Nearly 13% of registered Democratic voters had returned ballots, compared with 10% of Republicans and about 7.5% of unaffiliated voters. Unaffiliated voters make up the state’s largest voting bloc. The figures show when ballots were received, not how people voted.

Colorado mailed ballots to about 4 million eligible voters. Return rates also vary sharply by age: nearly 30% of voters 65 and older had returned ballots, versus about 3% of voters ages 18 to 34 and a little over 7% of those ages 35 to 64.

In-person voting centers opened Oct. 19. Election officials can process ballots before Election Day, but return totals are not made public until polls close at 7 p.m. Nov. 3.

It is not yet clear whether participation is ahead of or behind the pace of the 2022 midterms. More ballots had been returned at this point in the calendar than two weeks before the 2022 election, but ballots were sent earlier this year, complicating the comparison.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold said Colorado worked with the Legislature to send ballots and open drop boxes earlier, giving voters more time and allowing the state greater flexibility amid concerns about possible federal interference. She said election officials had also strengthened contingency planning.

Voters face a crowded ballot. Every statewide office is open, including governor, secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer. The ballot also includes competitive congressional contests, 14 statewide ballot measures, and local races and questions.

The return-rate analysis is based on individual voter ballot-status records and excludes voters whose records are confidential, so totals may differ slightly from the state’s published figures. The data does not reveal voters’ choices.