A deep-blue state’s early voting figures reveal a razor-thin margin between the two major parties, according to The Denver Post, which is considered good news for former President Donald Trump. The official numbers from the Colorado Secretary of State indicate that Democrats lead Republicans by only 22,000 ballots, with over 635,000 ballots already returned—a notable development in the all-mail-in voting state. The data, released Wednesday, represents the first update since ballots were sent to all registered voters in mid-October, with options to return them by mail or via drop boxes.
The largest group of voters thus far consists of independents, with nearly 250,000 ballots returned. Democrats have submitted around 200,000 ballots, while Republicans are lagging behind with approximately 178,000. As of Tuesday, about 65% of the ballots have come from voters aged 55 and older, and participation has been higher among women than men. Early returns across all demographics indicate a slower pace compared to 2020, with this year’s total of 636,597 ballots falling short of the 1.27 million cast at the same time four years ago, the Denver Post noted.
While Democratic voters have returned more ballots so far, this aligns with Colorado’s voter registration demographics, where Democrats make up about 26% of active voters, compared to approximately 23% for Republicans. The close margin is surprising, given that the state attempted to keep Trump off the ballot. In the latter months of 2023, Colorado became the focus of a crucial legal battle regarding Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 presidential ballot. On December 19, 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court issued a narrow 4-3 decision invoking Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump, citing his involvement in acts deemed “insurrection” against the United States.
The ruling was historic, as it marked the first time a state’s highest court utilized this constitutional clause against a presidential candidate, effectively preventing Trump from appearing on Colorado’s primary ballot. Although the decision was initially placed on hold until January 4, 2024, to allow for an appeal, Trump’s legal team quickly contested the verdict. They criticized it as “completely flawed” and argued that it infringed on the rights of Colorado voters.
The legal saga reached its climax on March 4, 2024, when the U.S. Supreme Court intervened, overturning the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling. The country’s highest federal court determined that states do not have the authority to exclude candidates from federal elections based on the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment. This definitive ruling paved the way for Trump’s inclusion on ballots nationwide, effectively ending similar legal challenges in other states such as Maine and Illinois.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.