The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office has completed the official Canvass of the 2019 Coordinated Election. Final official results include additional ballots from military and overseas voters, and ballots that were counted after ID, signature, or other issues were properly resolved. Final official results are approved by a bipartisan Canvass Board and can be viewed on the Election Night Reporting site.
With the final results tabulated, City of Manitou Springs Issue 2D and Stratmoor Hills Sanitation District Issue 6F indicates the threshold set in Colorado law triggered an automatic recount. The difference between the highest number of votes cast (yes/for) and the next highest number of votes cast (no/against) is less than or equal to one-half of one percent of the highest votes cast. When an automatic recount is triggered, the jurisdiction affected is responsible for paying for the recount.
The Clerk’s Office will conduct a public Logic and Accuracy (L&A) test on all ballot counting equipment being used for the recount to verify that it is fully functional and properly tabulates votes. The L&A test will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3. Members of the bipartisan appointed Canvass Board will witness and confirm voted test ballots cast on each voting unit to ensure that it records votes accurately. These test ballots are counted by each voting unit and cumulated results are verified to ensure complete accuracy throughout the entire recount process.
City of Manitou Springs Issue 2D and Stratmoor Hills Sanitation District Issue 6F recount will begin on Wednesday, December 4, and will be concluded by the statutory deadline of December 10. Results will be issued in a press release and published on the Election Night Reporting site.
Prior to the canvass, the Clerk’s Office also completed and passed its fourth post-election Risk Limiting Audit. Implemented by the Secretary of State’s Office in 2017, this sophisticated 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.