Springs Times

El Paso County issued the following announcement on Oct. 16.

The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office opened seven more Voter Service and Polling Centers (VSPC), on Monday, October 19.

27 additional locations will open in two phases (October 30 & November 2) later this month for a total of 35 locations open Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3, from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Please note, the primary purposes of a Voter Center are to register new voters, update voter registrations, and issue ballots to voters that did not receive one in the mail. Voter Centers also offer ADA ballot marking devices for individuals with disabilities. If an individual prefers to vote in person, they may come to a Voter Center and receive a paper ballot to vote and deposit, or they can drop their completed mail ballot off in person. All ballots, whether mail ballot or in person are processed in the same manner.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, voters are encouraged to utilize their mail ballot and vote in the safety and security of their home, to help safeguard the well-being of the electorate and staff. Voters seeking in-person service will be asked to abide by COVID-19 safety precautions to receive any of the following services:

• Register to vote
• Update their voter registration
• Request a replacement ballot
• Utilize an ADA accessible ballot marking device
• Vote in person on a paper mail ballot
• Drop off their voted ballot

“We are committed to enfranchising voters in our cherished democratic process. I encourage eligible voters to vote their mail ballot and use one of the 35 voter centers as a last resort,” said Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman. “Colorado’s voting model is considered the gold standard, and our citizens should have confidence in this system. Due to the ongoing concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic my office has systems in place to protect individuals needing in-person services and provide voters with convenient access to ensure they have every opportunity to vote.”

The eight VSPCs that are open on Monday include locations in the Citadel Mall, Chapel Hills Mall, and UCCS Ent Center for Fine Arts in addition to Clerk and Recorder’s Branch locations. Voters who have difficulty visiting a VSPC during the week may take advantage of Saturday hours, October 31, open 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. All VSPCs will be open Monday and Tuesday, November 2 and 3, from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

El Paso County VSPC locations are determined utilizing a geographic information system (GIS) and strategically placed throughout the county. Over 98 percent of the population live within 10 or 15 minutes from a VSPC or secure 24/7 ballot drop-off box. As a reminder, voters can return their ballot via USPS with 0.65 cents postage and must be received by 7:00 p.m., Election Day.

Original source can be found here.