In a press release on Monday, the Colorado Secretary of State’s office announced that ballots for the upcoming primary elections are being mailed to registered voters this week. The ballots must be completed and returned by June 28 and the state is recommending that voters who wish to mail their ballots in, as opposed to drop them off or vote in-person on June 28, place them in the mail by June 20 to assure they arrive by deadline.

“Every election is important because they allow citizens to make their voices heard on important issues, including who represents us in government. The primaries are about getting to choose who will be on the ballot in November,” said Secretary of State Jena Griswold. “So, I encourage every eligible Coloradan who has not yet registered to vote do so, there is still time!”

Larimer County Clerk Angela Myers told the Surveyor that over 246,000 ballots have been mailed in this county alone and that if voters do not receive a primary ballot by June 15, they are encouraged to call the county at (970) 498-7820.

“Never girl your ballot to anyone else, ballots drop boxes are everywhere, if there is any reason you can’t get it to a drop box or mail it, ask for a ride to go drop it off yourself,” Myers said. “Never give your ballot to anyone else, the security of your ballot is very important.” A ballot drop box is located in Berthoud at the Berthoud Community Library at 236 Welch Avenue.

Coloradoans who are registered with the Republican and Democrat parties, as well as unaffiliated voters who selected a party primary preference ballot for one of the two major parties, will receive that party’s primary ballot. Unaffiliated voters who did not select a party preference – the vast majority of unaffiliated voters fall into this category, according to Myers – will receive both a Republican and Democrat primary ballot but may only turn in one ballot for one of the two parties; voters who return both ballots will have both deemed ineligible.

Voters may change or update their voter registration information by visiting www.GoVoteColorado.gov any time before June 20. At the same website, voters may also find their local County Clerk, find their closest drop box or voting center, sign up to track their ballot using BallotTrax and find accurate election information, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

For votes who wish to cast their ballots in person, early voting will begin on June 20 at one of 130 voting centers statewide and run through 7 p.m. on election day, June 28. The nearest in-person voting center for Berthoud residents is located at Loveland Police and Courts Building at 810 E. 10^th Street.