Denver’s ballots will be mailed at a first-class rate this fall, giving them a higher priority in the eyes of the U.S. Postal Service to ensure timely delivery during the November election, city Clerk and Recorder Paul López announced Thursday.

The announcement comes after President Trump spent the last two months criticizing mail-in ballots, making claims about how they work and saying he didn’t want to fund the USPS to make voting by mail more difficult.

“Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of the November presidential election, mail ballots must have higher priority status now more than ever,” López said.

Ballots in Denver will be mailed out starting Oct. 9.

Like other elections, voters will be able to drop their ballots at the city’s 38 drop-boxes (available 24-hours a day); at drive-through locations; and by mail. People sending their ballot by mail should do so by Oct. 26 so it gets to the office before voting ends on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

Denver Elections Division spokesman Alton P. Dillard said about 20 percent of ballots are returned by mail. Most are returned at the city’s drop-boxes and the drive-through sites.