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GOP turning out in numbers statewide

Returned ballots neck-and-neck in our county

Ballot return numbers through Monday show that Republicans statewide are doing a better job of getting the vote out.

Out of the 1,137,481 registered Republicans (as of Oct. 1), 332,200 ballots had been returned, a 29 percent return rate. There are 1,114,095 registered Democrats, and 251,174 ballots had been returned by Monday evening, for a 23 percent of return.

Unaffiliated voters, who will probably decide the election, are also turning out in lower numbers. Of the 1,318,914 voters registered, 187,485 have returned their ballots, a 14 percent rate of return.

In La Plata County, total voter turnout is at about 29 percent, with 9,555 ballots returned out of the 32,600 or so ballots sent out. As of Oct. 23, the county had issued ballots to 10,410 Republicans, 10, 215 Democrats, and 11,632 unaffiliated voters.

Republicans and Democrats are neck-and-neck here, with 3,462 Democrats and 3,671 Republicans having returned their ballots. Here, as in the state, unaffiliated voters are returning their ballots at a lower rate, with 2,299 returned thus far.

“We’re seeing pretty steady returns every day in both the mail and the drop-off boxes,” said Erin Hutchins, election administrator in the La Plata County Clerk & Recorder’s office.

Of course, ballot return tallies say only who has voted, not how they voted; but, it is at least an indicator of how the election may be trending as we enter the final week before Election Day on Tuesday.

Nonpresidential general election years traditionally have seen a lower voter turnout. Hutchins said 73.46 percent of eligible La Plata County voters turned out in 2010.

One big question is whether a mail-in election, where all eligible electors received a ballot at their doorstep, will encourage people who have never voted before to cast their first ballot.

“We don’t have the manpower to track that,” said Rich Coolidge, spokesman for Secretary of State Scott Gessler. “It would be an interesting analysis, but someone else is going to have to do the data crunching.”

Oh, and if you’re tired of campaign phone calls and fliers, the best way to stop them is to cast your ballot. That takes you off the target list for canvassing because you’re already a decided voter.

abutler@durangoherald.com

Key election information

The League of Women Voters forum will be rebroadcast periodically on City Span 10 until the election.

It may be streamed via computer from the City Span 10 website at www.durangogov.org/cityspan10 and will also be available for checkout from the Durango Public Library on DVD.

Voters may register as late as Tuesday when they go to vote on Election Day at Voter Services and Polling Centers.

There are two 24-hour drop-off boxes in La Plata County – one at the La Plata County Clerk & Recorder’s office at 98 Everett St. in Bodo Industrial Park and the other at Bayfield Town Hall.

County Clerk & Recorder Tiffany Parker recommends that voters who are returning their ballots by mail should post them no later than today to ensure a timely return.

8 a.m. to noon Saturday: Voter Service and Polling Centers open at the Clerk & Recorder’s office, Bayfield Town Hall and La Plata County Fairgrounds.

Visit www.laplatacountyclerk.org for more information on places and times for voting and ballot drop-off.

Oct 29, 2014
Gunnison votes may swing 59th District
Oct 24, 2014
Updated ballot tallies released
Oct 23, 2014
Mail-in ballot tallying begins


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