Pitkin County begins mailing ballots to registered voters; election day Nov. 7

Pitkin County began mailing ballots to registered voters on Monday, Oct. 16, for the Nov. 7 election. Voters have until 7 p.m. on Election Day to drop their ballots at a ballot box. Election officials recommend voters who wish to return their ballots by mail should do so by Oct. 30 to ensure it arrives on time to be counted.

Ballots can be returned in person to three 24/7 drop box locations: the Pitkin County Administration Building, the Town of Snowmass Village Town Hall, and the Basalt Town Hall. There is no deadline for voters wishing to register for in-person voting. 

In-person early voting begins Oct. 30 at the polling center at the Pitkin County Administration Building. Same-day registration on Election Day is also available at the polling center.

Here is an overview of what’s on the ballot:

Voters in the Roaring Fork Valley will vote on seats up for grabs in the Aspen School District or the Roaring Fork School District. In the Aspen School District, voters will choose two candidates to fill two at-large seats on the school board. Four candidates, Cassie Harrelson, Sarah Daniels, Sally Goulet, and incumbent Katy Frisch, are running to serve a four-year term.

In the Roaring Fork School District, three seats are up for reelection in three different director districts. Alan Kokish and Elizabeth “Betsy” After are running in District B, which covers western Carbondale. Philip Bogart and Lindsay DeFrates are running in District C, which covers east and south Glenwood Springs. Jasmin Ramirez is running unopposed in District D, which covers western Glenwood Springs. Voters in the Roaring Fork School District can vote in all three director races, regardless of what neighborhood they live in.

Depending on where you live, you may vote on some municipal and special district ballot measures. Voters in Snowmass will vote on an amendment to the town charter, which would allow elected officials to serve on town boards and commissions as non-voting members.

There are several special district questions on the ballot relating to debts and taxes. 

Voters in the Base Village Metropolitan District can vote to repeal unused debt authorization granted by voters in prior elections. In the Snowmass Water and Sanitation District, voters will see a question to extend an expiring mill levy to 2038 for funds used to pay for the district’s operational, maintenance, repair, and capital costs.

Starwood Metropolitan District voters will see two questions concerning raising taxes — one to finance water system improvements including well drilling and equipping and securing of water supply, and one to finance the construction of road and entryway improvements.

The Basalt and Rural Fire District is also looking to raise taxes to fund capital improvements, including expansion, renovation, and modernization of Fire Station 42 in El Jebel, and adding employee housing.

All Colorado voters will have the chance to vote on two statewide ballot measures. Proposition HH would make changes to state property taxes and state revenue limits, and Proposition II would allow the state to keep excess revenue generated from tobacco and nicotine sales and allocate that revenue to the state’s universal preschool program.