Election Day is coming up fast in El Paso County – here’s the rundown on casting your ballot, including important dates, drop-off locations and the candidates and issues that might appear. 

While not as high-profile as last year’s November election, 2025 will see consequential local races and issues decided. The last non-presidential election in 2023 saw 40% turnout in El Paso County, according to previous Gazette reporting. Last year, about 77% turned in ballots.

Ballots are due at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

For voters looking to register, the deadline to request a mail-in ballot has already passed. Voters can register and receive a ballot at Voter Service and Polling Centers, which are open for in-person voting.

For those who received a mail-in ballot, Oct. 28 was the last recommended day to mail it to be counted in the election. Even if postmarked earlier, regular ballots that arrive after election day cannot be counted.

Ballot boxes are open up until polls close on election day and can be accessed 24 hours a day.

By election day, El Paso County will have 12 polling centers open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For locations, visit the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s page on the election. 

There are two statewide propositions on the ballot, both of which involve funding for a school meals program: 

Proposition LL. Allows the state to keep revenue raised by state tax deduction changes for incomes above $300,000. The state would keep $12.4 million for the Healthy School Meals for All Program, which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students in participating public schools regardless of income. If the proposition fails, the revenue will be refunded and taxes will be lower for affected households. 

The proposition pertains to about 6% of households filing tax returns in Colorado, according to the 2025 Blue Book. The cost of the program is expected to increase by $33 million in 2025-26 and $67 million in 2026-27. The program’s cost has in the past exceeded revenue due to inflation and higher-than-expected student participation. 

Proposition MM. Increases taxes paid by households with income above $300,000 by lowering deduction limits. If approved, the proposition would increase revenue by $96 million next year, which would go into the Healthy School Meals for All Program and implementation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  

El Paso County has one countywide race for county commissioner on the ballot, but only Republicans and unaffiliated voters will see it. Residents of Fountain and Manitou Springs have municipal races to consider, while neighboring Pueblo also has a crowded municipal ballot.

Following a new state law, the replacement of District 5 Commissioner Cami Bremer, who resigned earlier this year, must go to voters this fall. Current appointee Lauren Nelson was chosen by the local Republican Party and was a former member of the Colorado Springs District 11 Board of Education. She is joined on the fall ballot by former El Paso County GOP Chair Vickie Tonkins. 

Since Bremer was elected as a Republican, only registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters will be able to vote on the replacement. 

Residents of Manitou Springs are voting to significantly change their city council’s makeup. Natalie Johnson, Manitou Art Center executive director, is running unopposed to replace outgoing mayor John Graham.  Nathan Nassif and Carey Storm are the sole candidates for City Council Wards 1 and 2, which have outgoing representatives. Lauran Breen and Gloria Latimer are the candidates for Ward 3. 

Also on the ballot is an initiative endorsed by the City Council to raise Manitou Springs’ tax on tickets and experience fees. It’s called an excise tax and applies to a handful of businesses that cater mainly to tourists. If the ballot initiative is successful, the city council will be able to raise the current 5% tax up to 14%. Affected businesses have publicly opposed the tax, claiming it would hurt the city’s economy.

In Fountain, Mayor Sharon Thompson is joined on the ballot by Al Lender, a former city councilman who was recalled from his position in 2005 and has since acquired a felony conviction. A crowded at-large race includes small business owner Connie Whisenhunt, Army veteran Sean Verhoeff, high school teacher Eric Gregg, and sanitation district manager Jim Heckman. 

Councilmembers Gordon Rick and Marcia Gieck are running unopposed in their wards. 

In Pueblo, voters will decide on four seats on the City Council and six ballot measures. The most immediately impactful ballot question is 2C, which would eliminate the mayor and replace the position with a city manager selected by the City Council. Pueblo voters chose in 2017 to switch to the strong-mayor form of government and have seen two mayors since then, Nick Gradisar and Heather Graham. It is one of three Colorado cities with the strong mayor government, along with Denver and Colorado Springs.

The City Council races feature seven people running for two at-large seats: Regina Maestri, Colleen Grahek-Clark, Brett Boston, Evans Auden Gonzalez Garcia, Tom Croshal, Nathan Harper and Selena Ruiz Gomez. Boston is an incumbent for the at-large seats, and Maestri is currently the councilmember for District 1.

