Coloradans can head to the polls for early voting starting today, the beginning of an election that will test the reliability of voting machines that have been questioned in court.
In Denver, polls will be open at the Wellington Webb Municipal Building from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“We’re ready to go,” Denver Election Commission spokesman Alton Dillard said.
Secretary of State Gigi Dennis issued voter registration numbers last week showing nearly 3 million voters registered in the state. She predicted 60 percent will actually vote.
“I urge citizens to exercise their right to vote and cast their ballot during early voting or on Election Day,” Dennis said in a statement. “It is important for voters to get active in the election process and voting is the easiest and most effective way to make a difference. Every vote does count and every vote makes a difference.”
While election officials will be ready to receive people at the polls, they are also gearing up for big year in early voting.
“We feel that the majority of our people are going to vote absentee or early,” Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Faye Griffin said.
A lengthy ballot that includes 14 statewide ballot questions led election officials push absentee ballots. And in September, a lawsuit in Denver highlighted problems with the way Dennis’ office certified the state’s new electronic voting machines.
By court order, the machines will have to be recertified after the Nov. 7 election – leading the Colorado Democratic Party as well to tell voters to vote absentee.
The upshot of all that is an election that could set a record for absentee ballots.
Last week, Denver officials had received about 55,000 requests for absentee ballots – and Dillard expects the requests will keep coming in at about 1,000 a day. Voters have until Oct. 27 to request absentee ballots by mail. They can pick them up in person until Nov. 3.
In 2002, Dillard said, 53,533 people voted absentee. Less than half that number voted absentee in 1998.
In Denver, the Webb building, 201 W. Colfax Ave., is the only place for early voting through Oct. 27. Five other locations in Denver open up Saturday.
The last day for early voting before the Election Day is Friday, Nov. 3.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-954-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
