Active, registered voters in El Paso and Teller counties will begin receiving ballots for the Nov. 7 election this week.

Voters in both counties will be asked to weigh in on a range of municipal and school board elections, as well as state and local issues this fall.

What’s on the ballot?

Inside this issue of The Gazette is the Nov. 7 Coordinated Election Voter Guide, which provides more information on the municipal candidates running for offices in Manitou Springs, Fountain, Cripple Creek and Victor, as well as various candidates running for school board seats in 17 school districts across both counties.

In Manitou Springs, voters will elect one mayoral and three at-large City Council seats. Fountain residents will elect a Ward 2 representative and two at-large City Council representatives. In Cripple Creek, one mayoral, one Ward 4 and one Ward 5 seat are up for election, and in Victor voters will elect a combined city clerk and treasurer, mayor and one representative each to the Ward 1 and Ward 2

council seats.

A statewide initiative, Proposition HH, would use surplus revenues from the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights to reduce property taxes, fund school districts, and backfill counties, water districts, fire districts, ambulance or hospital districts and other local governments.

The TABOR surplus would otherwise be refunded to Colorado taxpayers.

A companion measure from the Legislature that would only be implemented if HH passes would provide a onetime-only equalized TABOR refund to taxpayers, paid next April with tax filings.

A second statewide initiative, Proposition II, would spend $23.65 million on expanding Colorado’s free preschool program by letting the state keep the money collected through taxes on cigarettes, tobacco and other nicotine products, and maintaining those current tax rates instead of reducing them.

A ballot issue in Colorado Springs would retain $4.75 million in excess TABOR revenues to help build a new police academy.

Fountain voters will decide whether the city will join the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority that collects a 1% sales tax that funds some regional road projects.

A ballot issue in Cripple Creek seeks to increase sales taxes to continue and expand vocational and career/technical education programs.

There are also school district ballot measures in El Paso County as well as special district ballot measures in El Paso and Teller counties.

When will ballots be mailed, and how can I register?

County clerk’s offices in El Paso and Teller counties will send ballots to active, registered voters in both counties beginning Monday. Voters in both counties will receive a ballot in the mail.

Coloradans can register to vote or update their voter information through Election Day.

Residents can check their voter status and register to vote online at govotecolorado.gov. Printable voter registration forms are also available at this site.

Completed forms can be returned to the county clerk in your respective county of residence.

To receive a ballot in the mail, residents must register to vote or update their address and registration information if necessary within eight days of the election. The deadline to register to vote or update voter status and still receive a ballot in the mail is Oct. 30.

After that date, residents can register to vote or update their voter registration information and receive a ballot at a Voter Service and Polling Center through Election Day, Nov. 7.

Coloradans, too, can register to vote in person at any Colorado Driver License Office.

El Paso County residents with questions about their voter registration should visit the El Paso County Elections website at clerkandrecorder. elpasoco.com/elections/voter-registration, email elections@elpasoco.com or call 719-575-8683.

Teller County residents with questions about their voter registration should visit co.teller.co.us/cr/ElectionsDept.aspx or email elections@co.teller.co.us.

How can I vote?

Voters may vote by mail or in-person at a Voter Service and Polling Center.

There are 39 24-hour mail ballot drop boxes across El Paso County and 10 Voter Service and Polling Centers that will start opening Monday. A list of their locations and operating hours is online at clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com/elections/ballot-drop-box-es-vspc-locations.

Three 24-hour mail ballot drop boxes are available in Teller County, and the Voter Service and Polling Center will open for early voting Oct. 30. It is located at the Woodland Park Public Library on the ground floor, 218 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park. For more information, visit the Teller County elections webpage at co.teller.co.us/CR/ElectionsDept.aspx and click on the link titled “2023 Coordinated Election Fact Sheet.”

Ballots must be received by the county clerk’s office or a designated drop-off location by 7 p.m. on Nov. 7. Postmarks will not count.

Voters who choose to mail their ballots should remember to include the required first class postage.

They should allow at least eight days before Nov. 7 for their ballot to be received by the county clerk.

The last day to mail in a ballot for it to be received by the voting deadline is Oct. 30.

Voters can track their ballots from the time they send them to the time they are counted via BallotTrax. Enroll online at govotecolorado.gov and click on “Sign up for BallotTrax.”

How can I get a replacement ballot?

El Paso and Teller county voters who have spoiled, defaced, or lost their mail ballot may receive a replacement ballot from the county clerk.

Residents should contact their respective Clerk and Recorder’s Office or may pick up a replacement ballot in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center in their county.

The El Paso County Election Department’s phone number is 719-575-8683.

Voters in Teller County should contact the Cripple Creek Clerk and Recorder’s Office for replacement ballots at 719-689-2951, Option 2.