Tuesday, November 3, 2026 is fast approaching.
Have you voted?
I'm fortunate to live in Colorado where we have had voting by mail
safely, securely, and successfully since 2013.
As Governor Jared Polis said earlier this year:
"Many Colorado voters have chosen to vote by mail for decades, and since 2013 the State has had universal vote-by-mail for eligible voters. Colorado’s vote-by-mail system is one of the most secure and successful in the country, achieving a turnout rate of 73.4% in the 2024 general election as compared with the national average of 64.3%. Of these voters, 92.2% chose to return a mail ballot, while only 7.8% of voters chose to vote in-person." Source
I love voting by mail, because my ballot has never failed to arrive,
and I can return it by dropping it in a secure drop box
next to the library and police station a mile away.
I vote early and I drop it off early, always.
Thanks to Ballottrax, I can choose to get an email
when my ballot is officially received and another when it's counted:
"Hello MYRTLE BARBOUR,
Thank you for voting! Your 2026 General Election mail ballot has been counted by Arapahoe County Elections."
To me the best thing about early voting by mail is that I have time
to carefully research and fill out my ballot.
My Colorado ballot this year was four pages long,
contained seven amendments to change our state constitution,
seven propositions to change our state statutes,
four City of Aurora ballot issues,
about a dozen judges to vote to return to the bench or not,
(including the Supreme Court of Colorado),
a federal senator, a congressional representative, a state senator, a state representative,
a sheriff, and a number of other officials like a coroner,
and a couple of random things like regional transportation decisions.
The voter information books I received from the State of Colorado
and Arapahoe County contained a total of 156 pages. 😱
Thankfully, I can sit down several times and thoughtfully fill out my ballot.
This time it took me seven or eight hours, maybe a little longer.
(Yes, I know I could plan in advance and carry a sheet into a voting booth
to help me as I vote in person on Election Day,
but there is something very reassuring about physically inking in a paper ballot
and not having to worry about screwing up technologically in the voting booth.
Technology and I often fight.)
Not one of our amendments, propositions, or ballot issues was simple,
and I had to dig into the details to be sure what I was voting on.
It can be difficult to track down unbiased and unbalanced voting information.
One resource that's available nationwide and that I have found very helpful is Ballotpedia.
What I appreciate about Ballotpedia is that it thoroughly discusses
the pros and cons of an amendment, a proposition, ballot issues, and candidates,
discloses who is supporting or opposing an item or person on the ballot,
and who had spent what regarding the item.
I always check out Ballopedia.
Absolutely, for sure, I think this should be the case! 😂
A second thing I like about early voting by mail is that I don't have to worry
about something unexpected happening on Election Day that prevents me from voting.
If my ballot doesn't arrive, I have time to find out what the problem is.
If something unexpected happens when I want to drop off my ballot,
I can go the next day or Terry can drop it off for me.
I consider voting an important responsibility, and I know I can get it done.
I hate to admit the third thing I value about early voting by mail.
But I'll admit it. I'm a senior. I'm 76.
I do not want to shuffle through hours in line waiting to vote,
especially if the weather is bad or I am sick or in pain on Election Day.
There are lots of people who find it challenging to stand in line and wait,
not just seniors.
Dropping a ballot off or returning it by mail solves these problems.
I prefer to drop my ballot off in a drop box.
Then I don't have to worry about the USPS getting it back in time.
So, have you voted?
It is a privilege. It is a responsibility. Make your voice heard.
Have a great weekend!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2026 – All rights reserved.
My next post will be
Friday, October 30th, 2026 🤞
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
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