Reprinted with permission from the The Telluride Daily Planet
Tuesday, September 6, 2005

As the fall elections in Mountain Village approach, it's increasingly important to understand who can, and who can't, vote under the Village's voting system. With million-dollar questions like a new recreation/entertainment center on the ballot, voter turnout is crucial and will shape Mountain Village's future. Election Day is Nov. 1.

Voters can cast ballots in Town of Mountain Village elections if they are legal residents, meaning that they have registered with the town clerk or the San Miguel County Clerk at least 29 days prior to the election and have lived in Mountain Village for no less than 30 consecutive days immediately before the election. Voters must also be over 18 years of age.

Also, non-resident property owners can vote for municipal candidates or on any municipal issue, but only if they have owned property in town limits for 30 consecutive days and meet the other criteria for legal residents. The would-be voter must own 50 percent of the property's fee title interest, as to prevent trusts, corporations, limited liability companies and other conglomerates from voting on municipal issues. But hold on - there's more.

Mountain Village Metropolitan District elections are open to any legal resident of Mountain Village over 18 years old, and to any Village property owner who is registered to vote anywhere in the state of Colorado, and has lived in the given precinct 30 days before election day.

Mountain Village Owners Association elections, however, aren't as simple to participate in. Looking like a report card in its classification, Mountain Village Owner's Association voting breaks down voters into residential (class A), hotel (class B), commercial, (class C) and mountain special member (class D) voters.

Residential voters, or owners of residential sites, are allotted one vote for each site owned. The vote may be dished to a lessee of a site by giving a written notice to the owner's association.

Hotel voters, or owners of lodge sites or those that lease sites from owners, may vote only if the site has been developed. Vote counts are given to each property based on zoning units.

Commercial voters, or those who provide any kind of service other than lodging, are entitled a vote for each 250 sq. feet of space in their businesses. Owners of undeveloped or vacant commercial property may not vote. Those who lease property can vote as well.

The last group of voters, the mountain special members, is comprised entirely of the Telluride Ski and Golf Company.