Today, Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Pam Anderson announced a campaign by her office to educate voters about the new ability to sign up to permanently receive paper ballots by mail.  Informational mailings will arrive this week to all registered voters in Jefferson County who have not already applied for mail-in (formerly known as ?absentee?) ballots.  The mailing will include a pamphlet explaining how to apply for a mail-in ballot and how to receive ballots by mail for all future elections.  Also included will be an easy-to-fill-out application form to become a permanent mail-in voter, and a self-addressed postage-paid envelope for the voter to send the application back to the Clerk and Recorder?s Office.

?The purpose of this voter outreach campaign is to educate voters about the ease and convenience of voting by mail in a pivotal election year in which turnout is expected to be high,? said Anderson.  ?Many voters may not be aware that they can vote from the comfort of their own home, and this campaign is aimed at informing them about one of the many options they have available,? she added.

Prior to 2008, voters were required to apply each year to receive a mail-in ballot.  Colorado now offers the option for voters to permanently sign up for mail-in ballots.  Once a voter is signed up for permanent mail-in ballots, his/her ballot packet will be automatically mailed to them for each Primary and General election.

There are already over 55,000 voters in Jefferson County who have signed up to be permanent mail-in ballot voters.  It is hoped that this voter outreach campaign will at least double that number prior to the August Primary Election.

Turnout for the 2008 Presidential Election is expected to be higher than previous years, and Jefferson County election officials are anticipating that as many as 95% of all Jeffco voters will cast a ballot this year.  An increased number of mail-in ballot voters will help to alleviate the potential for crowded polling places in such a politically active election year.

Which is why Anderson says, ?Why wait in line?  Vote by mail.?

For more information about the permanent mail-in ballot option available to Jefferson County voters, please visit www.votejeffco.com, or contact the Elections Division at (303) 271-8111.