D11 Bond Vote Is 7 Days Away — How and Where to Return Your Ballot
The District 11 bond measure is on the November 3, 2026 coordinated election ballot — one week from today. Colorado voters receive mail ballots automatically, which means your ballot for this election should already be in your hands. The question now is less about whether to vote and more about how and when to get the ballot returned. Here's what you need to know about the mechanics.
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Colorado has conducted elections entirely by mail since 2013. If you're a registered Colorado voter, your November 3 ballot was mailed to your address of record. If you moved recently and didn't update your registration, your ballot may have gone to an old address — which is a reason to check your registration status now rather than on Election Day.
Check your voter registration status through the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's website or through Colorado's statewide voter portal. Both will show whether your registration is current and whether your ballot has been mailed and received.
How to Return Your Ballot
Drop boxes (recommended): El Paso County has drop boxes open now, before Election Day. You can also drop your ballot at any D11 school location. Drop boxes are available around the clock and don't require you to interact with election staff — you seal the ballot, sign the outer envelope, and place it in the box. Drop boxes are the most reliable option for ensuring your ballot is received well before the deadline.
Mail: You can return your ballot by mail, but it must be postmarked by November 3 to count. With a week remaining, mailing today or Wednesday is safe. Waiting until November 3 to mail it is a significant risk — last-day mail processing is unpredictable, and a ballot postmarked Nov. 3 but not received by the clerk by the canvass deadline won't be counted.
In person on Election Day: Vote Centers in El Paso County will be open on November 3. If you've lost your mail ballot or didn't receive it, you can vote in person at any Vote Center in the county. Bring your ballot if you have it — a "ballot curing" process exists for certain issues, and poll workers can walk you through options.
Tracking Your Ballot
After you drop off your ballot, you can track whether it's been received by the El Paso County Clerk using the Ballot TRACE system available through the county's elections page. The system updates as ballots are received, verified, and counted. It takes a day or two after drop-off for the status to update, so don't be alarmed if it doesn't show immediately.
What the Bond Covers
If you need a recap: the D11 bond is $775 million and covers Palmer High School rebuild, Holmes Middle School rebuild, Coronado High School HVAC upgrades, and districtwide building improvements. It's the first D11 bond since 2004. The estimated tax impact is approximately $6.50 per month per $100,000 of assessed property value. The Gazette endorsed the measure. We covered the full details in our October 24 and October 26 articles.
Quick Reference: Ballot Return Options
| Option | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drop box (El Paso County or D11 school) | Nov 3 by close of polls | Available now; recommended |
| Postmarked by Nov 3 | Return today or Wednesday to be safe | |
| In-person Vote Center | Nov 3 during hours | For lost/unreceived ballots; any El Paso County Vote Center |
What's Next
Election results for the November 3 coordinated election will begin posting after polls close on the evening of November 3. El Paso County will post initial results that night, with updated counts released over the following days as remaining ballots are verified and counted. D11 will announce bond results and next steps if the measure passes. COS Parenting will cover the results as they come in.
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