Mail Ballot FAQ - General Municipal Election - April 2, 2013
Here are questions typically received for a mail ballot election. If you do not find the answer to your question here, please call the City Clerk's Office at (719) 385-5901 (option 1) or email us at election@springsgov.com.
- What is a mail ballot election?
- Why a mail ballot election?
- What does the mail ballot election mean to me?
- When will you mail the ballots?
- What does the ballot look like?
- What is the typical return rate for mail ballots?
- Am I an active voter?
- How do I get a ballot if I am inactive?
- How do I get a replacement ballot?
- What is the process for completing my mail ballot?
- What forms of identification are acceptable?
- Where can I drop off my ballot?
- What if I make a mistake while voting my ballot?
- What if I am away from my residence when the ballots are mailed?
- What if I don't receive my ballot?
- Why didn't I get a ballot?
- What if I was affected by the Waldo Canyon Fire?
- What is the deadline for returning the ballot?
- What is the postage required if I choose to mail my ballot?
- What if I forgot to sign my ballot?
- How and when can I find out the results of the election?
- Will my vote still count if I forgot to use the Voter Instructions/Secrecy Sleeve?
- Should I tear off the perforated tab on the back of my return envelope?
- What is your address, phone number and other contact information?
WHAT IS A MAIL BALLOT ELECTION?
A mail ballot election provides every eligible active voter, residing within the limits of the City of Colorado Springs, a ballot indicating the issues and candidates. The mail ballot packet is mailed to the address listed on voter registration records.
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 below). If you have moved/changed address, and not updated your address listed on the current voter registration records, the ballot will not be forwarded and will be returned to the City Clerk's Office as undeliverable.
City Council approved the April 2, 2013 General Municipal Election to be conducted by mail ballot.
Traditionally, mail ballot elections have proven:
- Increased voter participation
- Easier access to voting for those people who may not be able to get to the polls
- More time for voters to study the candidates and issues before marking the ballot
- Savings of taxpayer dollars
WHAT DOES THE MAIL BALLOT ELECTION MEAN TO ME?
- There will be no voting at precinct 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 below). If you have moved/changed address, and not updated your address listed on the current voter registration records. The ballot will not be forwarded and will be returned to the City Clerk's Office as undeliverable.
WHEN WILL YOU MAIL THE BALLOTS?
By law, we must mail ballots out between March 8, 2013 and March 18, 2013 (Between 15 to 25 days prior to the election).
For the April 2, 2013 Municipal Election, the City mailed 203,934 ballots on March 8, 2013. The breakdown of those ballots by Council District is:
| District 1 | 40,137 |
| District 2 | 37,070 |
| District 3 | 35,458 |
| District 4 | 20,350 |
| District 5 | 35,989 |
| District 6 | 34,930 |
If you were registered to vote before February 5, 2013, you would have been issued a ballot in this initial mailing. If you registered to vote from February 5, 2013 through the registration deadline of March 4, 2013, you will be mailed a ballot on or before March 18, 2013.
If you do not receive a ballot by Friday, March 15, 2013, and believe you are an eligible active voter within the City limits, call the City Clerk's Office at (719) 385-5901, option 1.
WHAT DOES THE BALLOT LOOK LIKE?
Download a sample ballot to see all the races available for the April 2, 2013 Election. This sample ballot contains all possible races. Keep in mind that ballots issued to voters will only have a single Council District race appropriate for the voter's registered address. All ballots will have Issue 1 and Issue 2.
Click HERE for a sample ballot for the April 2, 2013 Mail Ballot Municipal Election
WHAT IS THE TYPICAL RETURN RATE FOR MAIL BALLOTS?
Historical voter turnout (the percentage of total votes counted divided by active registered voters) can be found on our Archived Elections page. Just look for the Results Summary. If your curious about the daily volume of ballots scanned, you can review the Daily Reports for the last three municipal elections.
- April 5, 2011 Municipal Election Daily Report
- May 17, 2011 Municipal Election Daily Report
- August 28, 2012 Municipal Election Daily Report
The Daily Report indicates the number of ballots scanned each day of processing starting 14 days prior to Election Day, March 19, 2013. A link to the current election's Daily Report is currently available on our Election Results page.
Visit our Election Data & Maps page if you are interested in purchasing electronic data regarding current and past elections.
You are an active voter if:
- You voted in the November 2012 General Election; or
- You registered to vote or updated your registration after the November 2012 election but prior to the April 2, 2013 General Municipal Election registration deadline of March 4, 2013 (29 days prior to the election).
For more information about verifying your Voter Registration, please visit our Register to Vote page.
See Also: What if I don't receive my ballot?
See Also: How do I get a ballot if I am Inactive?
HOW DO I GET A BALLOT IF I AM INACTIVE?
If you are an inactive voter and the following are true, you can fill out an Inactive Voter Ballot Request Affidavit and receive a ballot:
- Your registered address has not changed
- Your name has not changed
If you submit your Inactive Voter Ballot Request Affidavit by mail, please make sure our office receives your request at least a week prior to Election Day or there may not be enough time for you to receive, vote and return your ballot.
