Voter turnout in Summit County declined in the 2024 election compared to the previous presidential election.

In 2024, 17,640 of 21,811 active voters, or 81%, cast ballots in the election, according to unofficial results. That is down almost 5 percentage points from the 2020 election, when 18,682 of 21,632 active voters, or 86%, in Summit County cast ballots. The voter turnout is about equal to the 2016 election, when 16,645 of 20,478 active voters, or 81%, cast ballots in Summit County.

“The election process was smooth, secure, and a testament to the success of voting procedures here in Colorado,” Summit County Clerk and Recorder Taryn Power said. “Around 80% of voters turned out, whether that was through mailed in and dropped off ballots, or braving a snowstorm to cast their vote in person.”

As of Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, Power said the unofficial results are a full tally, except for any ballots cured in the eight-day allowance, any mail-in Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act ballots and provisional ballots.

“To our knowledge, everyone who wanted to cast their vote in person was able to do so – and that’s the most important part  – that our community has a fair opportunity to raise their voice,” Power said. “I want to thank our Summit County voters for their patience and trust in the process, our team of bipartisan election judges who worked tirelessly through long 12-hour shifts at our polling centers and central count facility, and our incredible staff.”

State and national elections

In the Presidential election, Summit County voters cast their ballots in favor of the Democratic ticket by a wide margin. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz received 11,663 votes, or 67% in Summit County, while Donald Trump and JD Vance received 5,181 votes, or 30%. Harris and Walz also won the statewide vote in Colorado, but by a smaller margin. But nationwide, voters elected Trump and Vance to the White House.

In the race to represent District 2 in the U.S. House of Representatives, Summit County largely echoed the statewide results where Joe Neguse (D-Boulder) was elected with about two-thirds of the vote. In Summit County, Neguse received 11,214 votes, or 67%, while Marshall Dawson (R-Boulder) received 5,107 votes, or 30%.

In the election to represent District 13 in the Colorado House of Representatives, incumbent Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon) won her home county by a wider margin than she did overall in the state. In Summit County, McCluskie received 11,295 votes, or 68%, while her opponent Republican Dave Williams received 5,307 votes, or 32%. Statewide, McCluskie beat Williams with just over 55% of the vote to his about 45%.

For Regent at Large of the University of Colorado, Summit County residents cast 8,865 votes, or 60%, for Democrat Elliott Hood, while Republican Eric Rinard received 5,584 votes, or about 38%.

County elections

County voters also re-elected all three incumbent members of the Summit Board of County Commissioners. In District 1, Democrat Eric Mamula received 10,650 votes, or 65%, to beat Republican Allen Bacher, who received 5,852 votes, or 35%. In District 2, Democrat Tamara Pogue received 9,717 votes, or 60%, to beat Republican Bob Cottrell, who received 6,511 votes, or 40%. Running unopposed in District 3, Nina Waters received 11,324 votes.

For an uncontested race for 5th Judicial District Attorney, Summit County cast 10,959 ballots to reelect Heidi McCollum.

In an uncontested race, Summit County re-elected Taryn Power as clerk and recorder. She received 11,753 votes.

Judicial retention

Summit County voters also voted with the rest of the state to retain two Colorado Supreme Court Justices. In Summit County, residents cast 9,331 votes, or 76%, in favor of retaining Supreme Court Justice Maria Berkenkotter. Summit County residents cast 8,537 votes, or 70%, in favor of retaining Supreme Court Justice Brian Boatright.

Summit County residents also overwhelmingly retained 5th Judicial District Judge Rachel Olguin-Fresquez, with 8,831 votes cast in favor of retaining her, or about 75%.

State ballot issues

On most of the ballot questions before voters, Summit County voted in line with the rest of the state. But on two questions — related to funding police officers and ranked-choice voting — Summit County residents favored a different outcome than voters statewide.

Colorado voters approved Proposition 130, which asked voters whether the legislature should be required to appropriate $350 million for police officer training, with about 53% of voters supporting it. But in Summit County, 8,546 ballots, or about 53% were cast in opposition to Proposition 130, while 7,479 ballots, or 47%, were cast in favor of it.

On the other hand, while Colorado voters shot down Proposition 131, a narrow majority in Summit County supported that ballot measure, which would have created a ranked-choice voting system. About 55% of Coloradans voted ‘no’ on Proposition 131. But in Summit County, 8,182 ballots, or about 52%, were cast in support of the proposition while 7,675 ballots, or 48%, were cast against it.

Local ballot issues

In Keystone, residents voted on two ballot issues: 2A, which asked if the town could increase taxes by $2 million annually in its first fiscal year for capital projects and public safety, and 2B, which was created to remove the government spending limit put in place by the Colorado Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR.

On 2A, Keystone voters cast 502 ‘yes’ votes, or 69%, and 221 ‘no’ votes, or 31%. On 2b, Keystone voters cast 563 ‘yes’ votes, or 79%, and 148 ‘no’ votes, or 21%.

Summit County voters rejected the Summit School District’s Ballot Measure 4A, which sought to take out a roughly $195 million bond to fund infrastructure and other major projects. The ballot issue failed with 9,163 ‘no’ votes, or 57%, and 6,893 ‘yes’ votes, or 43%.