Colorado voters drop off ballots on Primary Election Day; polls are now closed

The polls have closed in Colorado for Primary Election Day. Voters across the state can no longer drop off or cast their ballots in the election. Candidates for several races will be decided, including governor and secretary of state. 

The deadline to mail in ballots passed earlier this month. The only way on Tuesday that Colorado were able to make sure that their ballot would be counted was to drop it off or cast a vote in person at a voting center. According to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, there were 137 voter centers and 437 drop boxes available for voters and the locations could be found online.       

Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez said on Tuesday that everyone's vote counts. 

"Think about all the people watching the World Cup. If your team doesn't play in the semifinals, they aren't going to play in the championship. Same thing with politics. You have to vote in the primary. Those are the voters who have the strongest impact, the strongest voice and shape what's happening with politics in this country and it matters to everybody," Lopez. 

So far, more than 954,288 ballots had been returned by 9 a.m. Tuesday. According to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, men and women ages 65 and older have accounted for 27% of the ballots, with age groups 18-24 and 25-34 having the fewest ballots returned so far, just 10% combined for both of those age groups. 

As of Tuesday morning, 52% of the ballots returned so far have been Democrat, and 35% Republican. The rest of the ballots have been listed as Libertarian, Unity or In Progress. 

In Colorado, people could register to vote and cast their ballot on the same day, including Primary Election Day and Election Day. Voting centers were open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. 

Some of the most closely watched races in Colorado include the race for governor, between Sen. Michael Bennet and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on the Democrat side and for Republicans, State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, State Rep. Scott Bottoms and Victor Marx. 

The race for Colorado Attorney General for Democrats includes current Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty, consumer protection and workers' rights attorney David Seligman and Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General Heather Doshi.  On the Republican ballot, the candidates include El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen and David Willson. 

The winners of the primary election will appear on the ballot for their respective parties in November. 

For people who may be impacted by the several wildfires burning across Colorado, the Secretary of State's Office has resources for those voters who haven't yet mailed or dropped off their ballot. 

"Today is Election Day, and every eligible Coloradan should know about the resources available to them so they can make their voices heard," said Griswold in a statement. "My heart goes out to everyone impacted by ongoing wildfires across the state." 

Additional Information from the Colorado Secretary of State's Office:

Eligible voters impacted by wildfire evacuations who have not yet cast their ballot can visit any voter center across the state to request and receive a replacement ballot. 

• Visiting a voter center within their home county will allow eligible voters to vote a ballot with all of their local contests. 
• Visiting a voter center outside of their home county will allow eligible voters to vote a replacement ballot with only statewide races.