As of Monday, fewer ballots had arrived at the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder’s office in Eagle than in 2020.

Eagle County Clerk and Clerk Regina O’Brien reported that as of Monday morning, her office had received about 18,000 ballots through drop boxes, mail and at election centers. That’s about 6,000 fewer ballots than the same period in 2020. O’Brien said the lower early turnout “seems to be the case across the state.”

In an email, O’Brien added that she was hoping for “robust” returns for the rest of the day Monday, and that her elections team continues to plan for the arrival of a “very high volume” of ballots. on election day.

It’s too late to send out the ballots, but ballots can still be returned drop off boxes in Eagle, Gypsum, Edwards, Avon, Vail, Basalt or El Jebel or in person at election centers in Vail, Avon, Eagle and El Jebel

O’Brien said she and her team hope all votes will be counted on election night. But, with snow forecast and the possibility of a last-minute surge of voters, the weather could delay the physical delivery of ballots to Eagle.

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“Our judges and staff will have worked many hours, and we want to make sure people get some rest and can return home safely,” O’Brien wrote.

“We have election judges scheduled to resume between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on November 6 to complete the counting process if that is the case,” she wrote.

O’Brien stressed that she “will not sacrifice the accuracy of the work or the safety of our judges if Election Day results are important.”

Still haven’t voted in Colorado yet? Here’s how you can

There is still time to register to vote and vote in Colorado.

State law allows for same-day voter registration. To do so, residents will need a valid Social Security number, Colorado driver’s license, or Colorado ID card. Residents can register to vote online at the Colorado Secretary of State’s website at GoVoteColorado.gov or in person at polling places or county clerks’ offices.

For voters who received an absentee ballot and did not return it, it is too late to return it. Voters will have to return their ballot at a box or at an in-person voting center. Voters can go to the Secretary of State’s Go Vote Colorado page and enter their address. to see nearby locations for both.

Voters can track the status of their mail-in ballot, once returned, online at ColoradoBallotTrax.com. Ballots must be returned by 7 p.m.

Voters whose absentee ballots are lost or damaged or who wish to complete a ballot in person can vote in person at a voting center where they will be required to present valid identification. The Secretary of State’s website provides a list of 16 acceptable forms of identificationwhich includes a Colorado driver’s license, U.S. passport, or employee ID card.

Voting centers will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on election day. Voters waiting in line to vote will be able to do so provided they are in line before 7 p.m.

As of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, nearly 2.1 million ballots had been returned in Colorado, according to data from the Secretary of State’s website. There are more than 4 million active registered voters.

Unaffiliated voters, who make up most of the state’s registered electorate, cast more than 818,000 ballots, while Democrats cast more than 609,000 and Republicans more than 570,000.

During the same period in 2020, during the last presidential election, unaffiliated voters returned nearly 950,000 ballots, while Democrats returned more than 862,000 and Republicans 728,000.

Mail-in voting was particularly ramped up in this election due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has since subsided, meaning more in-person Election Day participation is possible in 2024.

This year’s ballot will be longer than usual, with Colorado voters asked to weigh in on elections for federal and state offices as well as 14 statewide measures. These range from constitutional amendments on same-sex marriage, access to abortion and school choice to initiatives that implement preferential voting And ban hunting of big cats.

Voters will also be asked about local races, such as county commissioner candidates and tax issues, based on where they are registered to vote in Colorado.

Live election results will be posted online at VailDaily.com/election starting after 7 p.m.

— Regional reporter Robert Tann contributed reporting.