El Paso County sends election ballots to military and overseas voters

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Ballots for the upcoming November General Election are on their way to El Paso County voters who reside outside of the country.

The El Paso County Office of the Clerk and Recorder has sent approximately 5,300 ballots for the General Election to registered voters classified under the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

These voters include military and their dependents living out of state, and voters who reside out of the country. El Paso County has the highest amount of active UOCAVA voters in the State of Colorado, according to the County.

“We recognize the special circumstances of UOCAVA voters and have a staff member dedicated to providing the information they need to participate in this important election,” said Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman. “To ensure UOCAVA voters have every opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote, by law they are given an extended length of time to receive and return their ballots.”

According to the County, besides receiving their ballots 45 days before an election, the UOCAVA voters also have an extended time to return their ballot to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office. Whereas local voters must return their ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day to count, UOCAVA ballots postmarked by 7 p.m on Election Day will count if they arrive as late as eight days after the election. The postmark is counted as valid only on UOCAVA ballots, not local ballots. UOCAVA voters can vote and return their ballot by mail, fax, or email to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

UOCAVA voters seeking additional information can contact election staff at uocava@elpasoco.com. Information is also available at the Colorado Secretary of State's website.

The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office will begin mailing the remainder of ballots to active registered voters beginning October 17, 2022.