Around 26,230 registered, active Broomfield voters are unaffiliated — more than Democrats and Republicans combined, according to data from the city and county clerk and recorder’s office.
As of Tuesday, there were 15,284 active, registered Democrats and 10,800 active, registered Republicans in Broomfield, the data shows.
Around 46% of active voters in Colorado are unaffiliated, compared to 28% who are registered as Democrats and 25% who are registered as Republicans, according to data from the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.
In the June primary election, unaffiliated voters tended to skew Republican, a separate state report shows. But unlike the primary — which requires voters to choose their party ballot — the general election doesn’t require a party ballot choice, so there’s no way for the state to legally track that data.
“Every voter’s right to a secret ballot is constitutionally protected in Colorado,” said Annie Orloff, spokesperson for the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. “If an individual asks how you voted in a particular race, you are not required to tell them how you voted.”
Unaffiliated voters are often younger, according to a state data report from 2018. Younger demographics — particularly those under age 24 — typically turn out to vote in lower numbers; however, unaffiliated voter turnout has been higher since then, Orloff said.
Here are the ballot returns in Colorado, as of Friday:
- Unaffiliated: 409,232 (37.21%)
- Democrat: 357,656 (32.52%)
- Republican: 321,909 (29.27%)
- (Other: > 1%)
*Data from Secretary of State’s Office
With unaffiliated voters skewing Republican, those who hand in their ballots last-minute could have a significant sway over tallies for right-wing candidates on Election Day.
Another category of Broomfield residents who have the ability to sway local races are those who aren’t active voters, which is determined by undeliverable ballots, returned mail or a change of address. As of Tuesday, there were 6,725 inactive voters in Broomfield, according to the clerk and recorder’s office.
People who are experiencing homelessness can use a shelter, park, campground or another public area as an address, as long as it can receive mail. A post office box or private mailbox can’t be used as a residential address, but it can be used as a mailing address. Those who don’t have a driver’s license can also vote — here’s a list of acceptable identification.
Learn more about how to register to vote in Colorado here.
