Tuesday marks the first time Aspens elections are held in March. This is thanks in part to new data from toilet flushes.
The group behind the new date, Aspen Citizens for Democracy, examined the number of flushes for different times of the year to find a time when more voters are in town.
These data indicate how many people are physically present in Aspen. The first Tuesday in March is a “Goldilocks” time after the holiday rush and before the offseason lull. It’s just right.
Flushes are at their highest on New Year’s Day when Aspen is full of holiday tourists and service industry workers are at their busiest.
The number of flushes in May, when elections used to be held, was pretty low. Many worried that residents weren’t around to vote.
This year will be the first test of that theory as Aspen residents head to the ballot box to elect new city council members, a mayor and decide the fate of the 1A chairlift.