NICOLE Jaramillo (above) is in her 23rd year in the Alamosa County Clerk’s office, but she has never had to organize and manage a local election.

Now as the elected Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder, she finds the responsibility of preparing and organizing the upcoming November 2021 election daunting and at times overwhelming.

“I have to give it to Melanie (Woodward) and all the county clerks who do this all the time,” Jaramillo said of the now-retired Alamosa County Clerk who she replaced. “I didn’t realize all the steps involved, and what it actually took to run an election and be prepared.”

Woodward spent 19 years as the county clerk for Alamosa, and now Jaramillo takes on the role of Alamosa County’s number one person responsible for local elections. “It’s a little overwhelming, and quite the eye opener,” Jaramillo said.

At a time when county clerks everywhere are under a microscope for the role they play in running local elections, Jaramillo’s learning curve is adding stress to an already stressful situation.

She appealed to the Alamosa County Commissioners at their Sept. 8 meeting to hire a consultant to come in and help her get the November election organized after falling behind on tasks and lacking the staff to help get the November election in shape.

Alamosa County hired Teak Simonton, former Eagle County Clerk and now Eagle County Treasurer, to consult with Jaramillo and help her with the election. Simonton has started her consulting work with Jaramillo, and her obligations under the contract include supporting Alamosa County’s first day of mail ballot processing and first day of ballot scanning and adjudication, and helping with the first day of voter service and polling operations on Oct. 25, and then election day on Nov. 2.

“Without her, I wouldn’t know what to do,” Jaramillo said, adding that the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office has also been helpful in helping Jaramillo understand her responsibilities in staging the election.

“With Teak’s help, I feel comfortable,” said Jaramillo. “I think we’re going to have a good election.”

THE BALLOT 

Local school board races and city council races dominate the ballot in communities across the San Luis Valley.

If you’re in Alamosa, the city of Alamosa is hosting a candidate forum on Oct. 5 for Alamosa city council candidates. The candidate forum begins at 6:30 p.m. at Alamosa City Hall.

VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Voters may register through Election Day. Take note that how you register to vote will impact how you receive your ballot.

To receive your ballot by mail:

• Register to vote or update your voter registration online at www.GoVoteColorado.gov through the 8th day before Election Day;
• Submit an application through the mail, at a voter registration agency, or at a local driver’s license examination facility through the 8th day before Election Day; or
• Submit an application through a voter registration drive no later than 22 days before Election Day.

If you miss the above deadlines, you may register in-person at a voter service and polling center in your county through Election Day.

Check your voter registration: https://www.coloradosos.gov/voter/pages/pub/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml

Register to vote: https://www.coloradosos.gov/voter/pages/pub/olvr/verifyNewVoter.xhtml

High School voter registration: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/highSchoolRegistration.html

College Campus Voter Challenge: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/allInChallenge.html