— Stephanie Rivera
2 p.m.: Frank Martin is a registered Democrat in Glenwood Springs. He said Roe V. Wade, gun control, voting rights are the top issue for him this election.
He said he considered voting Republican to prevent Congresswoman Lauren Boebert from winning Congressional District 3. But he ultimately voted for Democrat Sol Sandoval because he felt she was the front runner out of the candidates.
— Caitlyn Kim
1:30 p.m.: Beth Trollinger is a registered Republican and took some time before work to vote at a center in Lakewood. She told CPR’s Rachel Estabrook been an unaffiliated voter in the past and said she’s concerned about climate change and the economy but primarily the division in the country. Because of that, she said she supports more moderate candidates.
“It seems almost like the fundamentalist party of the Republicans is behind the times,” she said. “You can’t turn the clock back now in this society.”
Trollinger referred to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe V. Wade.
“There is going to be a lot of soul searching going on,” she added. “It’s going to be very hard for women, and men… it’s a hard thing to turn back the clock and learn how to handle our sexuality a lot different.”
Hali Marquez was motivated to vote because of the Court’s ruling, too. She said she’s also concerned about the future of same-sex marriage and access to contraception.
“I’m very worried about our future in this country right now,” Marquez said. “I feel like everyone should vote no matter what political side you lean on.”
She said she voted Democratically Tuesday and hopes for candidates who support the rights of immigrants and women.
On the other side of the political spectrum was Rebekah Geneva, who is registered Republican but called her views conservative. She said she voted in person due to concerns she has over election security.
“I did not even feel comfortable putting my vote in a dropbox, so I’m coming in person today,” Geneva said.
Since the last election, she said some Republicans aren’t conservative enough and prays that God intervenes.
“I don’t know if you want to call them RINO Republicans… I think there are some Republicans that are not being true to what they’re supposed to stand for and the party that they’re supposed to represent.”
12:25 p.m.: Rep. Lauren Boebert supporters were out in Grand Junction Tuesday morning, whooping every time a car honked in support. Steven Smith, one of the sign holders, told CPR News reporter Caitlyn Kim that inflation, immigration and gas prices were at the top of his mind.