Election director: Colorado could see 80% turnout among eligible voters

Colorado could be the first-ever state to achieve 80% percent turnout among eligible voters in an election, according to Judd Choate, the Colorado election director.

Choate suggested the milestone could be reached in a Sunday tweet

Colorado’s turnout is 2,533,050, or 67.2% of active and 59.1% of eligible voters. At this pace Colorado could be the first US state (ever) to reach 80% turnout among eligible voters. #vbm #VoteByMail @colo_politics @coloradopols @CPRNews @ElectProject @JessicaHuseman @CoCtyClerks

— Judd Choate (@juddrchoate) November 1, 2020

“Colorado’s turnout is 2,533,050, or 67.2% of active and 59.1% of eligible voters. At this pace Colorado could be the first US state (ever) to reach 80% turnout among eligible voters,” Choate wrote.

He cited the breakdown until then of those who had voted: 75.5% Democrats, 69.6% Republicans and 60.4% unaffiliated. Boulder, among all Colorado counties, had the highest turnout so far, with 74.9%.

Choate also predicted that up to five states — Washington, Oregon, Montana, Minnesota and Colorado — could achieve, or come close to, 80% turnout among eligible voters.

In a subsequent tweet he clarified that the milestone would apply to “modern” elections, “where most adults are eligible and turnout is based on state tabulation numbers, not reports from counties, parishes, townships or cities.”