Ballot returns in Denver point to high interest in mayor’s race
May 30 is the last day to send ballots back by mail and it's also the last day to register to vote and receive a ballot by mail
Roughly 55,000 Denver voters so far have cast a ballot with a week to go in the runoff election, which will decide the mayoral contest between Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough.
The ballots returned so far represent a little over 12% of Denver’s electorate, which tracks better than the ballots mailed back at about the same time for the April 4 general election.
For that election, election officials had received 9% of ballots by March 28.
The runoff returns point to a high interest among voters in the mayor’s race, although it remains to be seen if the city surpasses the 39% of the ballots cast in the April 4 election, a relatively high number compared to previous elections.
So far, Republicans and Democrats are performing similarly in the runoff election, returning 15% of their ballots compared to their registration. Republicans make up about 42,000 of Denver’s electorate, while Democrats have about 194,000.
At stake in the June 6 runoff election is the mayor’s seat, plus several council positions — in District 7, where Flor Alvidrez found herself the lone candidate after Nick Campion dropped out; in District 8, where Brad Revare faces Shontel Lewis; in District 9, where Candi CdeBaca squares off with Darrell Watson; and, in District 10, where Chris Hinds seeks to defeat challenger Shannon Hoffman.
This year’s election is particularly consequential, as Denver residents are picking a new mayor for the first time in 12 years after Mayor Michael Hancock was term limited. The city faces gargantuan problems, notably a persistent and growing homelessness crisis and the perception of high crime, but also opportunities, in particular the chance to enhance the region’s reputation as a tech hub.
Today, May 30, is the last day to send ballots back by mail and it’s also the last day to register to vote and receive a ballot by mail. Mailed ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on June 6. Voters, of course, have the option to drop off their ballots at vote centers or cast a ballot in person. They must be in line by 7 p.m. on June 6 to do so.