Voters in El Paso and Teller counties have just a little more time to cast their votes for several Democratic and Republican candidates in federal, state and county offices in Colorado’s 2024 Primary Election on Tuesday.

Polls will close at 7 p.m. Tuesday night and all ballots must be returned by then. Postmarks do not count.

This year, one of the most highly anticipated races includes 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.

El Paso County voters will select new representatives in three of the five commissioner districts, Districts 2, 3 and 4. Twelve candidates total, Republican and Democrat, are running for election to the three seats. Just one incumbent — Republican El Paso County commissioner Carrie Geitner in District 2 — is running for reelection.

The contested races are on the Republican ballots. One Democrat each is running in the three El Paso County district races, and will shore up their party’s nominations. The Democrats will face the Republican victors in Tuesday’s races for their respective seats in the Nov 5 General Election.

El Paso County has not had a Democratic commissioner in about 50 years. Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker’s office previously said District 3 is now the most competitive, with a deviation from zero — or “even” competitiveness — of just under 1% in favor of Republicans.

In Teller County, incumbent Republican Commissioners Dan Williams and Erik Stone are running unopposed in Districts 1 and 3, respectively. Krystal Brown, who was formerly the county’s clerk and recorder and whom Teller County commissioners appointed Jan. 2 to serve as county treasurer, is running unopposed on the Republican ballot for the role as treasurer.

All three candidates will be reelected or elected to their seats because they have no Democratic challengers.

El Paso and Teller county voters will also cast votes for the 4th Judicial District Attorney. Incumbent Michael Allen faces Republican challenger and attorney David Willson in the Republican primary. The victor will face the sole Democrat in the race, attorney Jeremy Dowell, in November.

About 81,552 active, registered El Paso County voters have returned ballots at voter and service polling centers and by mail as of 11:59 p.m. Sunday night, according to data provided Monday afternoon by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. That includes 21,822 Democratic ballots and 46,108 Republican ballots, with another 13,602 ballots being processed, according to secretary of state data.

In primary elections, unaffiliated voters receive a ballot packet containing a Republican candidate ballot and a Democratic candidate ballot — but they may only vote and return one ballot. If unaffiliated voters return both ballots voted, neither ballot will be counted.

In El Paso County, unaffiliated voters have returned 5,728 Democratic ballots and 8,738 Republican ballots, with another 13,596 unaffiliated ballots being processed, data show.

How to vote

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 Tuesday.

Residents can also register to vote online at govotecolorado.gov.

It is too late to return primary ballots by mail.

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 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.

Teller County voters can submit ballots at the voter service and polling center at the Woodland Park Library, on the ground floor, 218 E. Midland Ave., Monday through 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Election Day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To find a ballot drop box in Teller County, visit coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/VIP.html.