You can also reactivate your registration through the Colorado Secretary of State's website. Choose the Manage my registration option. Once your registration is shown, select the Click here to activate your voter registration link. (this link only appears if you are Inactive)
If your address or name has changed or if you wish to activate your registration in person, you can visit the El Paso County Elections Department to update your registration. (Address details for El Paso County offices are available on their website)
If you need to make a change to your voter registration on or after March 27, 2013, please visit the City Clerk's Office at 30 S. Nevada Ave, Suite 101, since we will have an El Paso County representative available to handle your registration changes.
See Also: City Clerk's Office physical and mailing addresses
HOW DO I GET A REPLACEMENT BALLOT?
If you spoil, deface or lose your ballot, visit the City Clerk's Office at 30 S. Nevada Ave., Suite 101 to obtain a replacement ballot. You may obtain replacement ballots, one at a time, not to exceed three in all. Replacement ballots can be obtained Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. (7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Election Day)
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR COMPLETING MY MAIL BALLOT?
The ballot will be an optical scan ballot requiring it to be marked according to the instructions provided on the ballot. In addition to the ballot, a secrecy sleeve (on which is printed voter instructions) and a return mailing envelope are provided.
Once you have voted the ballot, refold the ballot and insert into the secrecy sleeve and then into the return envelope. Be sure to SIGN AND DATE the Voter Affidavit on the back of the return envelope before you seal the envelope. You can then affix first class postage and mail to the City Clerk's Office or you can hand-deliver the ballot to a designated drop-off site listed below.
If you are a first time voter who registered by mail, you must submit identification with your ballot in order for your vote to count. Your return envelope will indicate ID REQUIRED, PLACE COPY IN RETURN ENVELOPE below your name and address. If you have previously voted by mail and provided identification or in person at a polling location, proof of ID is not required. See: What forms of identification are acceptable?
Make certain to sign and date the Voter Affidavit before sealing the envelope and mailing the envelope or delivering to a drop-off site. The Voter Affidavit is located on the back of your return envelope underneath the flap.
WHAT FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION ARE ACCEPTABLE?
If the message "ID REQUIRED, PLACE COPY IN RETURN ENVELOPE" is printed on your return envelope, you MUST enclose a copy of ID in your Official Return Envelope. This copy should be outside the secrecy sleeve which has your voted ballot. This will allow us to verify your identification while maintaining the privacy of your vote.
A copy may be made of one of the following acceptable forms of ID. All IDs must be current and valid. If the ID shows your address, that address must be in the State of Colorado to be considered as valid.
Valid forms of identification are:
- Colorado driver's license
- Colorado ID card issued by the Department of Revenue
- United States Passport
- United States military ID card with a photograph of the eligible elector
- Pilot's license issued by the FAA or other authorized agency of the United States
- Student ID card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado
- Employee ID card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States government or of this state, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of this state
- Veteran ID card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by the United States Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration
- Current utility bill, cable bill, phone bill, bank statement, government
check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and
address of the elector
(for examples, please visit www.elections.colorado.gov) - Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Certified copy of a United States birth certificate for the elector issued in the United States
- Certified documentation of naturalization
- ID issued by a federally-recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership
Please Note: When adding additional paper to your return ballot package, a first-class stamp may no longer be sufficient postage. In this case, check with your Postmaster to determine if extra postage is required.
WHERE CAN I DROP OFF MY BALLOT?
Unless noted, all locations are only open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On Election Day, all locations are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Ballots may be dropped off at the City Clerk's Office (*), 30 South Nevada Avenue, Suite 101 from March 11 through April 2, 2013. Starting March 14, 2013 these additional Drop-Off sites will be available:
| Additional Drop-Off Sites | Address |
| Colorado Springs Senior Center | 1514 North Hancock Avenue |
| Fire Station #8 | 3737 Airport Road |
| Stetson Hills Police Substation | 4110 Tutt Boulevard |
| Pikes Peak Library District — East Library | 5550 North Union Boulevard |
| Citizens' Service Center — EPC Clerk's Office | 1675 West Garden of the Gods Road |
| Centennial Hall — EPC Clerk's Office | 200 South Cascade Avenue |
| DMV at Powers Blvd. and Airport Rd. | 5650 Industrial Place, Suite 100 |
| North Union Town Center — EPC Clerk's Office | 8830 North Union Boulevard |
| Locations also open on Saturdays, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM | |
| North Union Town Center — EPC Clerk's Office | 8830 North Union Boulevard |
| Locations available 24 Hours-a-Day | |
| Secure Mail Ballot Drop-Off Box | 1675 West Garden of the Gods Road |
* The City Clerk's Office will have curb-side ballot drop-off available on Election Day from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM from South-bound Nevada Ave and West-bound Colorado Ave.
Click HERE for an map of drop-off locations throughout the City of Colorado Springs.
WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE WHILE VOTING MY BALLOT?
If you make a mistake while voting, you can obtain a replacement ballot. If you have already mailed or hand delivered your ballot to a drop-off site, you will not be able to get a replacement ballot as you have already cast your ballot in the election.
