Voters who prefer to deposit their city election ballots in a secure ballot box rather than mailing them can do so beginning April 23 at one of a dozen drop-off locations throughout Denver.
The location closest to the University of Denver is the District 3 police station at 1625 S. University Blvd., which will accept ballots April 23–27 and April 30 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and May 1 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The city election ballots ask voters to select candidates for mayor, city auditor, clerk and recorder, two at-large city council members and the council member running in the district in which the voter lives. In addition to a list of candidates, this year’s ballot contains a referendum asking voters to extend term limits for the Denver district attorney from two consecutive four-year terms to three.
Council races in Districts 1, 2, 6, 10 and 11 are uncontested, and the incumbents in those districts will return to office. They are: Rick Garcia, District 1; Jeanne Faatz, District 2; Charlie Brown, District 6; Jeanne Robb, District 10; and Michael Hancock, District 11. The incumbents in District 7, Kathleen MacKenzie, and District 8, Elbra Wedgeworth, are prevented by term limits from running again.
To win election, a candidate must tally at least 50 percent of the ballots cast plus one vote. If no one achieves that total, the top two vote-getters will square off in a mail-only run-off election on June 5. The winners will take office July 16.
All ballots, including absentees, must be in the hands of elections officials no later than 7 p.m. on May 1. Ballots that are postmarked by May 1 but not actually received will not count, officials say.
Only voters who cast ballots in the general election in November 2006, the special election Jan. 30, 2007, or who returned an inquiry card from elections officials received ballots in the mail. Registered voters who did not receive a mail ballot should go to the Denver Election Commission at 303 W. Colfax Ave., call 720-913-8683 or visitwww.denvergov.org/elections.
Election officials caution that the postage required to return ballots by mail is 63 cents and that electors must sign the back of the return envelope or the ballot will not count.
If your ballot has a red stripe in the upper left corner, you are a first-time Colorado voter and must provide a photocopy of identification when you return your ballot. Voter instructions that accompany the ballot list the forms of identification the election commission will accept.
Other sites accepting ballots beginning April 23 include: Wellington Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave.; Athmar Rec. Center, 2680 W. Mexico Ave.; Barnum Rec. Center, 360 Hooker St.; Eisenhower Rec. Center, 4300 E. Dartmouth Ave.; Harvey Park Rec. Center, 2120 S. Tennyson St.; Montbello Rec. Center, 15555 E. 53rd Ave.; Montclair Rec. Center, 729 Ulster Way; Scheitler Rec. Center, 5031 W. 46th Ave.; and the Tattered Cover Bookstores at 1628 16th St. and 2626 E. Colfax Ave.
For more about the election, see the DU Today archives and the following articles:
www.du.edu/today/stories/2007/April/2007-04-11-candidates.html
www.du.edu/today/stories/2007/April/2007-04-02-candidate.html
www.du.edu/today/stories/2007/April/2007-04-02-mackenzie.html