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ASPEN — It appears that absentee voters aren't that absent after all.
As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 600 people had already voted at the city clerk's office. And many of them apparently voted early out of convenience as opposed to being out of town for Election Day, May 8.
"I wanted to make sure I don't forget," said Aspen resident Vince Lahey, who voted for Tim Semrau for mayor, and Andrew Kole and Dwayne Romero for City Council. "You never know what kind of unforeseen circumstance will happen on [Election Day]. ... Plus, I never know where to vote."
Aspen resident Bob Bowden also came to the city clerk's office on Wednesday, voting for Semrau, Romero and Michael Wampler for the council.
"I wanted to make sure I voted," he said, adding that he is afraid he might forget on Election Day, and that's why he typically votes absentee.
Jen Benvenuto, who is more than seven months pregnant and a has toddler at home, figured she'd get voting out of the way in case her children threw a wrench into the plan next week. She voted the same as Lahey.
There was a steady stream of early voters on Wednesday morning at the clerk's office, on the second floor of City Hall, the designated polling precinct for absentee voting.
And it's been consistently busy all week, according to the city staff. They estimate that up to 800 people will vote by Friday's absentee deadline. This year's numbers are on pace with the last election: 748 people voted absentee in the 2005 municipal election. There are 5,000 registered voters in Aspen, and an estimated 2,600 actually vote. So far, absentee votes account for almost 25 percent of the election results.
"Municipalities don't have early voting, but you don't want to disenfranchise anyone," so voters are not turned away if they want to vote early, said City Clerk Kathryn Koch.
The scene at the clerk's office this week has been laid-back, with many voters chatting with city staff, and politicians joking around. Council and mayoral candidates on other business with the city clerk have been careful to leave the room if a voter comes in, which is in accordance with election law.
Lahey's wife, Jessica, votes absentee because of the cheerfulness of longtime clerk's office staff: Koch, Kathy Strickland and Jackie Lothian.
"It's more fun this way," Jessica said.
The clerk's office officially began absentee voting on April 20. Through the post office, the clerk's office will mail ballots overseas for $9.50. It's too late now to capitalize on that service for the May 8 election, but it's still possible if there is a runoff between candidates, which would take place June 5. Two people already have paid for ballots to be mailed overseas, anticipating a runoff election. The deadline for absentee voting is 5 p.m. Friday, May 4.
<b>VOTING PRECINCTS</b>
The city of Aspen has five election precincts. The following is a breakdown of neighborhoods and their respective polling places:
<b>Precinct 1:</b>
This precinct begins on the eastern edge of the city and extends into the East End neighborhoods. The boundaries are east of the Roaring Fork River to the city limits; north of the Roaring Fork River and Main Street, and west to Mill Street.
<b>Polling place:</b> Former Aspen Youth Center, 455 Rio Grande Place.
<b>Precinct 2: </b>
This precinct covers all of downtown, south of Main Street and west of the Roaring Fork River. It also includes the neighborhood on the south side of Main Street to the base of Aspen and Shadow mountains. It extends west to Castle Creek, south of Main Street.
<b>Polling place:</b> St. Mary Catholic Church, 533 E. Main St.
<b>Precinct 3:</b>
This precinct is generally north of Rio Grande Park and to the base of Red and Smuggler mountains, including Hunter Creek and Centennial. The boundary to the south is Gibson Avenue. The boundary from the west is Mill Street.
<b>Polling place:</b> Community Housing, 701 Independence Place.
<b>Precinct 4: </b>
Precinct 4 is primarily the West End neighborhood from Mill Street to Castle Creek, and the territory around Cemetery Lane and Truscott, all north of Highway 82. It ends at Maroon Creek on the north side of Highway 82.
<b>Polling place:</b> Crossroads Church of Aspen, 726 W. Francis St.
<b>Precinct 5: </b>
This area encompasses neighborhoods west of Maroon Creek. On the north side of Highway 82, Precinct 5 includes the ABC and Burlingame. South of Highway 82, it includes the Buttermilk and Highlands areas, as well as the neighborhoods along Maroon and Castle creeks.
<b>Polling place:</b> Crossroads Church of Aspen, 726 W. Francis St.
For more information, call the city clerk's office at 920-5060.
Carolyn Sackariason can be reached at csackariason@aspentimes.com.
