Elmore County Clerk Shelley Essl has announced the results of the hand count of all ballots cast in the Elmore County November 4th Election. The updated count included 373 ballots that were not reflected in election night reporting, for a total of 3,193 ballots cast. The outcomes of all races in Elmore County remain unchanged following the hand count.
The hand recount was conducted by Secretary of State Phil McGrane and a team of 17 election officials from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, after a discrepancy was reported between the number of ballots cast and the number of voters who participated in the Election. Officials from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, the Elmore County Prosecuting Attorney, and the Elmore County Sheriff observed. Candidates, media and members of the public were in attendance.
The results of the hand count will now be canvassed and certified by the Elmore County Board of Commissioners at a meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Wed). The Secretary of State and the Elmore County Clerk will seek judicial review of the hand count, in accordance with Idaho Code, before the December 2nd deadline. The judicial review ensures that the process and results receive appropriate legal scrutiny and, if deemed necessary, provides an avenue to call for a new election.
