There are several ways to vote in the upcoming election but no matter how residents cast their ballots, the Moffat County Clerk and Recorder’s office takes several steps to help ensure elections are safe, secure and accurate. 

Prior to every election, all equipment is publicly tested. A bipartisan team of election judges conducts a Logic and Accuracy Test to verify the voting system equipment is properly configured and programmed to accurately tabulate votes. 

“We must verify the voting system was set up correctly by marking, scanning and then verifying by hand the voting system’s tabulation of test ballots,” Moffat County Elections Coordinator Sarah Colding said in a statement on Oct. 7. 

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According to Colding, the LAT verifies that the system correctly records all valid votes, under votes, over votes, and blank votes. The LAT for the upcoming November election was held on Wednesday, Oct. 13, and the tests are open to the public as space-permits.

Neither the tabulation machine nor the voting machines are ever connected to the internet, Colding said. 

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“What the voting machines are for is voters with disabilities,” Colding said, adding that the machines have different functions to adjust font size, screen color output, and audio ballot functionality.

The electronic voting machines produce a paper ballot, which the voter can review for accuracy. The paper ballot is then returned to the election office, where it is counted in an observable setting by a bipartisan team. 

Colding said she wants people to know that they don’t have to use electronic voting machines. Voters can hand mark an in-person paper ballot or vote on the ballot that was mailed to them. Hand-marked ballots can be mailed back or dropped off at the ballot drop box, which is located on the east side of the courthouse building. 

During the election, the processing of ballots is under video surveillance beginning 60 days before the election and ending 30 days after the election. All secure areas, including areas where ballots are tabulated, must have access logs. 

According to Colding, the Colorado ballot retention period is 25 months following the election, which exceeds the federal requirement of 22 months. 

“Our office is responsible for adhering to Colorado law,” Colding said. 

After the election, a bipartisan team of judge’s conducts a Risk Limiting Audit, a pot-election audit that gives a statistical level of confidence that the outcome of the election is correct. 

“In other words, after we perform the Risk Limiting Audit, we can say that there is a high probability that the reported winners accurately reflect how voters marked their ballot,” Colding said. 

Colding also explained that if the Risk Limiting Audit ever flags an inaccuracy in the local election, there would be a second round of audits performed. If there is a probability of inaccuracy in the second round of audits it would require a recount. 

“We’ve never had a second-round audit in Moffat County,” Colding said. “And a recount has never happened in Colorado.” 

All counties must submit a security plan and an election plan to the Colorado Secretary of State’s office 60 days prior to the election. Staff at the Secretary of State’s office conduct on-site security audits in randomly selected counties to verify compliance with the reported security protocols. 

The Moffat County Clerk and Recorder’s office continues to provide information through CORA requests and other means to ensure that those wanting information are able to access it. 

Colding also said that Senate Bill 22-1273 — which protects election workers from intimidation or retaliation and went into effect on March 1 — will help ensure the safety and security of local elections. 

“I have lived in Moffat County since 2001 and I am a member of this community” Colding said. “I trust in our elections. Colorado’s elections are secure. Everyone can be confident that their vote is counted accurately and the results reflect the will of eligible Coloradans.”

For any questions about elections, contact the Moffat County Clerk and Recorder’s office at 970-824-9120 or scolding@moffatcounty.net.