Paradox, Colorado Public Records

Law enforcement in Paradox is managed by the Montrose County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office is responsible for patrolling the local area, responding to emergency calls, and conducting criminal investigations. In addition, the Paradox Volunteer Fire Department provides fire suppression and emergency medical services to the community. Residents can contact the Sheriff's Office or the fire department to report any incidents or request assistance.

Paradox, Colorado voters are served by the Montrose County Clerk & Recorder's Office, which administers all elections for the area. The office is located at 320 South First Street, Montrose, CO 81401, phone (970) 249-3362 ext. 3, website www.montrosecounty.net/clerk. Paradox residents register to vote through the Colorado Secretary of State's online voter registration portal at www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pub/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml, which requires a valid Colorado driver's license or identification card. Voter registration deadlines in Colorado are 8 days before Election Day for online registration and 7 days before for in-person registration; mail registration must be received by the 8th day before Election Day. Colorado offers same-day voter registration at Voter Service and Polling Centers during the early voting period and on Election Day. Because Paradox is unincorporated, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council; residents vote in county, state, and federal elections. Montrose County elections include County Commissioner districts, Sheriff, Clerk & Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer, Coroner, and Surveyor, with various offices up for election on rotating four-year cycles. Paradox voters can look up their assigned polling place or Voter Service and Polling Center locations by using the Montrose County Clerk's website or the state's Voter Service and Polling Center locator at www.sos.state.co.us. Colorado is a vote-by-mail state: all active registered voters automatically receive a mail ballot 18-22 days before each election. Ballots can be returned by U.S. mail (no postage required) or deposited in 24-hour ballot drop boxes located throughout Montrose County, including at the County Courthouse in Montrose and other designated sites. In-person voting is available at Voter Service and Polling Centers during the early voting period and on Election Day. Colorado election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for purchase for political purposes), campaign finance disclosures (searchable at www.sos.state.co.us/campaign), candidate filings, ballot issue petitions, and precinct-level election results. Individual voter history (whether a person voted, but not how they voted) is also public record. In the November 2024 presidential election, Montrose County reported approximately 64% voter turnout with about 16,800 ballots cast out of roughly 26,000 active registered voters; the county favored Republican candidates by approximately 70-28%. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Paradox and Montrose County voters will decide several significant races. Colorado will elect a U.S. Senator (Class III seat currently held by Michael Bennet, term expires 2027—not up in 2026), but there is no Senate race that cycle. Colorado does not elect a Governor in 2026 (gubernatorial elections are in presidential years). However, voters will elect all members of the Colorado House of Representatives (65 districts, two-year terms), half of the Colorado State Senate (18 of 35 districts, four-year staggered terms), and Montrose County offices including County Commissioner, Clerk & Recorder, and potentially Sheriff or other constitutional officers depending on term schedules. Paradox is part of Colorado House District 58 and Colorado Senate District 5. Absentee/mail-in ballots are automatically sent to all registered voters in Colorado; voters who need a replacement ballot or have not received one by 8 days before the election should contact the Montrose County Clerk at (970) 249-3362 ext. 3.