A mail ballot election provides every eligible active voter, residing within the limits of City of Colorado Springs, with a ballot that is mailed to the address listed on voter registration records. Each voter will receive a packet with the ballot indicating the issues and candidates the voter may cast a vote for.

If you do not receive a ballot and believe you are an eligible active voter within the City limits, call the City Clerk?s Office at (719) 385-5901.

The decision to conduct the April 1, 2003 General Municipal Election by mail ballot was made by City Council after reviewing costs for alternative precinct election method.

Traditionally, a mail ballot election has proven to:

• Increase voter participation
• Provide easier access to voting for those people who may not be able to get to the polls
• Allow more time for voters to study the candidates and issues before marking the ballot
• Save taxpayer dollars

Mail ballots have been conducted since 1977 in other jurisdictions with successful results.

• There will be no voting at polling places
• There will be no early voting
• All active voters will receive a ballot mailed to the address shown on the voter registration records unless a request for an absentee ballot is received (see information later in the text). The ballots will not be forwarded and will be returned to the City Clerk?s Office as undeliverable if the voter has moved.

You are an active voter if:

• You voted in the November, 2002 Election; or
• You registered to vote or updated your registration after the November, 2002 election but prior to the April registration deadline of March 3, 2003.

The ballot you receive will provide the candidates and issues you are eligible to vote for.

The ballot will be an optical scan ballot requiring the ballot to be marked according to the instructions provided in your ballot packet. In addition to the ballot, you will receive a secrecy envelope and a return mailing envelope.

When the ballot has been voted, the ballot is inserted into the secrecy envelope and then into the return envelope. The back of the return envelope must be completed with the voter?s signature and birthdate. Affix first class postage and mail to the City Clerk?s Office.

If you have concerns regarding your signature and birthdate being visible, you may hand deliver your ballot or place your return envelope in another envelope affixed with the proper postage and mail to the City Clerk?s Office.

If you would prefer, the ballot may be dropped off at the following sites Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:

City Clerk?s Office
30 South Nevada Avenue, Ste. 101

Falcon Police Substation
7850 Goddard Street

Sand Creek Police Substation
4125 Center Park Drive

When the ballot is received by the City Clerk?s Office, the signature on the back of the return envelope is scanned to verify the correct signature and birthdate. The ballot is then put into a sealed ballot box for processing.

Ballots must be received in the City Clerk?s Office no later than 7:00 p.m., April 1, 2003. NOTE: Please allow enough time for your ballot to be received by the deadline if you choose to mail the ballot.

If you make a mistake while voting, contact the City Clerk?s Office and we can let you know how to obtain a replacement ballot. Replacement ballots must be requested by March 25, 2003.

If you have already mailed your ballot, you will not be able to get a replacement ballot because you have already cast your ballot in the election.

If you will be at an address different from your registered address, you can request an absentee ballot be mailed to you at the address you will be staying. A written application must be provided for each person requesting an absentee ballot.

Deadline to request an absentee ballot is March 25, 2003 and the request may be mailed, faxed or hand-delivered to the City Clerk's Office

City Clerk?s Office
P. O. Box 1575, MC 110
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901-1575

FAX  (719) 578-6431.

Click here to download an Absentee Ballot Request Form.

If you are an active registered voter and do not receive a ballot, contact the City Clerk?s Office. If after verifying that your voter registration is current, we can let you know the procedure for obtaining a replacement ballot.

Your voted ballot can be returned with a 37-cent first class stamp.

The ballot must be received in the City Clerk?s Office or designated drop site by 7:00 p.m. on election night (April 1, 2003).

Postmarks of the election date are not acceptable.

The City Clerk?s Office will contact you to come to the office to sign it.

If you do not sign the ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Election night, it will not be counted.