Fairplay, Colorado Public Records

Law enforcement in Fairplay is primarily provided by the Park County Sheriff's Office, which has a station located within the city. The sheriff's office is responsible for maintaining public safety, responding to emergency calls, and conducting investigations within the 80440 ZIP code. While the overall crime rate in Fairplay is relatively low, the sheriff's office works closely with the community to address any issues that may arise.

Fairplay voters are served by the Park County Clerk and Recorder's Office, which administers all elections in Park County. The office is located at 501 Main Street (PO Box 220), Fairplay, CO 80440, phone (719) 836-2771, website www.parkco.us/departments/clerk-recorder. The Clerk serves as the Designated Election Official (DEO) for Park County and manages voter registration, ballot preparation, early voting, election day operations, and canvassing of results for all federal, state, county, and coordinated local elections.

Colorado residents can register to vote online through the Colorado Secretary of State's website at www.govotecolorado.gov, which allows new registrations, updates to existing registrations, and verification of current registration status. Colorado offers same-day voter registration, meaning eligible residents can register and vote on Election Day itself. To register, applicants must be U.S. citizens, Colorado residents for at least 22 days before the election, and at least 16 years old (though they cannot vote until age 18). A valid Colorado driver's license or ID number is required for online registration. Fairplay residents register with their physical Fairplay address, which determines their ballot content for town, county, state legislative district, and congressional district races.

The Town of Fairplay holds municipal elections for Mayor and Board of Trustees positions. Fairplay trustees serve four-year staggered terms, with elections typically held on the first Tuesday in April in odd-numbered years (2025, 2027, etc.), though the town may coordinate with county elections in even years. The next regular Fairplay municipal election is in April 2025. Information on candidates, local ballot measures affecting the town, and polling locations for municipal elections are available through the Town of Fairplay Town Hall at (719) 836-2622 or www.fairplayco.us, with ballots and election administration handled by the Park County Clerk.

Colorado is a universal mail ballot state—all active registered voters automatically receive a mail ballot for every election, typically mailed 18-22 days before Election Day. Fairplay voters receive their ballots at their registered address and can return them by mail (postage-free), at 24-hour ballot drop boxes (locations listed at www.parkco.us and at the Park County Courthouse), or in person at the Clerk's office or designated Voter Service and Polling Centers. For those who prefer to vote in person, Park County operates Voter Service and Polling Centers during the 15-day period before Election Day and on Election Day itself; locations and hours are published by the Clerk's office. Fairplay residents can find their specific ballot drop box locations and Voter Service Center assignments at www.govotecolorado.gov by entering their address.

Colorado election records that are public include: voter registration lists (available for purchase for political purposes under C.R.S. § 1-2-227), campaign finance reports filed through the Colorado Secretary of State's TRACER system (www.tracer.sos.colorado.gov), candidate filings and statements, election results by precinct (available through the County Clerk and Secretary of State), and ballot issue text and fiscal impact statements. Individual voter history (which elections a person voted in, but not how they voted) is also public record. In the November 2024 general election, Park County saw turnout of approximately 78-82% of registered voters, reflecting Colorado's consistently high participation rates facilitated by mail ballot systems. Park County voted approximately 62-67% Republican in the 2024 presidential race, consistent with its conservative rural character.

On November 3, 2026, Fairplay and Park County voters will decide several significant races. Colorado's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Michael Bennet is not up in 2026 (next election 2028), but U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper's seat is also not contested in 2026 (next in 2028). However, Colorado's gubernatorial election will be held in 2026, with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor positions on the ballot, along with other statewide offices including Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer. Fairplay voters in State House District 60 and State Senate District 8 (districts may vary based on redistricting) will elect state legislators. Park County offices on the 2026 ballot will include County Commissioner seats (Park County has three commissioners serving staggered four-year terms), County Clerk and Recorder, County Treasurer, County Assessor, County Sheriff, and County Coroner. Depending on the election cycle, school board positions for Park County School District RE-2 may also appear. Special district elections for fire protection, water and sanitation, and library districts serving Fairplay may be included. Ballot issues may include local tax measures, state constitutional amendments, and citizen initiatives that qualified for the 2026 ballot. Complete ballot content, candidate lists, and voter guides will be available from the Park County Clerk beginning in September 2026, with Sample Ballots mailed to all households approximately one month before the election.