What happens to my ballot when I vote?

Test board members mark test ballots and record votes, June 4, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Boulder County Clerk and Recorder)

What happens to my ballot when I vote? KGNU News

What actually happens to your ballot after you drop it into a ballot box?

Yesterday was primary election day, and over a million Colorado voters filled out ballots and dropped them in ballot boxes.

On Monday, the day before Colorado’s primary election day, KGNU joined a public tour of Boulder County’s ballot processing center– to see the vote counting in action.

Boulder County Clerk and Recorder Molly Fitzpatrick explained to the tour group how it all works.

Molly Fitzpatrick gives a tour of the Ballot Processing Center (KGNU/Abby O’Brien)

Fitzpatrick spoke with O’Brien and the rest of a group of people taking a ballot processing tour on Monday. Fitzpatrick emphasized that voting early helps ease the process, so start making plans now for the general election, which is just four months away!

If you’re interested in taking a tour of the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, it’s completely free and open to the public. They will start them again a week or two before the November 3rd election, in late October.

Inside the in-person voting room at the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, June 29, 2026. (KGNU/Abby O’Brien)

This story aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.