FAQs

1. What is the average size of a Vote Center (a.k.a Voter Service and Polling Center)?

   Vote Centers can be designed to meet a wide range of room sizes, depending on the needs of the voting population and the facilities available. In Larimer County, Vote Centers range from approximately 400 square feet to approximately 5,500 square feet.

2. How many voters can a Vote Center (a.k.a. Voter Service and Polling Center) process on Election Day?

   The number of voters that can be processed at a Vote Center is largely dependent on the type of election, size and location of the Vote Center.  Busier Vote Centers in Larimer County are generally located at the main county office building, a police services building and a large college campus.

3. How do you select Vote Center (a.k.a. Voter Service and Polling Center) locations?

   Vote Centers are selected with several considerations. First, facilities are located based upon their location along major thoroughfares, bus routes and areas with high visibility in the County. Second, facilities must meet the accessibility requirements mandated through the Help America Vote Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. For example, a location would not be selected if it was not accessible to persons who require wheelchair access. Third, it is preferable that a Vote Center meets the requirements to provide live connectivity to the Statewide Voter Registration database. The site selection process is very dynamic and requires a degree of flexibility.

4. Do you still offer mail-in voting?

   Beginning in 2013, registered voters in Colorado are automatically mailed a ballot.  Voters can return these voted ballots via the US Postal Service, 24-hour drop boxes or at any Vote Center (a.k.a. Voter Service and Polling Center).  Voters can also choose to vote in person at any of the Vote Center locations.   

5. What keeps persons from voting twice by going to different Vote Centers (a.k.a. Voter Service and Polling Centers)?

   Each Vote Center is equipped with an electronic poll book which is connected in real time to the Statewide Voter Registration database. When a voter casts a vote at one Vote Center, his/her voter history is immediately updated in the Statewide Voter Registration database.  If he/she attempts to vote another ballot, the database will inform the election judge there that the person has already voted.

6. Can anyone in the State of Colorado vote at a Larimer County Vote Center (a.k.a. Voter Service and Polling Center)?

   Voters are highly encouraged to vote the ballot they receive in the mail.  These ballots can be dropped of at any drop box or Vote Center around the state.  Other counties are required to send the ballot to the correct county.

   However, if a voter finds themselves in a situation where they do not have their ballot with them and wish to vote, they can go to any Vote Center in the state and vote a "Statewide Ballot".  This ballot will only have the races and issues on it that pertain to statewide contests.  All registered voters who meet the residency requirement of the state are eligible to vote these contests and can obtain these ballots at any Vote Center in the state.  

7. Did it not confuse the public when you switched from precinct polling places to Vote Centers (a.k.a. Voter Service and Polling Centers)?

   When first rolled out, the Larimer County Elections Department conducted a wide-reaching education campaign with local media prior to switching to Vote Centers in 2003. Through mailings, the county website, radio spots and advertisements in newspapers, the county put a great deal of effort into informing the public of these site changes. The Elections Department received minimal notice of confusion on Election Day, and quickly resolved any questions as they arose. The Elections Department found the public to be very responsive during this overhaul of the county's voting system.

   Ten years later, with over 70% of Larimer County voters permanently receiving mail ballots and years of experience with Vote Centers, The State of Colorado passed HB13-1303 (Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act) which, among other changes, moved the state to a model using Vote Centers for the entire state.

   It is also important to remember that Vote Center locations can move from one facility to another for a number of reasons in any year.  Facilities close down, change ownership or find themselves in the middle of renovation during election time.  The Larimer County Elections Department keeps the public informed of any changes in voting locations.

    

8. Was the public resistant to the changes in voting?

   In 2003, the public in Larimer County carried the healthy skepticism we expected. After all, we were heading in a whole new direction with this new voting system. However, on Election Day, the convenience and efficiency offered by Vote Centers resulted in an influx of positive feedback from the public as well as from our poll workers. In fact, we expect our citizens would be much more resistant to returning to what they now see as an archaic way of voting in precinct specific polling places!

9. How did the elderly and/or persons with limited transportation options travel outside their home precincts in order to access Vote Centers (a.k.a. Voter Service and Polling Centers)?

   Accessibility concerns are at the center of the Vote Center planning process. To make sure all persons can access Vote Centers, Larimer County seeks buildings located along bus routes and major thoroughfares for use as Vote Centers. Persons still requiring transportation are referred to local volunteers who run passenger vans on Election Day.
   
   In addition, Larimer County actively promotes voting opportunities for persons residing in health care facilities or retirement communities. The Elections Department staff coordinates with several facilities to personally deliver mail-in ballots to their residents, providing one member from each local major political party to assist the voters and return completed ballots to the Elections Department.