Activity is beginning to pick up at the city’s Election Division as more voters stream in to hand in their ballots before tonight’s 7 p.m. deadline.
As of Monday, voters had returned 82,167 of the 298,205 ballots that were mailed out — roughly 28 percent.
Political analysts have predicted at least 100,000 ballots will come in before it’s all over.
Every four years in the spring Denver voters are asked to select new members of the city government, including mayor, city council members, clerk and recorder and auditor.
Ballots still may be turned in at 13 full-service Voter Service Centers across Denver, which can be found on .
Five of those centers offer drive-through, drop-off service, including the Elections Division headquarters at 200 W. 14th Ave.
The main attraction for tonight’s vote is the mayor’s race — a position that until recently was locked down by popular John Hickenlooper, who was elected in 2003.
Hickenlooper was elected to be Colorado’s governor in November. Guillermo “Bill” Vidal has been the city’s mayor since January and will serve until July, when the new administration is sworn in.
Nine candidates are running for mayor and a handful of write-in candidates are vying for the position.
Candidates have raised about $3.7 million through last week — which appears to be heading toward breaking a new record.
And the top mayoral candidates continue to build their war chests.
City Councilman Michael Hancock collected $63,550 in donations since Friday, including $1,000 from former Denver Broncos quarterback Brian Griese and $6,000 from City Councilwoman Carol and Howard Boigon.
Former state Sen. Chris Romer has received $34,000 in contributions since Friday, including at least $9,000 from Denver businessman Tom Gamel.
James Mejia has collected $10,000, including money from donors in California after his trip late last week.
City Councilman Doug Linkhart last week got a $30,000 contribution from his father.
In every race except for the at-large council position, candidates win only if they garner more than 50 percent of the vote. Otherwise, a runoff election will be held on June 7.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
