Colorado Early Vote Surges With 661,879 Ballots Returned

Steamboat Springs —661,879. That is the number of Coloradans who have already returned their ballots as of Oct. 22. It represents roughly 16% of all registered voters in the state. For context, this pace is outstripping the early turnout seen in the 2022 midterms. The Secretary of State’s office is watching these numbers closely because the logistics of getting those envelopes counted are becoming a race against the clock.

The critical deadline for anyone relying on the U.S. Postal Service is Monday, Oct. 26. According to the Secretary of State’s recommendation, this is the last day voters should mail their completed ballots. If you drop your envelope in a blue box or hand it to a carrier after that date, you are gambling that the post office can process it before the count closes. The risk is real. While the Postal Service has promised "business as usual" regarding election security, local officials in the northwest corner of the state are already seeing friction. In Grand County, about 200 residents reported not having received their ballots by Oct. 21. Local officials called that delay "unusual." It is a small sample size, but it highlights a vulnerability in the system: if the mail doesn’t arrive, the voter can’t vote. And if the mail arrives late, the ballot might not count.

Let’s look at the regional breakdown, because statewide averages can hide local realities. In the northwest, turnout is tracking well above the state median. Grand County leads the pack with 21% of registered voters having returned ballots by Oct. 22. Routt and Pitkin counties follow at 18%. Summit County is at 17%, and Garfield County is at 16%. Eagle County is slightly behind at 14%, and Moffat County trails at 12%. These variations matter for local officials who are planning staffing levels for drop boxes and county clerk offices. If 21% of Grand County voters have already voted, the remaining 79% still need to participate. The pressure on the final week will be intense.

Partisan trends are also emerging early. Unaffiliated voters make up the majority of the electorate, comprising just over 50% of registered voters. However, Democrats are currently voting at the highest rates. By Oct. 22, 22% of registered Democrats statewide had returned ballots. In comparison, 18% of registered Republicans and 13% of unaffiliated voters had cast their ballots. This 5 percentage-point gap between Democrats and Republicans is a significant shift from previous cycles. It suggests that early mobilization efforts by Democratic parties are yielding results. The initial data points are clear, and we will see if this momentum carries through to Election Day.

One logistical detail often overlooked is the method of submission. As of Oct. 22, in-person voting represented fewer than 1% of the votes cast statewide. This is typical for Colorado, where 92% of all ballots in the 2024 general election were mailed. The implication for voters is simple: if you are not comfortable mailing your ballot by Monday, you need to plan for in-person voting. Drop boxes and county clerk offices will accept ballots in person up until 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. You can also register to vote and cast your ballot in person during that window. But if you wait until the last minute, you are competing with thousands of others for limited staff and processing capacity.

The bottom line for locals is straightforward. Check your ballot status now. If you haven’t received yours, contact your county clerk immediately. If you have it, fill it out and mail it by Monday, Oct. 26. If you miss that deadline, get it to a drop box or the county office in person before 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Do not assume the mail will save you. The numbers show that early voting is surging, but the system is not infinite. Plan accordingly.