What Mesa County voters should know about mail ballots this November

Mesa County voters can expect the usual mail ballot process for the Nov. 3 general election. Mesa County Elections will begin mailing ballots Oct. 2 to active registered voters.

The U.S. Postal Service published a new mail ballot rule Aug. 26 following a March 31 executive order. The rule would add requirements for election offices, including submitting ballot envelope designs for approval, using unique bar codes and providing information about mail ballot recipients through a Postal Service system. 

Those changes are being challenged in federal court, and are not final. If changes are required, the county will follow the updated requirements.

A federal judge temporarily blocked key parts of the rule Aug. 27 while the legal challenge continues.

Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Bobbie Gross said even though the Postal Service announced changes to its rules for mail ballots, nothing is changing operationally this election season.

If a court decision requires changes before ballots are mailed, Mesa County Elections will update its procedures and explain how the changes affect voters.

Some of the rules for mail ballot security are already in place in Mesa County, like the use of unique barcodes for ballot tracking and an official election mail logo on the envelopes. Along with signature verification on each returned ballot envelope before accepting the ballot for counting. Once the signature is accepted, the ballot is separated from the envelope to protect the voter’s privacy.

Voters can use BallotTrax to receive updates from the time their ballot is mailed until it is received and accepted, whether returned by mail or at a secure ballot drop box. Voters may also vote in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center.