Easy Voting in Colorado

It’s a shame that elections and voting have become such a polarizing force on American society. When I was growing up, we talked in school about how voting was a civic duty, and an important task for citizens living in a republic. It was both an honor and a responsibility.

These days, it’s a chance to settle scores, or to prove that you side is right, all while forgetting that no matter what side you are on, polls consistently show that approximately half of your fellow countrymen are on the other side.

As someone who is not a rabid partisan, but who still feels that voting and being heard is important, it’s hard to find data and make informed decisions. After going through all of that, the last thing I want is for it to be a pain to cast my ballot, which brings me to my point.

Colorado is frequently considered a purple state, one that is neither red, nor blue, to use the common terms. We have a Democrat governor, a Democrat Senate, a Republican House, 3 Republican Congresspersons, 4 Democratic ones, and one of each Senators. That’s as purple as it gets.

However, the one thing we have going for us, regardless of your political persuasion, is that it is super easy to actually cast those purple votes. This is an off-year election in Colorado, but there were still local issues, and a couple of school board seats up for election. All things that an informed electorate should give careful consideration.

Here in Denver, they mail your ballot to your house. You can study the issues, fill it out at your leisure and then return it by 7:00 pm on Election Day. Turning it in is easy too. I took mine to a drop off location at the local rec center, but I could have mailed it (70 cents postage this time around) or taken it to any of the dozen polling places. And, if I wanted to go old school, I could have showed up to my polling place any time this week, or next week on Tuesday.

Long story, short.

I voted. It was easy. I’m glad we get at least that much right.