Ballots for the June 25 primary election went out to voters in El Paso and Teller counties last week.

This year, voters will choose Democratic and Republican representatives from a slew of federal, state and county offices to face each other in the Nov. 5 general election.

Big races include the El Paso County-based 5th Congressional District. Congressional hopefuls seeking to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Republican, include Republicans Jeff Crank and state Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams, and Democrats River Gassen and Joe Reagan.

In primary elections, unaffiliated voters receive a ballot packet containing a Republican candidate ballot and a Democratic candidate ballot. However, unaffiliated voters may only vote and return one ballot; they should destroy and discard the other ballot, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker’s office said in a news release.

If unaffiliated voters return both ballots voted, neither ballot will be counted.

How to vote

Eligible Coloradans can register to vote and update their voter registration through June 17, and still receive a ballot in the mail, at govotecolorado.gov.

Residents can register to vote, update their voter registration, receive a ballot, drop off a ballot, and vote in person at a voting center until 7 p.m. on election day, June 25.

Voters who do not receive a ballot in the mail by June 12 should contact the El Paso County Elections Department at 719-575-8683.

There are 39 secure 24-hour ballot drop-box locations throughout El Paso County. Each drop box is under 24/7 camera surveillance that was upgraded last year, and the public can view motion-triggered events at any of the ballot boxes online at epcvotes.com. Click on the “Election Security and Ballot Box Camera” section on the webpage.

Voters can also return primary ballots in the mail, taking care to affix adequate postage onto the return envelope. If voting by mail, the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office webpage encourages residents to return their completed primary ballots no later than June 17 to ensure the Clerk and Recorder’s Office receives it by 7 p.m. June 25.

Voters in Teller County who wish to register to vote by form can download voter registration forms from the Teller County elections website at tellercounty.gov/Elections. Residents can also pick up the forms at either of the Teller County Clerk and Recorder’s offices, at 101 W. Bennett Ave. in Cripple Creek or at 800 Research Drive, Suite 200 in Woodland Park.