Nearly half of local residents have already voted

San Juan County Clerk John David Nielson says that as of October 27, the county has 7,751 active registered voters for the 2020 general election. The record high number of active registered voters is a 9.75 percent increase since the last presidential election in 2016.

So far, 3,754 ballots have been processed as of the morning of October 27, for a turnout of 48 percent voter participation a full week before election day.

Nielson said the clerk’s office usually receives quite a few more ballots by mail in the final days leading up to the election and will also receive numerous ballots on election day as well.

In the 2018 midterm election, 74 percent of the 7,460 registered voters in the county cast a ballot.

In the 2016 presidential election, 78 percent of the 7,062 registered voters in the county cast a ballot.

In addition to the Presidential Election, voters in San Juan County may also cast ballots for the Third District Congressional Representative, Utah Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, and Treasurer, as well as state constitutional amendments and judicial retention.

Locally, there are just three contested items on the ballot.

These include the District 1 County Commission race between Republican incumbent Bruce Adams and United Utah Party candidate Monette Clark, the District 2 San Juan School Board race between incumbent Merri Shumway and write-in challenger Bret Hosler, and and a vote on Proposition #11, which asks if the Bluff Service Area should be dissolved.

Additionally, there are a series of other state representatives, school board, and county officials who are running unopposed on the ballot.

Voters in San Juan County have the option to vote by mail or in person.

Mailed ballots returned by voters must be postmarked by Monday, November 2. Postage has been pre-paid on ballots, but they also can be dropped off in person at voting locations.

The deadline to register to vote by mail has passed. However, you can register and vote in person at an early voting location or at the polls on election day.

Those who show up to the polls on election day and are unable to register to vote (such as if you forget an adequate identification) can cast a provisional ballot.

Residents can check their status or register online at vote.utah.gov.

Ballots were mailed out on October 3 and early voting has been occurring across the county since October 5.

Early voting locations include Monticello, Montezuma Creek, Bluff, Monument Valley, and the chapter houses in Aneth, Red Mesa, Mexican Water, and Navajo Mountain.

Early voting sites still open ahead of the election include the Bluff Community Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Navajo Mountain Chapter House from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, and the Monument Valley Welcome Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, as well as the county clerk office in Monticello Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Election day voting takes place at the Montezuma Creek Diné Professional building, Monument Valley Welcome Center, Navajo Mountain Chapter House, and the county clerk office in Monticello from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Navajo Language assistants have been and will be available at each election site.