Archuleta County Voters Face Changes as Flood Risk Cuts Two Ballot Return Sites

The Colorado Department of State announced changes to voting locations in Archuleta County on Monday. The update responds to ongoing flooding risks in Southwest Colorado. Residents in the county were told to stop returning ballots at two specific sites. The department identified those sites in a list sent to voters.

Flooding has affected infrastructure in the region. The Department of State reviewed voting logistics in response. They determined that two locations in Archuleta County were no longer safe for ballot return. Voting sites in Conejos, La Plata, Montezuma, and Rio Grande counties remain open with no changes to their schedules.

Eligible voters in Archuleta who have not yet cast a ballot can visit any voter center in the state. They can request a replacement ballot at these centers. If voters visit a center in their home county, they can vote on all local contests. Archuleta voters can also go to the Pine River Library in Bayfield. That location allows them to vote on all local races. Visiting a center outside the home county limits voting to statewide races only.

Voters who already have a mail ballot can return it to any drop box or voter center in the state. The ballot must be dropped off by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. The ballot will then be sent back to the county clerk for signature verification and tabulation. Voters unable to vote in person or return a mail ballot due to flooding can request an emergency ballot online at myballot.coloradosos.gov.

The Department of State posted a complete list of voter center and drop box locations on its website. Voters should enter their current address to find nearby options. Residents with specific questions can contact their County Clerk. Contact details for all county election offices are available on the Department of State website.

The changes apply specifically to Archuleta County. Other counties in the region continue with standard voting procedures. Voters are encouraged to check the updated list before heading to a polling site. The department emphasized that the emergency ballot option remains available for those directly impacted by the flood.