The four candidates running for the District 1 council seat are Tiffany Estrada, Kassidy Hall, Dianne Danti and Elvis Martinez. Joseph Penko and Ted Hernandez are running for the District 3 council seat. No incumbents are running in the two district races.

In school district board races:

D-49. Two seats are up in the Pikes Peak region’s largest school district, with incumbents Jamilynn D’Avola and Lori Thompson running along with Chris Harrell, Ivy Liu and Holly Withers.

Academy D-20. Three seats are up in D-20, with Susan Payne marking the only incumbent seeking reelection. Payne was appointed to the board earlier this year following the resignation of Aaron Salt in March and is joined by candidates Brandon Clark, Renee Malloy Ludlam, Holly Tripp, Jenna Stites, Eddie Waldrep and Cynthia Halverson.

Colorado Springs D-11. Seven candidates are vying for three openings left by outgoing members Julie Ott, Sandra Bankes and Amanda Huber. Huber was appointed to the board last month after Lauren Nelson’s resignation, but is not running for a second term. LeAnn Baca Bartlett, Michael Carsten, Bruce Cole, John Gustafson, Charles Johnson, Jeremiah Johnson and Michelle Ruehl are all running for the open seats.

Widefield D-3. William Dolphin, Michelle Hubbard, Pamela Jones, Robin J. Jones and Luis Ybarra Jr. are seeking to fill the seats of outgoing board members David Dock, Greg Fischer and Donna Walsh.

Lewis-Palmer D-38. Tim Bennett, Jackie Burhans and Ginger Schaaf are running to succeed outgoing board members Tiffiney Upchurch and Kris Norris.

Cheyenne Mountain D-12. Janna Blanter, Kara Mehall, Jessica Lehman and David Schulz are vying for the seats of Nissa Steinhour and Randy Case.

Calhan RJ-1. Jim Elrick, David Hammond, Buckey Lobdell and Charlotte Trojanovich are running for three at-large board seats.

Ellicott D-22. Ryan Boone, Michael Ferguson, Amy Bautista, Alice Trulson and Amanda Kobilan are all running for open seats.

Peyton 23-JT. Four candidates are vying for three open seats in the Peyton school district. Incumbents Buffi Cavanaugh and Kelli Marcus are running along with Rob Christian and Carrie LaFollette.

Miami-Yoder 60-JT. Three seats are up with four candidates. Incumbent Jon Hogeboom is running along with Ronny Burr, Samantha Berg and Daniel Carneal.

Woodland Park RE-2. Six candidates are in the running for the Woodland Park school district’s three open seats. Carol Greenstreet, Laura Gordon, Kassidi Gilgenast, Bert West, Norman Michaels and Clayton Austin are running to succeed Cassi Kimbrell, Suzanne Patterson and David Rusterholtz, who are not seeking re-election.

Cripple Creek-Victor RE-1. Incumbents Donna Brazill and Stanley Conley are running for reelection and are joined by Amanda Young, Gary Moore and Kasie Hilfers-Garduno. Board President Mary Bielz’s term expires this year.

Voters in Widefield D-3, Manitou Springs D-14, Cripple Creek-Victor RE-1 and Peyton 23-JT also will decide on potential tax increases to approve new bonds to renovate or replace aging infrastructure or mill levy overrides to bolster existing programs and salaries.

Widefield D-3. Ballot Measures 4A and 4B concern an $88 million bond and a $5 million mill levy override, respectively, for upgrades across the school district. The bond would invest in capital projects while the mill levy override would increase funding for other expenses and salaries and student programs.

The total costs to taxpayers are calculated to be $5.40 monthly for every $100,000 of home value.

Manitou Springs D-14. Ballot measure 4C would incur $37.6 million in bond debt to upgrade safety and security, Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility and infrastructure throughout schools and facilities.

The new bonds would increase local taxes on homes valued at $500,000 by $35.20 per month and $423 per year, according to district calculations. The duration of the new bonds would be over 25 years.

Cripple Creek-Victor RE-1. Teller County’s Ballot measure 4A would extend an expiring tax, without increasing it, and increase the school district’s general fund by about $500,000 annually.

Peyton 23-JT. Ballot Issue 5C would generate an additional $670,000 annually for the district to construct a new facility and upgrade existing schools.

Local property owners would see an annual tax increase of $63 per property valued at $100,000, based on assessed property values rather than market values.