2022 Colorado General Election ballots lagging compared to this time in 2018
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- With six days out from the 2022 Midterm Election, new data shows ballots this year are lagging behind the amount collected by this time in 2018.
Six days out from the 2018 election, 951,431 ballots were returned. This year, ballots are about 90,000 less, sitting at 862,637.
There are many theories as to why less ballots are being returned this year compared to 2018.
The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder thinks the size of the ballot is one factor, causing some to hang on to their vote longer than usual.
"If you look at the ballot, it is the largest ballot we've had in El Paso County for 34 years," said Chuck Broerman, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder. "We have approximately 50 items that people can decide on. So I think just the large number of issues and candidates people have to decide on, they're still kind of digging through the information to try and make their final picks."
The Colorado Democratic and Republican Parties agree, the amount of things to vote on this year could be slowing down ballots.
"I know, especially with younger voters, the barrier to entry is feeling confident," said Megan Burns, Director of Communications and Digital for the Colorado Democratic Party. "Then when you hit a roadblock as you're going down your ballot, you might be like, 'Oh, I don't know what to do,' and then put it aside and ultimately not vote. But I encourage you to research as much as you can and fill out your ballot all the way down."
Colorado GOP leaders also anticipate some Republican voters will forgo mail and drop boxes this year.
“A lot of Republicans like to go and participate in the polls in-person, especially the last couple of years," said Kristi Burton Brown, Chairwoman of the Colorado Republican Party. "It's just a way they like to exercise our right to vote. It doesn't matter how you cast your ballot, as long as you get it done."
The Clerk and both parties were asked if they think people aren't showing up in the same numbers so far because voters are tired of the state of politics in general, or are worried their vote won't count due to false claims of fraud.
All agree that most voters trust the election process here in Colorado, but there's always a small percentage of people who choose not to participate for whatever reason -- and this year will be no different.
October 31 was the last day to mail a ballot back in order to ensure it is counted by Election Day, November 8. Now voters must place their ballot in a drop box, or vote in-person.
The deadline to vote in-person is 7:00 PM on November 8.
For more information on the 2022 Election, click here.