See Also: How do I get a replacement ballot?
WHAT IF I AM AWAY FROM MY RESIDENCE WHEN THE BALLOTS ARE MAILED?
ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION
If you will be at an address different than the mailing address on your voter registration when the ballots are mailed, you can request an absentee ballot be mailed to you at the address you will be staying. A written application must be submitted for each person requesting an absentee ballot. Keep in mind that the April 2, 2013 election is an all mail ballot election, so an Absentee Request is not required if you want to receive your ballot at the mailing address on your voter registration. You confirm or change your mailing address online at the Colorado Secretary of State's website.
An absentee request form can be downloaded from our Election Forms page.
The deadline to request and receive an absentee ballot by mail is March 26, 2013. If you choose to pick-up an absentee ballot, you must file a request no later than the Friday prior to the election, March 29, 2013. The request may be mailed to: City Clerk's Office, P. O. Box 1575, MC 110, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901, faxed to the City Clerk's Office at (719) 385-5114 or emailed to election@springsgov.com.
WHAT IF I DON'T RECEIVE MY BALLOT?
If you are an active registered voter and do not receive a ballot by Friday, March 15, 2013, contact the City Clerk's Office at (719) 385-5901. If your voter registration is verified and current, we will inform you of the procedure to obtain a replacement ballot.
See Also: Am I an active voter?
See Also: How do I get a ballot if I am Inactive?
See Also: How do I get a replacement ballot?
Ballots are mailed to all active registered voters at an address within the city limits of Colorado Springs.
If you did not get a ballot, it may be because:
-
You moved and did not change your voter registration address
(Election Ballots WILL NOT be forwarded to your new address by the Post Office; they will be returned to the City Clerk as Undeliverable) - You live outside city limits
- You are not a registered voter
- Your voter status is inactive (if you did not vote in the previous November election, your voter registration may be inactive).
-
You had your mail held or forwarded temporarily by the Post Office because you were out of town
(Election Ballots WILL NOT be held or forwarded by the Post Office; they will be returned to the City Clerk as Undeliverable)
If you think your ballot has been returned to the City Clerk's Office as undeliverable, call (719) 385-5901 (option 1) and we can verify if your ballot was returned back to our office by the Post Office. If your ballot was returned as undeliverable, you will need to obtain a replacement ballot.
See Also: Am I an active voter?
See Also: How do I get a ballot if I am Inactive?
See Also: How do I get a replacement ballot?
WHAT IF I WAS AFFECTED BY THE WALDO CANYON FIRE?
For those voters who are still displaced by the Waldo Canyon Fire and have not updated the mailing address on their voter registration, they have two options to obtain a ballot:
- Request an Absentee Ballot be sent to your current mailing address
- Visit the City Clerk's Office to obtain a replacement ballot
If you are unsure if you have a mailing address on your voter registration, please call (719) 385-5901, option 1, so that we can verify your registration.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR RETURNING THE BALLOT?
The ballot must be received in the City Clerk's Office or designated drop-off site by 7:00 p.m. on election night, Tuesday, April 2, 2013.
See Also: City Clerk's Office physical and mailing addresses
See Also: Ballot Drop-Off Locations
WHAT IS THE POSTAGE REQUIRED IF I CHOOSE TO MAIL MY BALLOT?
First class postage is required for ballots being mailed. Please note that if you need to provide a copy of your identification because your return envelope is marked ID REQUIRED, PLACE COPY IN RETURN ENVELOPE you may need more postage. A first-class stamp is only sufficient if your return envelope weighs 1oz or less.
WHAT IF I FORGOT TO SIGN MY BALLOT?
The City Clerk's Office will contact you to come to the office to sign it.
Your ballot will not be counted if you fail to sign the ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Election night.
(719) 385-5901 (option 1)
30 South Nevada Avenue, Suite 101
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
HOW AND WHEN CAN I FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION?
Unofficial results of the City Election will be posted on SpringsGov.com. The initial unofficial results should be available by 8:00 PM. Additional updates to the unofficial results we be posted throughout the evening until all ballots have been counted.
A link from the City's Internet Home Page (www.springsgov.com), as well as links from the election pages will be available on Election Day.
Results may also be viewed on the City cable television station on Channel 18 as well as local television stations.
WILL MY VOTE STILL COUNT IF I FORGOT TO USE THE VOTER INSTRUCTIONS/SECRECY SLEEVE?
Yes. The Secrecy Sleeve with Voter Instructions is provided so that the privacy of your vote is maintained during the preparation of your returned ballot to be counted. If it is missing from the return envelope, your vote will still be counted.
SHOULD I TEAR OFF THE PERFORATED TAB ON THE BACK OF MY RETURN ENVELOPE?
No. The tab is designed to ensure the privacy of your signature during delivery to the City Clerk's Office. We will remove the tab in order to verify your signature prior to counting your vote. However, if you have removed the tab, your vote will still be counted.
WHAT IS YOUR ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER AND OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION?
PO Box 1575, MC 110
Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1575
30 S. Nevada Ave, Suite 101
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
