One Month Until Ballots Arrive: El Paso County Voters Prepare for 2026 Midterm Election
With summer winding down and the November election approaching, El Paso County voters are officially entering the final stretch of the 2026 election season.
In just about one month, ballots for the Nov. 3 general election are expected to begin arriving in Colorado voters’ mailboxes, giving residents plenty of time to research candidates, consider ballot questions and make their choices before Election Day.
Colorado’s 2026 general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, with voters across the state deciding a number of major federal, statewide and legislative races. Mail ballots are scheduled to be sent to Colorado voters beginning Oct. 2.
For El Paso County, the election will provide voters with the opportunity to weigh in on races that could shape Colorado and the nation for the next several years.
The midterms are coming
The 2026 election is a midterm election, meaning voters will decide who represents them in Congress and in state government without a presidential race at the top of the ballot.
Statewide contests include races for governor, secretary of state, state treasurer and attorney general, as well as one of Colorado’s seats in the U.S. Senate. All eight of Colorado’s U.S. House seats will also be on the ballot.
At the state level, all 65 seats in the Colorado House of Representatives and 21 of the state Senate’s 35 seats are up for election this year.
That means the results could have significant consequences at both the federal and state levels, particularly as voters decide which party and candidates will have influence over the direction of government following the election.
But congressional and state races aren't the only things voters should pay attention to.
Depending on where they live, voters may also encounter local races and ballot questions. The final ballot can vary by district, so voters should review their individual ballot once it arrives.
El Paso County voters should start preparing now
Colorado is one of the states where active, registered voters automatically receive their ballots by mail. Voters can return their completed ballots by mail or use an official ballot drop box, and they can also vote in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center.
That system gives voters several weeks to participate rather than requiring everyone to show up at a polling location on Election Day.
Still, election officials encourage voters not to wait until the last minute.
Once ballots arrive, voters should carefully review every race and ballot question before marking their choices. Voters should also make sure their ballot is returned according to Colorado's requirements.
For the general election, ballots must be received by the county clerk by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Simply putting a ballot in the mail on Election Day does not guarantee it will arrive in time.
The recommended deadline for mailing a completed ballot is Oct. 26.
Registration deadline is approaching
Voters who are not currently registered, or who need to update their registration, should also take care of that before the election.
Oct. 26 is the deadline to register in time to receive a ballot by mail. Colorado also allows eligible voters to register and vote in person through Election Day.
Voters should make sure their address is current, particularly anyone who has moved since the last election.
El Paso County's Clerk and Recorder maintains election information, including voter registration resources, ballot information and updates regarding ballot drop boxes and Voter Service and Polling Centers.
Election season is already underway
Although November may still feel a little ways off, the 2026 election cycle has already been active in Colorado.
The June primary determined which candidates would advance to the general election in several contested races, while independent and third-party candidates have also been working to secure places on the November ballot.
The Colorado Secretary of State's office has continued updating its official election information, including candidate lists and information about offices appearing on the 2026 ballot.
With ballots only weeks away, campaigns are entering one of the most important stretches of the election.
For voters, however, the next month is an opportunity to slow down and do their homework before making decisions.
What voters should do now
With October approaching, El Paso County voters can take a few simple steps to prepare:
Check your voter registration. Make sure your name and address are correct.
Watch your mailbox. Ballots are scheduled to begin going out Oct. 2.
Research the candidates. Look beyond campaign advertisements and learn about candidates' backgrounds, records and positions.
Review ballot questions. Read the language carefully before voting on statewide or local measures.
Plan how you will return your ballot. Don't wait until Election Day if you can avoid it.
Know your options. Voters can return their ballots through approved methods or vote in person.
Make your voice heard. Every election, including a midterm, can have a direct impact on the community.
For El Paso County residents, the countdown is now on.
In roughly one month, voters will begin opening their mailboxes to find the ballots that will determine who represents them in Washington, Denver and communities across Colorado.
Election Day may be Nov. 3, but for Colorado voters, the election will effectively begin when those ballots arrive in the mail.
More information about registration, ballots, voting locations and the 2026 election is available through the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's elections website and the Colorado Secretary of State's elections website.
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