It’s time to make your vote count in this year’s first bout of elections.

Colorado’s primary, a largely mail-in election, is scheduled to conclude today, and all ballots are due by 7 p.m.

Thus far, Tiffany Lee Parker, La Plata County clerk and recorder, has seen a voter turnout of 22 percent, she said Monday afternoon.

This round’s most-watched race is the Republican nomination for governor. The nomination is being pursued by four candidates, former U.S. Reps. Bob Beauprez and Tom Tancredo, Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler and former state Senate Republican leader Mike Kopp. The winner will face Democratic incumbent Gov. John Hickenlooper in November.

Parker said the turnout was not terrible, but she’d like to see more residents participate. She acknowledged that Democrats don’t have any decisions to make in their primary, so most have abstained from voting.

At this point, ballots can be submitted only at drop-box locations, which are at the Clerk and Recorder’s Office in Bodo Industrial Park, Bayfield Town Hall, Ignacio Town Hall and the La Plata County Courthouse. They will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. today.

Mailed ballots postmarked today will not be accepted if they arrive late. This year, the county has 24-hour ballot drop boxes at the Clerk and Recorder’s main branch at 98 Everett St.

Also, you can vote in person at one of the three Voter Service Centers. The centers are at the Bodo office, 98 Everett St.; the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.; and Bayfield Town Hall, 1199 Bayfield Parkway.

Visit www.laplatacountyclerk.org for more information.

Voters affiliated with the American Constitution and Democratic parties do not have any contested races. However, Colorado law requires county clerks to send a ballot to eligible electors affiliated with a major party if any party has a contested race, according to a La Plata County news release.

Earlier this month, 10,419 ballots were sent to Republicans, 10,212 to Democrats and 71 to American Constitution Party voters in the county. The largest population of voters in La Plata County, 11,104, identifies as unaffiliated. However, those numbers are subject to change as Election Day approaches, said Erin Hutchins, election administrator for the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

For La Plata County residents who have declared political-party affiliations, ballots were mailed in early June. In order to have received a ballot, residents needed to affiliate with a major political party – American Constitution, Democratic or Republican – by June 17.

vguthrie@durangoherald.com