Jeffco finishes counting 99% of ballots
GOLDEN, Colo., Nov. 4—For the fourth election in a row, Jefferson County has finished counting on Election Night all ballots received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Jeffco’s total of 377,643 ballots counted represents an estimated 99% of ballots cast in this election. Based on precedent, we anticipate the approximately 1% remaining will arrive in the next week from three sources: military and overseas voters, who have nine additional days for their votes to be received; voters whose ballots were initially rejected and have nine days to fix the issue; and Jeffco ballots returned on time to a drop box in a different county.
“Accuracy, not speed, is always our chief objective in counting votes, but thanks to our 600 bipartisan election judges, we have again achieved both this election,” Jeffco Clerk and Recorder George Stern said. “Our team continues to set the bar for accessible, secure, and efficient elections, and I could not be prouder of them.”
With an estimated turnout of 90% of active, registered voters, Jeffco will break its previous record for general election participation of 88%, set in 2016. More than 85% of voters submitted their ballots early, and approximately 5% voted in person. The vast majority of voters used one of the county’s secure, 24-hour drop boxes—Jeffco increased the number of boxes from 15 to 36 over the last two years.
“We could not have finished counting this quickly without our voters, who returned their ballots early in overwhelming numbers,” Stern added. “We are thrilled that they turned out at historic levels, and grateful that they listened to our calls to do so early, allowing them and us to avoid lines and delayed results.”
Once the counting process is finished next week, Jeffco will participate in a rigorous statewide audit to ensure the accuracy of all results. It is only then that results will be certified in consultation with members of both political parties.
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