Cortez Officials Urge Inactive Voters to Update Info Before April Election

With key City Council seats and ballot questions on the April 7 ballot, Cortez is encouraging nearly 1,000 inactive voters to reactivate.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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With five City Council seats and four ballot questions on the April 7 ballot, Cortez officials are urging nearly 1,000 inactive voters to update their information before ballots go out. According to City Clerk Danielle Wells, 965 out of 6,765 voters in Cortez are inactive, meaning they are registered but unable to vote by mail or in person due to outdated information. The city will mail ballots to active voters starting March 16 and has a 24-hour ballot box available.

Why it matters

Ensuring all eligible Cortez residents can participate in the upcoming election is critical for local democracy. Inactive voter status can disenfranchise a significant portion of the electorate, so the city is proactively reaching out to encourage voter registration and participation.

The details

Cortez voters need to be active to vote in the April 7 election. The city will mail ballots to active voters starting March 16 and has a 24-hour ballot box in the City Hall parking lot. Voters will choose five candidates out of 11 to fill seats on the City Council, and the ballot will also include four questions covering charter amendments, term limits, meeting locations, and Council qualifications.

  • The April 7 election will have five City Council seats and four ballot questions.
  • Ballots will be mailed to active voters starting March 16.
  • The 24-hour ballot box in the City Hall parking lot opens on March 16.

The players

Danielle Wells

The City Clerk of Cortez.

Kelly Codner

The city spokeswoman for Cortez.

Karen Sheek

The chair of the League of Women Voters of Montezuma County and former mayor of Cortez.

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What they’re saying

“There's quite a large gap of people who either aren't registered or have gone inactive.”

— Kelly Codner, City spokeswoman (the-journal.com)

“Colorado is a state where it's really, really easy to vote. It's a very easy process, but it's always a good idea to call and make sure.”

— Karen Sheek, Chair, League of Women Voters of Montezuma County (the-journal.com)

What’s next

The League of Women Voters of Montezuma County will host a candidate forum at City Hall on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. where six candidates have confirmed attendance so far.

The takeaway

Cortez is proactively working to engage all eligible voters and ensure high participation in the upcoming election, recognizing that inactive voter status can disenfranchise a significant portion of the electorate. By making voter registration and information updates easy, the city is upholding democratic principles and giving all residents a voice in local governance.