Griswold Reconfigures Southwest Colorado Ballot Access After Floods
Election officials in Archuleta and La Plata counties have swapped damaged polling sites for new locations, allowing displaced voters to cast ballots in statewide races at any center in the state.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
Historic flooding in southwest Colorado has disrupted standard voting procedures, forcing election officials to restructure ballot access in two counties. The changes aim to ensure residents displaced by water damage can still participate in the election despite damaged infrastructure and closed facilities.
Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced on Monday that affected voters in Archuleta and La Plata counties may now visit any polling center in Colorado to receive a replacement ballot. If a voter visits a center in their home county, the ballot includes all local and state races. If the voter travels to a different county, the replacement ballot covers only statewide races. This flexibility extends to anyone unable to return a mail-in ballot due to flooding, who can also request an emergency ballot online.
Archuleta County closed one polling center and one drop box over the weekend due to flood risks in Pagosa Springs. In response, officials opened two new voting centers and a new drop box. The updated locations include the Archuleta County Courthouse at 109 Harmon Park Drive, the Pagosa Springs Election Office at 305 Village Drive, the Archuleta County Extension Office at 344 U.S. 84, and the Pine River Library at 395 Bayfield Center Drive. New drop boxes are located at 10 Solomon Drive in Pagosa Springs and 333 Milton Lane in Arboles.
Voters are instructed to avoid the Ross Aragon Community Center polling site and the Town Hall drop box in Pagosa Springs. The Pine River Library will function as a joint center for both Archuleta and La Plata counties. Griswold noted that Archuleta residents can use this site for a full ballot including local races. La Plata County did not close any locations but is deploying mobile voting units to local evacuation shelters.
"Through thick and thin, Colorado election workers continue to deliver for every eligible voter in the state," Griswold said. The secretary emphasized that the reconfiguration allows voters to make their voices heard despite the physical displacement caused by the water.
A complete list of active voter centers and drop box locations is available on the Colorado Secretary of State's website. The shift in logistics represents a practical adjustment to maintain voter access in areas where standard infrastructure is temporarily compromised by severe weather.
