Boulder primary results are on schedule

It has been about three weeks since the primary elections in Boulder County. This election, 55% of Boulder County residents came out to vote. While this may seem like an impressive number-and it is an increase from the 2018 midterms-Boulder County Clerk and Recorder Communications Specialist Mircalla Wozniak was quick to point out that voter turnout depends on many variables and is very localized.

For the June 30 primary, there were reportedly 95,610 Democratic, 29,744 Republican and 1,978 Libertarian registered and active voters. This election is notable given that it is more inclusive than many previous Colorado elections. It wasn't until 2018 that unaffiliated voters--numbering 89,041 in Boulder County--could vote in a primary. Of those active voters, 118,997 ballots have been counted.

The Courier's readership area includes a number of precincts (numbering 610-618, 655 and 656) in Niwot and precincts (504-508) in Gunbarrel. Residents in Niwot precincts cast a total of 38,970 votes across all races on the ballot this year. Gunbarrel residents in these precincts cast a total of 289,566 votes.

The ballot counting process is a layered one. For many people, election season might be the few weeks (or months) leading up to election night, but for the election staff counting ballots, it lasts much longer. Notably, the post-election night week is particularly busy. In Colorado, military and overseas ballots have eight days after election night for their votes to be counted.

Much of the ballot processing is human-driven, and in light of COVID, the Boulder County election staff has had to adapt. They have had to limit the number of people allowed in the ballot warehouse on election night. They have adjusted how they serve people in-person. Even though Wozniak encourages mail-in ballots, saying it's the safest way to vote, there are still individuals who come in person for assistance.

Even though many ballots are cast and counted before election night, those cast on the day itself postpone the counting process. Because all ballots are anonymous, all envelopes are carefully examined to verify signatures. Signatures that pass inspection are given voter credit, but those who fail initial inspection go through a verification process. Voters are contacted and ballots are flagged. If those signature discrepancies are not verified, those ballots are sent to the district attorney for investigation.

Then, the ballots go through a risk-limiting audit to ensure that the election is accurate, after which the election staff will report their findings to a board to certify that the election is accurate. It is worth noting, that Colorado is the first state to enact a risk-limiting audit process, making the state a leader in election innovation.

To stay up to date with the Boulder County Primary Election results, visit: https://www.bouldercounty.org/elections/results/. Here, you can see the overall county's statistics as well as the number of votes broken down by precinct.