The results of the Nov. 3 general election in Archuleta County — including what voters decided on a trio of local ballot issues — remains undetermined as ballots continue to be counted.
Final tabulation will be completed by Nov. 13, according to Archuleta County Clerk and Recorder Kristy Archuleta.
The results will be final on Nov. 25 following canvassing.
Contributing to the delay in results are election changes stemming from the flooding, transportation challenges due to the flooding and the process required to adjudicate ballots when write-in candidates are involved.
On Tuesday night, the Archuleta County Elections Office explained that vote totals were showing artificially low, with that due to the time it takes for the bipartisan election judges to review each ballot with a write-in candidate listed.
Archuleta County ballots featured two races with write-in candidates: U.S. senator and Archuleta County surveyor.
Archuleta noted that more than 7,000 voted ballots were returned, with more than 100 emergency ballots cast due to flooding.
Flooding, other
challenges impact
On Nov. 1, the Colorado Department of State notified voters of changes in some voting locations in Archuleta County due to flood risk.
Those changes resulted in moving vote centers and drop boxes, including locating some in La Plata County, and allowing emergency online voting.
Archuleta indicated Tuesday the county still has to receive ballots that were turned in in other counties to be counted.
She indicated that getting around to retrieve ballots was one of the most challenging parts of this election, as was communicating with voters.
“The transportation part of everything was really hard,” she said, adding finding judges was also difficult. “Of course, the weather threw us for a loop. But, the support we have is just awesome. The clerks’ association, surrounding clerks, state election management, sheriff’s office — everybody — IT, Secretary of State’s Office was huge.”
Archuleta added that, when cellular issues persisted Tuesday, Verizon set up a mobile tower outside the elections office to help.
“The weather definitely made it hard,” she said.
But, despite the challenges, Archuleta relayed the election went very well.
She noted everyone stepped up when needed, as they always do.
“I think everything went pretty smooth,” she said.
Early returns
With 6,468 ballots counted as of press time Wednesday, the following were the vote totals for the three local ballot issues:
• Archuleta County’s Ballot Issue 1A had 4,231 in favor (68.70 percent) and 1,928 against (31.30 percent).
• Archuleta School District’s Ballot Issue 5A had 2,989 in favor (50.73 percent) and 2,903 against (49.27 percent).
• Upper San Juan Health Service District’s Ballot Issue 7B had 4,681 in favor (78.61 percent) and 1,247 against (21.39 percent).
For additional Archuleta County results as they are available, see future issues of The SUN and www.PagosaSUN.com.
randi@pagosasun.com
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