As the 2008 Presidential Election quickly approaches, it is time to begin preparing yourself to vote. In addition to choosing our nation?s next President and Vice President, your ballot contains choices for U.S. Senate and Congress, several state and local elected officials, the retention of judges, eighteen different statewide ballot issues and questions, as well as various local issues and questions.

It has been reported that Colorado will have the longest ballot in the nation this year, so there is a lot to decide. With such a long ballot, it could take anywhere from fifteen to twenty minutes for each voter to read and mark his or her ballot.

Colorado election professionals are anticipating that up to 95% of all active registered voters will participate in this election. Such a high turnout is very exciting, and it is important that everyone who chooses to vote in this election has the opportunity to make sure his or her voice is heard. 

But have you given any thought to how you are going to cast your ballot this year?

As a Jefferson County voter, you have options:

• You can apply for and receive a ballot in the mail. Ballots will begin arriving the second week of October. There are 11 ballot drop-off locations, and the long ballot will require two first-class postage stamps if you choose to mail your ballot.
  
• You can visit any one of eight Early Voting locations throughout Jefferson County, between October 20 and October 31, in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
  
• You can visit your assigned neighborhood precinct-polling place on Election Day.

Any of these options are yours to choose and each will give you an opportunity to cast your vote, but as your Clerk and Recorder, I?d like to make a suggestion: Be Prepared!

Realizing that the ballot will be long and a record number of voters are expected to vote this year, I recommend that you review your options and consider voting early. To make it easy to prepare for your voting experience, go to www.votejeffco.com where you can access:

• Voter registration information
• Sample ballots, TABOR Notices and Blue Book information
• Polling place locations
• Mail-in ballot drop-off locations
• Early voting locations
• Mail ballot tracking information

You can choose to vote by mail. You can choose to vote early. You can cast your ballot at your precinct polling place on Election Day.

But remember, November 4 is not the only day to cast your ballot; it is the last day to cast your ballot.

For more information about voting options please visit www.votejeffco.com or call (303) 271-8111.