AURORA | Thankfully, it’s the year that only comes once every four years.
This year, voters going to the polls will have a bevy of decisions to make. From the presidential race to state House and Senate races, from county commissioners to ballot questions, and nearly everything in between.
The Nov. 6 election touches nearly every aspect of people’s lives in and around Aurora. Four years after being dubbed “ground zero” for the last presidential contest by USA Today, this year Coloradans and their votes are being watched closely. Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder Nancy Doty said she expects a high voter turnout this year.
“We always get a higher voter turnout in presidential elections,” she said.
In the 2008 and 2004 presidential elections, the county saw a 93 percent voter turnout. Currently, the county — which encompasses most Aurora residents — has more than 285,000 active voters.
In addition to the U.S. presidency, voters citywide will be asked to select a U.S. congressman from a new district predominantly composed of Aurora and its residents. Incumbent Mike Coffman, a Republican, is bidding for his third term in Colorado Congressional District 6, against Joe Miklosi, a Democrat. Previously, Aurora was separated into two different districts, CD6 and CD7.
Similarly, the boundaries for state House and Senate districts have changed after legislative reapportionment. Four state senators and seven state house representatives can call at least some part of Aurora home.
Residents of Adams and Arapahoe counties too will be asked to select commissioners who are tasked with everything from open space to water issues in Aurora.
And this year, like many other years, ballot questions have been oft discussed around offices and at homes. This year, a group will be asking citizens around Colorado to de-criminalize small portions of marijuana for recreational use. Polling numbers have shown that most Coloradans support decriminalization, at least partially, and similar efforts are underway in Washington and other states have had varying degrees of success.
Parents of Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District students will be asked if they would raise property taxes to fund operating expenses, and in the case of Cherry Creek schools, additional building expenditures.
City officials too will be asking for more money in their coffers to fund transportation expenses. City question 2B will ask voters to extend an expiring tax to pay for incremental street upgrades like medians and road repairs around the city.
Voters in the 18th Judicial District, which encompasses much of Aurora, will also be asked to tab a new District Attorney after outgoing chief Carol Chambers is term-limited this year.
That’s not all: RTD commissioners, University of Colorado regents and referenda round out an already crowded ballot.
It may be heavy, but it’s only once in a while.
Election information:
• Mail-in ballots will be sent to homes beginning Oct. 15.
• Election Day is Nov. 6.
• Polling locations are available online for Arapahoe County at arapahoevotes.com and at co.adams.co.us.
• The Arapahoe County Clerk & Recorder is Nancy Doty. Elections officials can be reached at 303-795-4511 or at arapahoevotes.com.
• The Adams County Clerk & Recorder is Karen Long. Adams County election officials can be reached at 720-523-6020.
• Early voting will be held Oct. 22-Nov. 2 at selected locations.
Arapahoe County early voting locations in Aurora:
Arapahoe CentrePoint Plaza, 14890 E. Alameda Dr.
Mission Viejo Branch Library, 15324 E. Hampden Cir.
Smoky Hill Library, 5340 S. Biscay Cir.
Adams County early voting locations in Aurora:
Aurora Motor Vehicle, 3449 Chambers Road
For comprehensive and developing election news here and across the nation, go to aurorasentinel.com and click on “election” under “news” in the navigation bar.
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