Common ballot mistakes: how to make sure your vote is counted
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- More than a million people in Colorado have already voted in the November 3rd election.
County election judges want to make sure everyone's vote is counted; even when they make a mistake with their ballot.
A common concern they see is when voters place their ballot in a dropbox outside of the county they're registered to vote in.
For example, someone who lives in Pueblo County mistakenly drops their ballot off in a dropbox in Colorado Springs.
Election officials say in that scenario, the ballot would be postmarked and delivered to the Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder's Office by the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's Office.
Officials recommend that you submit your ballot anywhere in the state if it means getting your ballot in on time.
Election officials also say they hear concerns from voters about filling out their ballot incorrectly; like crossing an "X" by their selection instead of filling in the bubble.
Officials say this won't disqualify your vote.
A team of bipartisan election judges will replicate the ballot so long as the voter's intent is clear.
Election officials are really urging people to avoid signing other people's ballots, as well as make sure their signature is consistent with how they normally sign their names.
"I encourage everyone to be consistent about their signatures," says Gilbert Ortiz, the Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder. "Be consistent about the names they're using. If I sign with 'G Ortiz' and I always sign with 'Gilbert Ortiz,' how are we going to be able to compare that signature and make sure that vote is valid?"
Election officials say they will send the voter a letter asking them to correct their signature if it cannot be verified.
The voter will then have eight days after the election to do so.
If a voter accidentally throws their ballot away in the trash, they can get another by calling their county clerk's office and asking to be mailed a new one.
If it is past October 26th, voters should pick up a new ballot in person at a polling center instead.
