According to a local U.S. Postal Service official, all general election mail-in ballots must be received at the Cortez post office by 1 p.m. on Monday.<\/p>\n
Despite the local deadline, postal officials urge voters not to wait until the last minute. They recommend mailing your ballot this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve already processed thousands of ballots and have delivered them to the clerks in Colorado\u2019s 64 counties,\u201d said Postal Service District Manager Selwyn Epperson. \u201cThe Postal Service anticipates a large influx this week, and we are ready to ensure each and every Colorado vote is counted this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than 14,000 ballots were delivered to registered voters in Montezuma County earlier this month. As of 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, election officials said 3,056 ballots had been counted. Based on average local voter turnout numbers of 45 to 52 percent, it\u2019s estimated that 4,000 votes could be cast by Tuesday.<\/p>\n
As a reminder, all ballots require postage. In some instances, extra postage is necessary because of the ballot\u2019s weight.<\/p>\n
Those who miss Monday\u2019s postmark deadline should hand-deliver ballots to the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorders office at 140 W. Main St. in Cortez by 7 p.m. Nov. 4.<\/p>\n
Only ballots received by that date will be counted. A postmark does not count.<\/p>\n
The clerk\u2019s office is open to receive ballots from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.<\/p>\n
Other drop-off sites open only on Tuesday, Nov. 4, are the Dolores Public Library, 1002 Railroad Ave., and the Mancos Public Library, 211 W. 1st St. They are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t received a ballot or have questions, call the clerk\u2019s office at 970-565-3728.<\/p>\n
About 3.5 million 2014 election ballots were mailed to voters across Colorado in the state\u2019s first mail-in ballot election.<\/p>\n