A 24/7 drop box is located near the back of the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder’s Office at 140 W. Main St. Suite 1 in Cortez, adjacent to the parking lot. Voters may return ballots at this outside drop box as well as a drop box inside the clerk’s office starting Monday through Election Day. Additional ballot drop box locations around the county start accepting ballots June 23 until 7 p.m. on Election Day, June 30. (Anna Watson/The Journal)
A 24/7 drop box is located near the back of the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder’s Office at 140 W. Main St. Suite 1 in Cortez, adjacent to the parking lot. Voters may return ballots at this outside drop box as well as a drop box inside the clerk’s office starting Monday through Election Day. Additional ballot drop box locations around the county start accepting ballots June 23 until 7 p.m. on Election Day, June 30. (Anna Watson/The Journal)

Mail ballots for Montezuma County’s June 30 primary election will begin arriving in voters’ mailboxes next week.

Residents have several options to return their ballots, update their registration or vote in-person through Election Day.

The June 30 primary election will determine which candidates advance to the November general election. Candidates include Republicans, Democrats and people representing minor parties – such as the Unity and Libertarian parties – who are seeking election in local, state and federal races. No ballot questions appear on the primary ballots.

Montezuma County election officials said if voters need to verify their current voter information or are unsure about their existing address on file to contact the Clerk and Recorder’s Elections Department at (970) 565-3728 or to visit in person. Voters who are registering for the first time in Montezuma County can also contact the clerk’s office.

Voters registered as unaffiliated can choose to vote with a Republican, Democratic or Unity ballot upon request. However, they can cast only one ballot. Voters will not receive a Unity ballot in the mail but can request it through the clerk’s office.

If mailed, voters must pay return postage. Diana Smith, the county elections supervisor, said the office recommends ballots be mailed about eight days before the deadline to ensure it is received on time.

The county offers several other options to cast a ballot, including in person from June 22 to Election Day at the Montezuma County Annex at 107 N. Chestnut St.

Several services will be available at the polling center, including:

First-time voter registration. Options to update an existing voter registration.Requests for an original or replacement mail ballot.In-person voting with accessible voting equipment.

Voters can return ballots to any of the 24/7 drop boxes posted around the county until 7 p.m. on June 30. The drop box outside the Clerk and Recorder’s Office, at 140 W. Main St. Suite 1 in Cortez, is available beginning Monday. Voters can drop ballots there or in the drop box inside the office.

The following drop boxes are available beginning June 23:

Dolores Town Hall, 601 Central Ave.Mancos Town Hall, 117 N. Main St.Cortez City Hall, 123 Roger Smith Ave.Lewis Post Office, 18794 Highway 491.Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Headquarters, 125 Mike Wash Road.

Smith said voters do not need to use return postage if putting ballots in drop boxes.

“We urge making sure everyone is reading their voter instructions to correctly vote their ballots, and if someone has questions, please call,” she said.

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Montezuma County’s in-person polling location: times, dates available

Beginning June 22, Cortez Voter Service and Polling Center is open at the Montezuma County Annex 1 at 107 N. Chestnut St. during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the county website. On Saturday, June 27, the polling center is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Election Day, June 30, the polling center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.