The position of Clerk and Recorder varies from county to county, but the overarching purpose is to keep the public record of the documents within the county, both current and historical documentation. This is one of the political offices that should be the least political, as their purpose is to maintain the county records in a transparent and accessible manner.
There are four main divisions of responsibility that the Clerk and Recorder oversees here in El Paso County, which as of the 2020 Census is the largest county in the state of Colorado.
Elections
Fair and impartial elections are key to the success of democracy. The election department is in charge of many aspects of voting, their hard work protects the rights of the voters in El Paso County. Some of the tasks of the Elections department include:
Voter registration and information
Keeps the voting information safe and secure, and prevents voter fraud
Candidate information and access to the ballot
Redistricting
Redrawing of precincts to stay within an individual House, Senate, and Commissioner Districts
Redrawing of equal population County Commissioner Districts – this is a new process following the signing of House Bill 1073
Access to elections, boxes for envelope drop off, or in-person
Validates, counts, and reports votes
Keeps precinct and district maps
Maintains previous election information
Motor Vehicles Department
The Motor Vehicles Department is responsible for the registration of vehicles and their drivers. Some of the tasks of the Motor Vehicles Department include:
Car tag registration and renewals
Driver license registration and renewals
Registering a transfer of the vehicle title
Processing change of address and change of name forms
Renewals can be online, using an app, at a kiosk, or in person
Recording
The Records department keeps a historical record of the comings and goings of people, places, and things; with both physical and electronic records for accessibility:
Birth and death certificates
Marriage licenses and certificates
Divorce paperwork
Civil unions
Name changes
Military Records, DD-214
Bureau of Land Management Records
Property records, deeds of ownership
Plat Maps showing property boundaries, size, streets, easements, and more
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
The Clerk’s office attends the meeting of the County Commissioners, recording what transpires and keeping the official record:
Keeps the agenda and minutes of the County Commissioners’ meeting
Provides the commissioners with requests for unincorporated El Paso county about
Liquor Licenses
Medical Marijuana applications
Verify the Chair of the Commissioners signature
Keeps the record of decisions by the Commissioners