November 12, 2021] The El Paso County Elections Department will participate in the statewide Risk Limiting Audit (RLA) Monday, November 15. This extensive post-election audit allows officials to compare a sample of paper ballots against digital tallies to verify results were tabulated correctly. Due to the high level of statistical probability, this audit confirms election results have not been manipulated and reassures a level of confidence in testing for election results.

Required by Section 1-7-515(2)(a) of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the RLA is coordinated by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office and provides strong statistical evidence that the election outcome is consistent with what was counted.

Election rules for the RLA state that the Secretary of State’s Office must select a countywide and statewide race for the audit. The El Paso County Elections Department and the appointed bipartisan Audit Board members will focus on Proposition 119 and the Colorado Springs School District 11 Director – 2 Year Term race. The Audit Board is required to locate specific ballots; review and confirm that the results of those ballots were consistent with what was counted.

The Audit Board will convene at the Citizens Service Center, Elections Department at approximately 1 p.m., Monday, November 15, and the audit will begin once the Elections Department and Audit Board members have been given the seed from the Colorado Secretary of State (SOS). Please take note that the Secretary of State will conduct a public meeting to establish the random seed for use with the Secretary of State’s RLA, as required by Election Rule 25.2.2 (h). El Paso County RLA is open to the public. If media plan to join, please RSVP to Kristi Ridlen-PIO, in advance.

Date of Public SOS Meeting: Monday, November 15, 2021 at 9:00AM

Register for Public Meeting Via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84552409799

The seed is a number consisting of at least 20 digits, and each digit will be selected in order by sequential rolls of a 10-sided die. The Secretary of State will randomly select members of the public who attend the meeting to take turns rolling the die and designate one or more staff members to take turns rolling the die in the event that no members of the public attend the meeting. The Secretary of State will publish the seed on the Audit Center (http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/auditCenter.html) immediately after it is established.