x
Breaking News
More () »

Colorado candidates accept close race results

"We just don't have the kinds of shenanigans that they do in other states"

KUSA — Ballots are still being counted in Colorado, yet there is no outcry despite some really close races.

While the elections in Arizona, Florida and Georgia have led to lawsuits, candidates in Colorado are accepting the results.

Three state house races are within 500 votes. The first ever Castle Rock mayor's race is currently separated by just two votes.

In Arapahoe County, incumbent Republican Clerk and Recorder Matt Crane is trailing by 5,000 votes, yet is not waiting for the thousands of ballots with signature issues to be resolved.

"There's always some conspiracy theories when there's a close race, especially from the candidate who's on the losing side, but here in Colorado, we've spent a lot of time to make sure that we have really done a good job of creating checks and balances throughout the entire process," said Crane. "I don't challenge the results here. I'm on the ballot this year, and I won't challenge the results because I know what an amazing job my team and my operation do."

Crane came in on his holiday day off to show Next the signature verification room with about 4,000 ballots that have not been counted because election judges found something wrong with the signature on the envelope.

"The judge's found there was a difference in the individual characteristics of the signature, such as how the 't's' are crossed or the 'i's' are dotted, or the loops in the 'y's' and the 'j's,'" said Crane about one example.

"They found a difference in the voter's signature style, such as how the letters are connected at the top or bottom," he said about another example.

When a ballot envelope gets flagged for having a signature that doesn't match the voter's record, it goes through at least two more steps before being put aside and not immediately counted.

"A single election judge will look at the image of the signature versus the top image the voter has in the voter registration file. The party of the voter does not show at this point. If they say it's not a match, then it goes to a bipartisan team of judges, who will take a look at the signature. They will open up the voter's full voter registration record. They can look at every signature we have on file to compare it," said Crane.

If those bipartisan judges agree the signature is good, the ballot is cast. If they are split, the tie goes to the voter and the ballot is cast. If they agree it is questionable, it is set aside and the voter gets a notice that they need to sign an affidavit confirming that it is indeed their signature, if they want their vote to count. This vote "cure" process lasts until eight days after the election, so 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday.

"This is the most robust piece of integrity that we have to the mail ballot process," said Crane. "We see a higher cure rate before Election Day than we do after Election Day, unless there's a close race where there's a cure chase going on, people think well the election's already been called, so why do I need to follow through on this."

"We just don't have the kinds of shenanigans that they do in other states," said Colorado Republican Party Chairman Jeff Hays. "I think, we have by many objective and subjective standards, the safest election system in the country, at least until the new one takes over, the most competent and character-laden Secretary of State in the country."

There are currently two state house races that Democrats are leading by fewer than 400 votes. In Jefferson County, House District 27 is separated by 368 votes. In Southern Colorado, House District 47 is separated by 306 votes.

"We have been doing our due diligence, but I have not received any complaints or suggestions that anything is not above board in Colorado," said Hays.

Before You Leave, Check This Out