Half of Coloradans have already voted (question for coloradans at bottom)

Denver Business Journal ^ | 11/3/08 | Mark Harden

[Ravi]

Tuesday is the official election day, but nearly 1.6 million Coloradans have already cast their ballots, which amounts to almost half of all registered voters.

[Ravi]

I have a question. They state that 447000 repubs and 457000 dems have returned their absentee ballots. But 1.6 million ballots have been mailed out. That means there are 700,000 outstanding ballots that have not been returned. Does anyone know how many were requested by repubs and how many by dems? B/C at this point, if you haven't mailed it back, you have to take it with you to election day - I don't think many will. And you can't just vote if you've received an absentee ballot.

[Crimson Elephant]

Sadly I suspect that would be a lot of military voters who seem to always have problems voting via absentee.

[jrooney]

Of the 457,000 dems a minimum of 10 percent will be PUMAS and conservative democrats that would not vote Obama. That means McCain is up in Colorado. Take that to the bank. Colorado will stay red.

[impeachedrapist]

Your numbers are off:

Mail-in ballots have been received from 1,224,766 voters, according to figures released Monday by the office of Secretary of State Mike Coffman, and another 365,215 took part in early voting, which ended last week.

For a total of 1.6 million. "Decline to state" is a significant portion of Colorado voters. So the "missing" 250,000 or so absentee ballots undoubtedly came from there. Up until recently statewide the "Decline to state" folks, in registration numbers, came in at #2 behind the GOP. The Dems might have moved into second place by now, I dunno.

Colorado is gonna go GOP. Right now they're trying to win the Allard Senate seat, too.

[Ravi]

I remember a thread from a few weeks ago from the Obama camp crowing about how many dems have requested absentee ballots in CO. If that is true, it looks like they received a ballot and threw it away or discarded it in some other fashion. Military may account for what like 5 to 10 thousand but the vast majority of the 700,000 I’d be curious to find out.

[GLDNGUN]

447000 GOP vs. 457000 DEMS. That's what - a 2% advantage for the dems? I thought it was supposed to 7-10%. ;-)

I don't know the laws in Colorado, but I assume many more will be coming in the next 2 days. There's probably places to drop them off on election day. Hopefully, millions of Obamabots will try to MAIL them tomorrow. ;-)

[impeachedrapist]

So, according to this article, the Democrats have about a 10,000-vote advantage in absentee ballots and almost an 18,000-vote advantage in early voting. So 28,000+ out of 1.6 million votes.

Wow, what a stunning and unprecedented Democratic advantage. No wonder the pollsters and pundits are telling us what an Obama blowout this will be. [giggle]

[impeachedrapist]

And I’d like to compliment the author of this article. It’s concise, flows well, and deals with facts. Not opinions or Dem talking points. Rather refreshing.

[Ravi]

You’re right. I forgot the independents. But 1.2 million have been mailed back in thus far and 1.6 million were mailed out. That still leaves 400,000 outstanding absentee ballots - I’m wondering who’s holding them and how many will come in the next day. Could be key to this state.

[ConservativeDude]

Wow, what a stunning and unprecedented Democratic advantage.”

The amazing Obama ground game in action?

[La Enchiladita]

Colorado will stay red.

Lord, make it so.
Please.

[proud American in Canada]

This thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2123650/posts

is related—I had to pay to make sure my CO absentee ballot got there in time.

[huskerone]

I don't have specific numbers but I recall the Denver Post indicated that those who self identify as "unaffiliated" voters in Colorado is about equal to the number of Republicans, making Democrats the third largest group in the state.

The battle in Colorado is how those "unaffiliated" voters will split between McCain and Obama.

[American Quilter]

From your keyboards to God’s eyes, I pray! I’m in Colorado Springs, and both Obama and Mark Udall (extremely liberal senatorial candidate) are reputed to have substantial leads in the state overall (not in MY county, that’s for sure). I’m going to be sick if my beloved state goes blue. Myself, I’ve already mailed in my ballot. GO SARAH!!! GO BOB SCHAFFER!!!

[American Quilter]

From your keyboards to God’s eyes, I pray! I’m in Colorado Springs, and both Obama and Mark Udall (extremely liberal senatorial candidate) are reputed to have substantial leads in the state overall (not in MY county, that’s for sure). I’m going to be sick if my beloved state goes blue. Myself, I’ve already mailed in my ballot. GO SARAH!!! GO BOB SCHAFFER!!!

[napscoordinator]

Colorado is gonna go GOP. Right now they’re trying to win the Allard Senate seat, too.

That is going to be a tough one to win. Udall has over 50 percent which is the line most FREEPERS use to say who wins or does not win. That is why is is great when dems only have 49 percent lead cuz they did not hit that 50 percent mark. Your thoughts?

[COgamer]

I hand delivered mine to the county clerks office, date-stamped it, and dropped it in the box. But yes, I’m a little worried about people who haven’t returned theirs yet.

[American Quilter]

Oops, sorry for the double post—election jitters.

[notdownwidems]

Of the 457,000 dems a minimum of 10 percent will be PUMAS and conservative democrats that would not vote Obama. That means McCain is up in Colorado. Take that to the bank. Colorado will stay red.

OMG I hope you are right! From your lips to God's ears, and every other cliched phrase I can think of!

[impeachedrapist]

That still leaves 400,000 outstanding absentee ballots - I’m wondering who’s holding them and how many will come in the next day. Could be key to this state.

Yeah, that still does leave about 400K unaccounted for. I'm sure some folks decided to vote in person after watching the SecState shenanigans in Ohio and maybe elsewhere. Plus there's no telling how many of those ballots are the result of false ACORN/other registrations. I can bet that both parties are furiously following up with legitimate voters to get their ballots in on time.