Press Release

The 2018 Primary is the first election that unaffiliated voters will get to participate in a Primary Election without having to change their party affiliation.

Unaffiliated voters will receive a ballot “packet”, which will include both a Democratic ballot and a Republican ballot.

They can only vote and return one of those ballots.   If more than one ballot is returned, and both are voted, neither ballot will count.

However, unaffiliated voters can designate a ballot “preference” by choosing to receive either a Democratic ballot or a Republican ballot.  Then they will only be sent that ballot.

Choosing a preference will not change your party affiliation.

Choosing a preference for the 2018 Primary, will not automatically be your preference for the 2020 Primary.  Unaffiliated voters will have to choose a preference for each Primary.

Custer County sent a mailing out to all unaffiliated voters in April explaining all of this.  Custer County Clerk and Recorder Kelley Camper noted, “We are really trying to encourage unaffiliated voters to choose a ballot preference.  We believe this will prevent confusion about receiving two ballots, and only voting one of those ballots.  By voters choosing a ballot preference, it will also save the county money from having to print extra ballots, and possibly having to pay extra postage because of the heavier ballot “packet”.  There are currently 881 unaffiliated voters in the county.  Ballots will go out in the mail the week of June 4th.  Any unaffiliated voter that would like to choose a ballot preference, needs to do so no later than May 29th.  They can do that by coming by our office and filling out a form.  Or they can go online to govotecolorado.com.  Our county page (custercountygov.com) also has a link.”

On another note, any affiliated voter that wishes to change their party affiliation for the Primary Election needs to do that by the end of the day on May 29th also.  They can also do that at the County Clerk’s Office or online.