MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KJCT) – The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has offered in-person voting options for inmates.

“We gave them the chance and the opportunity to come and vote at a regular polling place,” said MCSO Administrative Sergeant Christi Montez. “The election office went in, set up booths just like a normal election office, and the inmates had a chance to go in and actually vote.”

According to Montez, voting was available to pretrial detainees. However, this was the first year that in-person voting was available.

In the state of Colorado, those who have completed their sentences, as well as those on parole and probation can register and vote in elections.

In 2024, Mesa County inmates voted in 4 elections: 2 mayoral, 1 city, and the current general election.

“Offering in-person voting has grown our voters tremendously because it’s given them an opportunity to come down and see if they’re eligible to vote,” Montez said.

The state’s recent change to allow inmates to vote was unknown to many in the system.

“Many of our inmates have never voted before,” Montez said. “It was the first time they ever registered to vote or didn’t realize they could vote.”

About 123 inmates voted in the general election, sweeping the MCSO and Mesa County elections.

“I didn’t realize how much of an impact it had on me, seeing them come in, come down and be excited that they had a chance to vote,” Montez said. “It’s important to give them the opportunity to have a voice in the voting system in an election.”

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