El Paso County prepares for influx of in-person voters
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Colorado is a traditionally mail-in voting state, but the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s office is getting ready for three times as many in-person voters this election compared to 2016.
“It’s a national narrative,” said Chuck Broerman, the El Paso County clerk. “I think people are hearing the noise in other states. And in Colorado, we have a tried and true model. We don’t have the concerns that they do in other states that are trying this for the first time.”
The county reports 37% more voters have already cast their ballots for the Nov. 3 election compared to four years ago. But Broerman warns the system isn’t designed for so many in-person voters. He also says mail-in voting is the most secure way for Coloradans to vote.
“Our vote centers are really designed for the ‘Oh darn’ voters and the ‘Oh shoot’ voters that forgot,” Broerman said. “They forgot to register to vote. They forgot because they moved. They spilled that morning coffee on that ballot and they need a new ballot … or our handicapped community and disabled community that needs that specialized device in order to vote.”
In preparation of up to 30,000 in-person voters, Broerman says the county has added 10 new voting centers for a total of 35. More than 225 new staff members are working on the 2020 election as well.
Despite that, he says it takes the county longer to count ballots cast in-person. Ballots are picked up from drop boxes six times a day and seven times a day on Election Day. But ballots collected at voting centers on Tuesday aren’t counted until polling locations close for the night at 7 p.m.
Sherri Wood plans to vote in-person.
"I’ll stand and do it the way that I feel is right for me to do it,” Wood said.
Other voters are partial to Colorado's mail-in system.
“It’s nice to sit down at home with the ballot and read through all the issues and what they’re really about and not have to make a split decision," Kay Dubois said.
Several voters told KRDO they think the ballot drop boxes are safer than actually mailing their ballot back to the county.
“I mailed it out the same day," Don Duffy said. "I went on downtown and put it in the box and got it out right away."
Sherman Harrold did the same thing.
“Used a mail-in ballot, but dropped them in a drop box," Harrold said.
El Paso County reports 37% more people have voted early this election compared to 2016.
Remember, you can vote early in-person as well. El Paso County recommends voting this Saturday for shorter lines. You can find a full list of both in-person and ballot drop-off locations in El Paso County here.
