My name is Jenny Thomas and I am the Routt County clerk and recorder. For nine years I served as a deputy clerk in all areas of the operations of the clerk’s office. In 2019, I was appointed to serve as the Chief Deputy under Kim Bonner. Upon her retirement in January 2022, I was appointed to complete her term as the clerk and recorder. This year I am on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate for the position of the Routt County Clerk.

The office of the clerk and recorder is the administrator for local, state and federal elections for Routt County, but we also are responsible for so much more: the departments of Motor Vehicles and Recording, processing birth and death records, marriage licenses and liquor licenses.  

The Department of Motor Vehicles has some changes coming in 2023. You may have heard about the Colorado Parks and Wildlife “Keep Colorado Wild” program (approved by Colorado voters) that will be implemented next year. Beginning in January, all motor vehicle registrations will include a Colorado Parks and Wildlife parks pass. This will incur a $29 additional fee on your vehicle registration. The change will affect all registrations unless you choose to opt out at the time of renewal or registration.

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Currently, the State of Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles has an opportunity for all Colorado residents: a chance for citizens to create a license plate. This event is the 150^th anniversary of Colorado historical license plate contest that celebrates the history of Colorado. It is and will be available for purchase for Colorado residents. Information can be found at DMV.Colorado.Gov.

Clerks are also the keepers of historical records in Routt County. Our office has worked over the last several years to make our records more accessible by digitizing the oldest of the records that we keep. We have a new website that houses these records and is searchable for the general public. As of today, almost 99% of the records we keep have been digitized for easier access. You can access the website by visiting Co.Routt.Co.us. Fees apply and will be expressed to you prior to purchase.

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In 2019, the office of the clerk and recorder took over vital records from Northwest Colorado Health. We issue birth and death certificates for those born or deceased in Colorado. For more information, please visit our website or give us a call at 970-870-5556.

Election Administration is a complicated process that requires the ability to focus on the processes and procedures while remaining impartial to the issues brought to our ballot. We, the election staff and members of our community who are judges and volunteers, want the people we serve to have confidence and pride in the operations of our Routt County elections.

We work hard to make this happen. This year’s General Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Ballots will mail out from the print vendor on Monday, Oct. 17. You can drop off your ballot at Hayden Town Hall, Oak Creek Town Hall, Yampa Town Hall and the Clark Store during their normal business hours Oct. 17 through Election Day.

In addition, we have two 24/7 secure drop boxes located in the alley behind the historic courthouse at Fifth Street and Lincoln Avenue in Steamboat Springs and at the Sheriff’s office at 2025 Shield Drive in Steamboat Springs. There will be three polling centers set up on Election Day at Hayden Town Hall, Oak Creek Town Hall and the Courthouse Annex in Steamboat Springs.

If you have questions about voting or your ballot, please visit our website at Co.Routt.Co.us or call us at 970-870-5558. We are happy to answer any and all questions you have about the voting process, statutes and regulations we adhere to, who we are and what we do. Come talk to us.