Voters in the Pikes Peak region will get a voice as election season hits full stride. Visit the Gazette's interactive ballot for details on the candidates and the issues.

Research the candidates and issues with The Gazette's Election '08 Search Tool. Use handy forms to search for ballot initiatives or candidates by name, party or office.

Click here for a printable sample ballot.

THE GENERAL ELECTION NOV. 4

Voters in the Pikes Peak region will get a voice in picking the president, one of Colorado's two U.S. senators, a U.S. representative in the 5th Congressional District, members of the state House and Senate, amendments to laws and the state Constitution, county commissioners and various local issues.

Here's a briefing on how to participate.

EARLY VOTING

In El Paso County, early voting runs from Monday through Saturday and Oct. 27-31 at the following locations:

• Downtown Colorado Springs at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The Citadel mall, Suite 3124, on the upper level near JC Penney, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Chapel Hills Mall, Suite 179, on the lower level near the food court escalator, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In Teller County, early voting is available weekdays Monday through Oct. 31 at these locations:

• Centennial Building, 112 N. A St., Cripple Creek, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Rampart Regional Library, 218 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MAIL-IN BALLOTS

People who vote by mail must provide a copy of an ID if they didn't meet the ID requirement when they registered to vote. The return envelope for mail-in ballots indicates whether each voter must include a copy of an ID.

To request a mail-in ballot in El Paso County, find the application online at http://car.elpasoco.com/election or call 575-8683.

El Paso County voters who use mail-in ballots may drop them off on Election Day at the following locations:

• Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave.
• Powers Branch, southeast corner of Powers Boulevard and Airport Road
• Chapel Hills Branch, in the Chapel Hills Mall on the north side next to JC Penney

For Teller County, an application for a mail-in ballot is available at http://www.co.teller.co.us/Clerk%20and%20Recorder/voter.htm or call 689-2951 option 5.

Teller County voters who use mail-in ballots may drop them off on Election Day at either of two locations:

• Clerk and Recorder's Office, 1091 W. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek
• Woodland Park Branch Office, 540 Manor Court

POLLING PLACES AND VOTE CENTERS

Voters should be prepared to show ID (usually a driver's license) at a polling place or vote center. All polling places and vote centers are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

El Paso County election officials mailed information cards in early July with the polling place for each voter. Polling place locations are also available by calling the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder at 575-8683, or via the Voter Registration Lookup Web site at http://car.elpasoco.com/election.

On Election Day in Teller County, voters may cast ballots at any of five voting centers:

• Rampart Regional Library, 218 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park
• Summit Elementary School, 490 Meadow Park Drive, Divide
• Florissant Public Library, 334 Circle Drive, Florissant
• Centennial Building, 112 N. A St., Cripple Creek
• Victor City Hall, 500 Victor Ave., Victor

POLITICAL CONTACTS

• El Paso County Democratic Party, 473-8713, www.peakdems.org
• El Paso County Republican Party, 578-0022, www.gopelpaso.com
• Teller County Democratic Party, www.tellerdems.org
• Teller County Republican Party, 687-7429

CAMPAIGNING LAWS

It's against the law to campaign for candidates or ballot measures within 100 feet of a polling place. That goes for signs, buttons and T-shirts, too.