Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder Kim Percell and Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswold urge the community to vote in the election today. (Courtesy photo)
Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder Kim Percell and Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswold urge the community to vote in the election today. (Courtesy photo)du1-i-syn

Election Day is today, and voters are dropping of ballots at a fast clip, said Montezuma County Clerk Kim Percell.

As of Tuesday morning, 9,163 ballots had been returned out of 19,215 sent out, she said. On Monday, 2,209 ballots arrived at the county election center.

“It’s been busy, and we are expecting it to get busier,” Percell said. Judges have been processing ballots since Oct. 26.

Polls close at 7 p.m. It is too late to mail your ballot, it must be dropped off at one of many ballot boxes around the county or at the clerk’s office.

Preliminary results will be released about 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Percell said the goal is to have unofficial final results tonight, but it will depend on the volume of ballots that come in today. Results will be updated and posted on the Colorado Secretary of State website.

The only contested race in Montezuma County is for sheriff between incumbent Republican Steve Nowlin and unaffiliated challenger Odis Sikes.

Several candidates running for Montezuma County offices are unchallenged. They include:

Republican Jim Candelaria for county commission District 1; Gerald Koppenhafer for county commission District 3; Republican Kim Percell, clerk and recorder; Republican Ellen Black, treasurer; unaffiliated Leslie Kennedy-Bugg, assessor; unaffiliated Rita Jeanne Caffey, surveyor; and George Deavers, coroner.

County voters also will vote for officials running in state and federal elections and will decide on a host of state ballot questions.

Competitive races in Colorado are for governor, U.S. Senate, Congressional District 3, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, House District 59, House District 58 and Colorado Board of Education.

Voters will also be asked whether to retain judges, including Montezuma County Judge JennyLynn Lawrence.

Dolores County election

Voters in Dolores County will decide on three competitive races for local offices, and vote on three ballot measures.

County commission District 1: Republican Julie Kibel and unaffiliated Linda Yellowman.County assessor: Republican Christy Cressler and unaffiliated Amber L. Blackmore.County sheriff: Unaffiliated incumbent Don Wilson is being challenged by Republican Mike Steele.

Dolores County has three ballot measures.

Ballot Issue 1A asks voter approval for a lodging tax to support local workforce.Ballot Issue 1B asks voters for approval of a 2.9% countywide retail sales tax.Ballot Issue 5A in Dolores County School District RE-2J asks for approval of a mill levy increase and bonding needed to match a state grant. The funding would be used to construct an elementary school building, maintain and improve Memorial Hall Gymnasium, and for removal of existing elementary school building and old high school building behind Memorial Hall.

Voters will decide whether to retain Dolores County Judge Nathanial Baca.

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