If your signature matches the signature we have on file, your ballot will be counted. If the signatures do not match, a letter or BallotTrax notification will be sent to your address/email/text on file along with information that you can complete to confirm that you voted the ballot.

No one else may sign your ballot for you. This includes family members or people who have a Power of Attorney to sign documents on your behalf. If you are unable to sign, you must make your mark and have a witness sign that he or she observed the mark.

All signatures that do not match and that are not acknowledged by the voter via the signature cure process, will be turned over to the District Attorney after the election for investigation.

When must the voted ballot be returned?

Mail ballots must be received by 7pm on Election Day. If the ballot is received after Election Day, the votes on the ballot will not be counted. We encourage voters to use any drop box in the state to ensure your ballot is received on time.

POSTMARKS DO NOT COUNT!!

How do I know my ballot has been received?

BallotTrax is the best way to receive notification that your ballot has been received and counted. You can also verify it online at GoVoteColorado.gov.

Can someone find out whether I have returned my ballot?

YES. That information is public record. Many parties and candidates use this information for their 'Get Out the Vote' campaigns. Once you vote, the calls should stop.

Can someone find out how I voted?

NO. The procedure for processing mail ballots ensures that secrecy is maintained for each voter's ballot. Two election judges process each mail ballot. One opens the envelope, signature side down, and removes the ballot and hands it to the other judge who takes the ballot and checks it for discrepant marks. The actual ballot is never associated with the envelope.

When will the ballots be counted?

Counting the ballots may begin 8 days prior to the election and continue until counting is completed. Every eligible ballot received prior to 7pm on Election Day will be counted.

When will election results be known?

Even though ballots may be counted prior to Election Day, results are never tabulated prior to 7pm on Election night. Preliminary unofficial results will be released shortly after 7pm on Election night when the election judges have finished processing the initial batches of ballots. You can review these results at the Clerk & Recorder and Election pages at the County Website, on the Clerk's Facebook page, or at the Secretary of State's website. Results will be updated throughout the evening as counting progresses. Final results are completed 10 days after the election, and results are not official until the Canvass Board convenes, 22 days after the election.