Aguilar voters are served by the Las Animas County Clerk and Recorder, which administers all elections in Las Animas County. The office is located at 200 East First Street, Room 206, Trinidad, CO 81082, phone (719) 846-3316, website www.lasanimascounty.net. Colorado residents can register to vote online at www.govotecolorado.gov, operated by the Colorado Secretary of State. Registration deadlines fall 22 days before Election Day for online and mail registration, though the state offers same-day voter registration in person at voter service and polling centers through Election Day.
Voters must provide a valid Colorado driver's license or ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. First-time voters who registered by mail may need identification when casting ballots. As a statutory town, Aguilar holds municipal elections for mayor and board of trustees. These contests typically occur in April of odd-numbered years, coordinated by the Las Animas County Clerk as required by state law. The next municipal election would be in April 2025 or April 2027, depending on current officials' terms; residents can verify specific dates and candidate filings by contacting the Town Clerk at (719) 941-4346 or the Las Animas County Clerk. Municipal ballot questions, including mill levy increases and local issues, are also decided during these elections. Voters in town participate in all county, state, and federal elections including races for U.S. Senate and House, Governor, State Legislature (the community is in Colorado House District 47 and Senate District 3), Las Animas County Commissioners, County Sheriff, Clerk and Recorder, Treasurer, Assessor, Coroner, and Surveyor. Colorado operates as a universal mail ballot state: all active registered voters automatically receive a mail ballot for every election, typically 18-22 days before Election Day. Voters may return ballots by mail (no postage required if using the official return envelope, must be postmarked by Election Day), at 24-hour ballot drop boxes (locations listed at www.govotecolorado.gov), or in person at voter service and polling centers. The county operates voter service centers where residents can register, receive replacement ballots, vote in person, and get assistance; specific locations and hours are announced before each election and can be found through the Las Animas County Clerk or at www.govotecolorado.gov. In the November 2024 general election, Las Animas County reported approximately 55-60% voter turnout, with detailed precinct results available through the Las Animas County Clerk and on the Colorado Secretary of State website. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Aguilar and Las Animas County voters will decide several significant races. Colorado will elect a U.S. Senator (both seats are scheduled: Michael Bennet's term expires January 2029, John Hickenlooper's term expires January 2027, so if 2026 is a regular cycle, no Senate seat is up; however, voters should verify the specific ballot). State-level races include Governor (Jared Polis's current term ends January 2027, so the 2026 election will include the gubernatorial race), other statewide constitutional officers (Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer), all State House seats (including District 47), half of the State Senate (District 3 is up in 2026 or 2024 depending on the cycle), and potentially ballot initiatives on taxes, regulations, or constitutional amendments. County races may include County Commissioner districts, Sheriff (four-year terms), and other county officers depending on term schedules. Voters can find their specific polling place, ballot drop box locations, and voter service centers by visiting www.govotecolorado.gov and entering their address. Colorado makes extensive election records publicly available: voter registration lists (with certain personal information redacted) can be requested from the Secretary of State under § 1-2-227, though there are restrictions on commercial use. Campaign finance reports for candidates and committees are searchable online through the Colorado Secretary of State's TRACER system at www.sos.state.co.us/tracer. Candidate filings, petitions, and nomination information are public records maintained by the Las Animas County Clerk for local races and the Secretary of State for state and federal races. Election results by precinct, including those from Aguilar, are published after certification and are available from both the Las Animas County Clerk and the Secretary of State. Colorado's election transparency and vote-by-mail system provide residents with accessible voting options and public information about candidates, finances, and results.