Flooding in Southwest Colorado Closes Voting Sites and a Drop Box; State Says Flood-Hit Voters Can Cast Replacement Ballots Until 7 p.m. Mountain Time

Voters in parts of southwestern Colorado are casting ballots today around washed-out roads and closed voting sites. Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of State say anyone affected by the flooding who has not yet voted still has ways to do it before polls close at 7 p.m. Mountain time (8 p.m. Central).

What happened. In a state update posted Tuesday, published by the Pagosa Springs Sun, Polis said another round of heavy rain Sunday night worsened flooding across the southwest part of the state. The flooding has damaged roads, bridges, utilities and communications, and has forced evacuations. Polis thanked county clerks "who are working hard to ensure Coloradans impacted by this flooding are able to successfully vote in today's election."

What changed for voters in Archuleta County. The Department of State told voters, as reported by Denver7, that the voter center at the Ross Aragon Community Center and the ballot drop box at Pagosa Springs Town Hall should no longer be used. The state lists these replacements:

• The Archuleta County Courthouse in Pagosa Springs is now a voter center, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
• The downtown drop box has moved to a mobile drop box in a parking lot at 10 Solomon Drive in Pagosa Springs, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Colorado Sun reports a county vehicle there carries a sealed box and a bipartisan team of judges.
• The Pine River Library in Bayfield is a joint La Plata and Archuleta County voter center, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Archuleta County voters can cast a replacement ballot there that includes all of their local contests.
• The Archuleta County Election Office and the Archuleta County Extension Office voting sites, and the Tara Community Center drop box in Arboles, remain open, according to Denver7.

What voters elsewhere should know. According to the Department of State, eligible voters affected by the floods who have not yet voted can go to any voter center in Colorado and get a replacement ballot. A voter center in the voter's home county offers a ballot with all local contests. A voter center in another county offers only statewide races. Voters who already have a mail ballot can return it to any Colorado drop box or voter center by 7 p.m. Mountain time. Voters who cannot get to a voter center or drop box because of the flooding can request an emergency ballot online. The state asks voters to check Go Vote Colorado before they travel.

Other counties. The Department of State says voting locations and hours are not affected in Conejos, La Plata, Montezuma and Rio Grande counties, Denver7 reports. The Colorado Sun reported Monday that La Plata County's election offices are open despite road closures, power outages and evacuations, and that the county is working directly with displaced voters. Conejos County Clerk Nathan Ruybal told the Sun he does not expect flooding to affect turnout there, and Rio Grande County Clerk Cindy Hall said she did not expect major effects.

The wider picture. The Associated Press reports that heavy rain and flash flooding in the Southwest were expected to make it harder for some voters to reach polling places in parts of Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. The AP says the Navajo Nation has changed several polling locations, and that voters in Utah's rural San Juan County were being allowed to vote electronically today because some may not be able to reach polling places. NBC News reports that Polis's office has also told affected voters about the replacement and emergency ballot options.

Why it matters. Any flood-affected voter who cannot get to a usual site has until 7 p.m. Mountain time to use one of the options above. We did not find reporting that ties the flooding to any specific race our Election Headquarters tracks, and we have no information on how many voters have been affected. Results on election night will be unofficial until Colorado certifies them, and we will report a race as called only when the Associated Press calls it.

What we could not check. We did not reach county clerks or the Department of State directly. We rely on the governor's update as published by the Pagosa Springs Sun, on Denver7's account of the Department of State notice, and on the Colorado Sun's reporting from Monday. Site details can change quickly in a flood. Denver7 lists the courthouse address differently from the Colorado Sun, so check Go Vote Colorado or call your county clerk before you drive.

What to do. Colorado voters affected by the floods can find current locations at Go Vote Colorado. La Plata County residents who cannot vote because of evacuations or road closures can call the county elections office at 970-382-6296, the Colorado Sun reports. In an emergency, call 911.

Sources: Pagosa Springs Sun, "Governor provides update on southwestern Colorado flooding, state response and voting access ahead of Election Day" (State of Colorado release, posted November 3, 2026): https://www.pagosasun.com/stories/governor-provides-update-on-southwestern-colorado-flooding-state-response-and-voting-access-ahead,158535. Denver7, "Some voting location changes announced in SW Colorado due to flood risk": https://www.denver7.com/news/politics/department-of-state-announces-voting-location-changes-in-sw-colorado-due-to-flooding-risk. The Colorado Sun, "Here's how residents impacted by flooding in southwestern Colorado can vote before polls close Tuesday" (November 2, 2026): https://coloradosun.com/2026/11/02/voting-flooding-southwest-colorado/. Associated Press, "Voting begins on last day to cast ballots in US midterms with observers keeping close watch at polls": https://apnews.com/article/midterms-election-day-voting-polls-trump-ba3037eed7bd816cc084bb1c4a2e6ccf. NBC News live updates, entry "Colorado governor addresses voting concerns amid severe flooding in the state," 11:42 a.m. ET: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/live-blog/midterm-election-results-2026-news-trump-live-updates-rcna605763. Our Election Headquarters: /election/