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<\/p>\nEL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KOAA) \u2014 It’s common to see a sizable drop-off in voter turnout in an odd-numbered year, according to data from the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder.<\/p>\n
But County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker argues what voters decide on this year has just as big an impact as presidential and midterm years.<\/p>\n
Colorado Springs voter Tony Pallazarri says he can’t remember the last time he didn’t vote.<\/p>\n
“It’s had to be 20 or 30 years,” said Pallazarri.<\/p>\n
Pallazarri lives in the Academy School District 20 area in Colorado Springs. He voted on the school board race as part of this year’s election, a vote he says matters a great deal to him because he graduated from a D20 school.<\/p>\n
“Even if there’s only two or three things on there, they still matter, or we wouldn’t be voting on them,” said Pallazarri.<\/p>\n
“It’s important for the community to have educated children, and one of the things I like too, is more and more kids are able to stay in town and get jobs in town,” said Pallazarri.<\/p>\n
If past data is any indication, not as many people share Pallazarri’s feelings about off-year elections like this one.<\/p>\n
Nearly four of every five voters made it to the polls last year in the presidential election. For the 2020 election, 74% of registered voters showed up.<\/p>\n
Compare that to the 2023 and 2021 coordinated elections, which featured only 35% and 32% of the county’s registered voters.<\/p>\n
It has Schleiker hoping for an early November surprise.<\/p>\n
“We look at this and say ‘only a third of our citizens showed up and let their voices be heard to dictate how this city and this county move forward,'” said Schleiker.<\/p>\n
He says early numbers of ballots already in by Monday morning show this election is tracking similar to 2023 and 2021.<\/p>\n
“We got over 100,000 ballots thus far, which equates to about a 20% turnout. We’re expecting a low 30s turnout, which, I will tell you, this is one of the most important elections locally,” said Schleiker.<\/p>\n
An election so important, but only a third of voters show up? Schleiker says if you need motivation to head to the polls, think about where your tax dollars go.<\/p>\n
Schleiker says his team is focused on outreach to help improve turnout. He says social media has played a big role in getting more voters involved.<\/p>\n
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Air Force Academy grad behind controversial motions to honor Charlie Kirk explains why he did it<\/p>\n
Motions from the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates involved granting the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk an honorary membership and recommending an honorary degree.<\/p>\n
Air Force Academy grad behind controversial motions to honor Charlie Kirk explains why he did it<\/p>\n
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