At this point, who'll make that runoff is still up in the air: The only thing that's certain is that the two top vote-getters in the mayor's race will be the two people who convince the most voters to drop off their ballots in this all-mail election. Denver has just under 300,000 registered voters, and about 225,000 of those are considered active -- but that doesn't mean they've been active in this election, where the turnout thus far has been very light. That means the outcome could still shift... if those voters -- officially inactive or merely slow -- get moving.
The turnout is particularly key in District 8, where 38 write-in candidates are vying for the late Carla Madison's seat. Although it's impossible to imagine any one of them getting 50 percent of the vote -- the only way to avoid a run-off -- a bunch of loyal neighbors turning in their ballots could be enough to push someone into the runoff in that district.
It's too late to mail in a ballot, but you can still deliver them to one of the thirteen vote centers around the city. And if you didn't get your ballot, or can't find it, you can get a replacement ballot at one of those thirteen centers, which includes the Denver Elections Division office at 200 West 14th Avenue. The Denver Elections Division is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today; the dozen other vote centers are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. Tomorrow, all thirteen will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
When the next round begins.
More from our Calhoun: Wake-Up Call archive: "Denver mayor's race a mystery to those who aren't paying attention -- and those who are."