October 23rd 2024.
As the November 5th election draws near, Colorado has seen a record-breaking number of returned ballots. According to data released by state election officials on Wednesday, over 635,000 voters have already cast their vote. With a highly anticipated face-off between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, as well as numerous other races and ballot measures, this election has captured the attention of voters across the state.
The data also revealed that Democrats have outpaced Republicans by about 22,000 ballots. This is the first release of ballot return data from the Colorado Secretary of State's Office since mid-October, when mail ballots were sent out to all active registered voters. Voters have the option to return their ballots by mail or through drop boxes, and a small number of 5,815 have chosen to vote in person.
Interestingly, the largest group of voters to have returned their ballots so far are unaffiliated voters, making up nearly 250,000 completed ballots. This surpasses the number of ballots returned by both Democrats (around 200,000) and Republicans (178,000). These numbers were recorded as of the end of Tuesday.
It's also worth noting that the majority of returned ballots, about 65%, have come from individuals 55 years and older. Additionally, more women have returned their ballots than men.
Compared to the 2020 election, this year's ballot returns have been about half of what was received at the same point in time. In 2020, the state received nearly 1.27 million ballots, while this year, only 636,597 have been returned so far. However, this is not surprising given the circumstances of the pandemic and the increased availability of mail-in voting.
In terms of party affiliation, while Democrats have returned more ballots at this point, there are more active Democratic voters registered in Colorado compared to Republicans. However, the returns from both parties are in relative proportion.
Among the counties in Colorado, Jefferson has seen the most returned ballots with 80,441. This is followed by El Paso, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Denver. With hundreds of ballot drop boxes and voting centers open across the state, this election has seen the most convenient and accessible voting options than ever before.
As we wait for the final results of this highly anticipated election, be sure to stay up-to-date with Colorado politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot. And remember, your vote matters and every ballot counts. Let your voice be heard and make sure to cast your vote.
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