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Arapahoe County conducts tabulation test of mail ballots Tuesday
The “I voted sticker” imprint on some mail-in ballots does not impact tabulation
LITTLETON --- Arapahoe County conducted a successful tabulation test of mail ballots Tuesday after it was discovered that the “I voted sticker” included in the mail ballot envelope left a slight imprint on some ballots.
“I want voters to be assured that this imprint has no affect on how their vote will be counted,” said Clerk and Recorder Nancy A. Doty. “We’ve run several tests and we are confident that all ballots will be counted correctly. However, if voters find the imprint on their ballot and they are concerned, they can request a replacement ballot.”
The imprint from the oval sticker was discovered on some ballots submitted to Arapahoe County as of Tuesday, which was the first day Arapahoe County could begin tabulating mail-in ballots.
As soon as the imprint was discovered, Arapahoe County ran a tabulation test of the ballots and notified the Secretary of State’s Office, as well as representatives from the Democractic and Republican parties. All ballots tested were counted correctly. Arapahoe County also contacted its elections vendor – ProVote Solutions – to conduct an independent tabulation test. All ballots counted during this test were counted correctly.
Arapahoe County ran an additional test Tuesday afternoon, which was witnessed by representatives from the Secretary of State’s Office, Democratic Party, Republican Party and the Denver Post. This test also correctly counted all ballots.
“The Secretary of State’s Office observed the process and we are confident in the integrity of the election in Arapahoe County,” said Suzanne Staiert, Attorney for Secretary of State Scott Gessler. “We appreciate Clerk and Recorder Doty taking swift action and inviting our office, as well as representatives from the parties, to see first hand that ballots are being counted correctly.”
Arapahoe County has mailed roughly 245,000 mail ballots for the Nov. 6 General Election so far and anticipates 80 percent of the County’s active registered voters will vote by mail.
Arapahoe County began including the I voted stickers with mail-in ballots several years ago at the request of voters who missed getting the sticker at polling sites. Doty said this is the first time the sticker has ever made an imprint on Arapahoe County mail-in ballots.
If voters are concerned, they can exchange their mail ballot for a new ballot at any one of our Voter Assistance Centers. Voter Assistance Centers are located at:
· Aurora Motor Vehicle Branch Office
490 S. Chambers Road, Aurora 80017
Hours: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Election Day: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
· Byers Motor Vehicle Branch Office
538 N. Highway 36, Byers 80103
Hours: 1 – 4:30 p.m.
Election Day: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
· Centennial Motor Vehicle Branch Office
6954 S. Lima St., Centennial 80112
Hours: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Election Day: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
· Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder’s Office (Littleton)
5334 S. Prince St., Littleton 80120
Hours: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Election Day: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
For more information about the Nov. 6 General Election, contact the Arapahoe County Elections Division at 303-795-4511 or visit [url=http://www.arapahoevotes.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]www.arapahoevotes.com[/url].
