BY DAVID GRANT LONG

Although none have occurred locally, the recent spate of school shootings across the country has ended a traditional lesson in democracy for Montezuma County’s grade-school students, County Clerk Evie Ritthaler announced yesterday.

"From now on, there’ll be no polling places in any of the schools," she said, to preclude the possibility that someone intent on harm might gain access under the guise of voting.

Ritthaler explained that the decision to end the long-standing practice of casting ballots at public schools was made after conferring with Re-1 officials.

"What with all the issues of school safety, we decided to pull the precinct polling places out," she explained. "If some idiot wanted to do some kids in, it would be very easy" to take advantage of election-day traffic in the buildings.

The change was made in time for a several upcoming primary and special-district elections, beginning with the Colorado Democratic and Republican presidential primary battles on March 10.

The last day to register to vote in those contests is Feb. 10, and the following day, Feb. 11, is the last day residents can affiliate with either party to participate in precinct caucuses, which will be held two months later.

The Democratic primary pits Vice President Al Gore against former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley.

The GOP ballot will list six contenders —Texas Gov. George Bush, U.S. Senator John McCain, billionaire publisher Steve Forbes, former Ambassador Alan Keyes, former Reagan aide Gary Bauer and U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch. (Hatch dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa last week, but the Colorado ballots had already been printed.)

People registered as unaffiliated, or independents, may vote in either primary by declaring an affiliation at the polls, according to Ritthaler.

Other important dates on this years political calendar include:

• Feb. 29 — Early voting for the presidential primaries begins at the Montezuma County Courthouse.

• March 10 —Presidential primary voting at the precinct polls. (See box for locations.)

• April 3 —Last day to register to vote in a regularly scheduled special-district election.

Elections to be held this spring include the Cortez Sanitation District, the Montezuma County Hospital District, the Southwest Colorado Television Translator Association and some fire-protection districts.

The sanitation district’s voters will decide on whether to fund construction of a proposed $11.7 treatment plant along with electing three directors to the five-member board.

• April 11 —Precinct caucus day. (Second Tuesday in April.)

• April 21 through May 11 — First and last days that county assemblies can be held to select delegates to the district and state assemblies.

• May 2 —Special district election day.

• June 4 —Last day to hold district and state assemblies for the August state primary elections.

• July 10 —Last day to register to vote in the primaries or to change party affiliation or to withdraw such affiliation.

Registered unaffiliated voters may declare party affiliation at the polls on election day.

• Aug. 8 —Primary elections. Polls open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

• Nov. 7 —General election for offices including president, 3rd Congressional District, state representative in the 59th District and several county offices.

#1 Pleasant View Fire Station, 15229 CR CC, Pleasant View

#2 Dolores Community Center, 400 Riverside, Dolores

#3 Lewis-Arriola Fire Station, 22145 CR S, Lewis

#4 Empire Electric Building, 801 N. Broadway, Cortez

#5 National Guard Armory (Presidential Primary only), 1690 N. Dolores Road, Cortez

#6 Towaoc Tribal Complex, Towaoc

#7 Johnson Building, 925 S. Broadway, Cortez

#8 Montezuma County Annex, 107 N. Chestnut, Cortez

#9 Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church, 350 S. Washington, Cortez

#10 National Guard Armory, 16990 N. Dolores Road, Cortez

#11 Mancos Fire Station, 106 Bauer Avenue, Mancos