As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 600 people had already voted at the city clerk's office. And many of them apparently voted early out of convenience as opposed to being out of town for Election Day, May 8.
"I wanted to make sure I don't forget," said Aspen resident Vince Lahey, who voted for Tim Semrau for mayor, and Andrew Kole and Dwayne Romero for City Council. "You never know what kind of unforeseen circumstance will happen on [Election Day]. ... Plus, I never know where to vote."
Aspen resident Bob Bowden also came to the city clerk's office on Wednesday, voting for Semrau, Romero and Michael Wampler for the council.
"I wanted to make sure I voted," he said, adding that he is afraid he might forget on Election Day, and that's why he typically votes absentee.
Jen Benvenuto, who is more than seven months pregnant and a has toddler at home, figured she'd get voting out of the way in case her children threw a wrench into the plan next week. She voted the same as Lahey.
There was a steady stream of early voters on Wednesday morning at the clerk's office, on the second floor of City Hall, the designated polling precinct for absentee voting.
And it's been consistently busy all week, according to the city staff. They estimate that up to 800 people will vote by Friday's absentee deadline. This year's numbers are on pace with the last election: 748 people voted absentee in the 2005 municipal election. There are 5,000 registered voters in Aspen, and an estimated 2,600 actually vote. So far, absentee votes account for almost 25 percent of the election results.
"Municipalities don't have early voting, but you don't want to disenfranchise anyone," so voters are not turned away if they want to vote early, said City Clerk Kathryn Koch.
The scene at the clerk's office this week has been laid-back, with many voters chatting with city staff, and politicians joking around. Council and mayoral candidates on other business with the city clerk have been careful to leave the room if a voter comes in, which is in accordance with election law.
Lahey's wife, Jessica, votes absentee because of the cheerfulness of longtime clerk's office staff: Koch, Kathy Strickland and Jackie Lothian.
"It's more fun this way," Jessica said.
The clerk's office officially began absentee voting on April 20. Through the post office, the clerk's office will mail ballots overseas for $9.50. It's too late now to capitalize on that service for the May 8 election, but it's still possible if there is a runoff between candidates, which would take place June 5. Two people already have paid for ballots to be mailed overseas, anticipating a runoff election. The deadline for absentee voting is 5 p.m. Friday, May 4.
<b>VOTING PRECINCTS</b>
The city of Aspen has five election precincts. The following is a breakdown of neighborhoods and their respective polling places:
<b>Precinct 1:</b>
This precinct begins on the eastern edge of the city and extends into the East End neighborhoods. The boundaries are east of the Roaring Fork River to the city limits; north of the Roaring Fork River and Main Street, and west to Mill Street.
<b>Polling place:</b> Former Aspen Youth Center, 455 Rio Grande Place.
<b>Precinct 2: </b>
This precinct covers all of downtown, south of Main Street and west of the Roaring Fork River. It also includes the neighborhood on the south side of Main Street to the base of Aspen and Shadow mountains. It extends west to Castle Creek, south of Main Street.
<b>Polling place:</b> St. Mary Catholic Church, 533 E. Main St.
<b>Precinct 3:</b>
This precinct is generally north of Rio Grande Park and to the base of Red and Smuggler mountains, including Hunter Creek and Centennial. The boundary to the south is Gibson Avenue. The boundary from the west is Mill Street.
<b>Polling place:</b> Community Housing, 701 Independence Place.
<b>Precinct 4: </b>
Precinct 4 is primarily the West End neighborhood from Mill Street to Castle Creek, and the territory around Cemetery Lane and Truscott, all north of Highway 82. It ends at Maroon Creek on the north side of Highway 82.
<b>Polling place:</b> Crossroads Church of Aspen, 726 W. Francis St.
<b>Precinct 5: </b>
This area encompasses neighborhoods west of Maroon Creek. On the north side of Highway 82, Precinct 5 includes the ABC and Burlingame. South of Highway 82, it includes the Buttermilk and Highlands areas, as well as the neighborhoods along Maroon and Castle creeks.
<b>Polling place:</b> Crossroads Church of Aspen, 726 W. Francis St.
For more information, call the city clerk's office at 920-5060.
Carolyn Sackariason can be reached at csackariason@aspentimes.com.
