Live blog: Colorado Election Day 2017

DENVER – Tuesday is again Election Day in Colorado, where all but six of the state’s counties will be voting in some contest. Polls are set to close at 7 p.m. Refresh this page for election updates throughout the evening.

VIEW (Rolling updates starting after 7 p.m.): Denver7 unofficial results page | Statewide unofficial election results page

Election results are unofficial until the election is certified on Nov. 24.

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11:37 p.m.

The four candidates running on an anti-voucher platform in the Douglas County School Board race appear headed for victory, which could spell the end of the district’s voucher program that’s been embroiled in controversy for years.

As of 11:30 p.m., Anthony Graziano, Chris Schor, Kevin Leung and Krista Holtzmann were all leading their respective races by at least 12,000 votes. They are part of the CommUnity Matters panel that was pitted against an Elevate group that continues to fight for the voucher program.

The voucher program dominated the race, as it is still tied up in the Colorado Supreme Court after the U.S. Supreme Court asked the lower court to reconsider its decision. The Colorado Supreme Court had previously deemed the county’s voucher system unconstitutional.

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11:28 p.m.

Voters overwhelmingly approved a $937 million general obligation bond package that will push money into 460 projects mostly related to transportation and mobility, and appear close to having approved the Green Roof Initiative.

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9:07 p.m.

As of 8:01 p.m., 1,086,227 ballots had been returned and counted statewide, which rings turnout up to 33.5 percent. In the 2016 General Election, Colorado ranked fourth in the nation in turnout, with a turnout of 72.1 percent.

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8:33 p.m.

Approximately 6,000 votes were counted between 7 p.m. and 8:30 in Denver. The “yes” votes for the Green Roof initiative still have a slight lead of about 2,500 votes out of more than 80,000. All the GO Bonds are still passing with at least 65-percent support.

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7:49 p.m.

As of 7 p.m., 1,074,464 Coloradans had submitted their ballots. Out of the 3,243,593 registered voters, that represents around 33.1 percent voter turnout. Ballots are still being counted, however.

In the 2016 General Election, Colorado ranked fourth in the nation in turnout, with a turnout of 72.1 percent.

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7:33 p.m.

Early unofficial results for the hotly-contested Douglas County School Board race are in. Leading the early vote are Anthony Graziano, Chris Schor, Kevin Leung and Krista Holtzmann. They are all part of the Community Matters push, which opposes school vouchers.

7:21 p.m.

More results are coming in from Boulder, Broomfield and Aurora. The questions asking Aurora voters if the mayor and city council should get pay raises is currently within 1,000 votes between the “yes” and “no” voters.

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7:08 p.m.

The 7 p.m. unofficial election results in Denver are in.

The Green Roof initiative is the closest race in Denver currently. Those supporting Initiated Ordinance 300 currently are in the lead, 51.24% to 48.76%.

All of the GO Bond measures currently have at least 65% of those who voted supporting the measures.

For more election results: Denver7 unofficial results page | Statewide unofficial election results page

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7 p.m.

Polls are now closed in Colorado. View election results live at the two following links: Denver7 unofficial results page | Statewide unofficial election results page

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6:57 p.m.

President Trump is tweeting after the Virginia governor candidate he supported, Ed Gillespie, is projected to have lost the race to Democrat Ralph Northam.

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6:46 p.m.

In a Virginia state House race, Democrat Danica Roem beat Republican Bob Marshall, who had served in the state House since 1992. Roem becomes the first openly transgender person elected and seated in a state legislature in the United States.

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6:43 p.m.

The Associated Press reports that Democrat Phil Murphy has defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in the New Jersey governor’s race. Murphy will succeed Republican Chris Christie, and it is the second state Democrats have won back in nationwide governor’s races Tuesday.

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6:26 p.m.

There are 30 minutes until polls close in Colorado.

If you’re still looking for somewhere to drop your ballot or fill one out before 7 p.m., click here and enter your address to find the nearest location.

Denver has 26 ballot drop-boxes that are open 24 hours a day. Find those and polling centers on a map by clicking here. 

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6:20 p.m.

The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor’s race for Democrat Ralph Northam.

Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie, according to early unofficial results. Gillespie was backed by President Trump, but ran a campaign based on race-related advertisements and attacks on Northam. He also kept a distance from the president.

Northam has been the state’s lieutenant governor. The AP reports that his victor was “due to a surge in anti-Trump energy since the president took office.”

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5 p.m.

We’re two hours away from the close of polls, Colorado. If you’re still looking for somewhere to drop your ballot or fill one out before 7 p.m., click here and enter your address to find the nearest location.

Denver has 26 ballot drop-boxes that are open 24 hours a day. Find those and polling centers on a map by clicking here. 

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4:41 p.m.

Voter turnout has so far been relatively-low this year. Only about 27 percent of the state’s voters had returned their filled-out ballots as of 7:46 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Republicans led the vote count by more than 30,000 ballots over Democrats Tuesday morning, and unaffiliated voters were about 60,000 ballots behind Democrats.

Younger voters have also been much slower to return their ballots than older voters through the voting period so far.

Turnout was also slow in Denver until Tuesday. As of Monday morning, turnout sat just below 18 percent. But by 1 p.m. Tuesday, turnout was up to 22 percent.

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4:30 p.m.

The 2017 election is an off-year election, and there are no statewide ballot issues this year for the first time since 2009, as odd years are usually used to send TABOR matters to voters.

If you’re reading this before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, there is still time to vote.

Denver has 26 ballot drop-boxes that are open 24 hours a day. Find those and polling centers on a map by clicking here. If you’re mailing your ballot back in Denver, you can sign up for Ballot Trace to be sure your ballot makes it back to your county clerk in time to be counted.

If you’re in any other county in Colorado, click this link and enter your address, and the state will tell you’re the nearest drop-box locations and polling locations.

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4:28 p.m.

In Denver, voters will be deciding on four Denver Public Schools directors, an initiative that would force new large buildings to install green roofs (which the mayor and city council oppose), and a $937 million general obligation bond package that centers on transportation and mobility.

Douglas County voters will vote on new school board members in a race that has drawn plenty of national attention and out-of-state money.

Posted on: November 7, 2017Blair Miller