Colorado makes registering easy, and La Plata County gives you more doors than most. You can do it from your phone in five minutes, drop by the Clerk's office on Turner Drive, or pick up a form while you renew a driver license. Deadlines matter only if you want a ballot in your mailbox. After that, you can still register and vote in person.
Where can I register to vote in La Plata County?
The county's voter registration page lists the places:
- Online: the Secretary of State's GoVoteColorado.gov
- La Plata County Clerk and Recorder, 679 Turner Dr., Suite C, Durango, CO 81303
- The Clerk's Bayfield office, 1199 Bayfield Parkway, Bayfield, CO 81122
- Any state office, including the Driver License Office at 329-A S. Camino Del Rio in Durango (the state says all driver license offices take registrations and forward them to your county; hours are in where the DMV is in Durango)
- By mail or fax: print the Colorado voter registration form and send it to the Elections Department at the Turner Drive address, or fax it to (970) 259-5413
The same form changes a name, an address or a party affiliation. Include identification with a paper application, because an invalid or incomplete one delays your registration. The Clerk's phone is (970) 382-6296.
Who is eligible to register?
The Colorado Secretary of State's voter FAQ gives the basics:
- You must be a U.S. citizen
- You must be at least 16 to register, and 18 on Election Day to vote
- You must have lived in Colorado for at least 22 days immediately before the election
What are the 2026 deadlines?
The Secretary of State's Oct. 2 news release sets the calendar for the Nov. 3, 2026 General Election:
- Oct. 26: last day to register and still be mailed a ballot, and the last suggested day to return one by mail
- Oct. 27: return your ballot to a voting center or drop box, or vote in person, through Election Day
- Nov. 3: Election Day. Your ballot must be submitted, or you must be in line, by 7 p.m.
- Nov. 12: deadline to fix a signature problem, if the Clerk contacts you
- After Oct. 26: you can still register and vote in person at a voting center through 7 p.m. on Election Day
- Statewide: 452 drop boxes and 384 voter centers, which you can look up by address on GoVoteColorado.gov
What if I just moved to Durango?
Update your address as soon as you can. Under the state's FAQ rules, a change made more than eight days before an election voids your old mail ballot and sends a new one. A change within seven days of the election updates your record, but you must go to a polling location to vote. Newcomers can also read our moving to Durango guide for the rest of the first-90-days list.
What ID do I need to vote in person?
Bring ID if you vote at a voting center. The county's list says every acceptable form must show a Colorado address. Accepted items include:
- A valid Colorado driver license or state ID card
- A valid U.S. passport
- A current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck showing your name and address
- A valid Medicare or Medicaid card
- A student ID with a photo from a Colorado college or university
- No ID with you: the county says you may vote with a provisional ballot
The county posts a longer list on its registration page.
Does anything else close on Election Day in La Plata County?
Yes. The Clerk's recording counter will not offer recording services on Nov. 3, 2026, because staff will help with election operations. Normal hours resume Wednesday, Nov. 4. Our answer on property records in La Plata County explains the recording side.