By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
The first of two election recounts critical to Republicans eliminating the Democratic supermajority in the Colorado House has been ordered by Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s office.
After the tabulation of 41,276 votes in El Paso County’s state House District 16 race, Republican Rebecca Keltie was six votes ahead of Democrat Stephanie Vigil, by a margin of 2 one-hundredths of 1 percent of the vote, or 0.02%. State law requires a recount of an election with a margin of victory between two candidates of half of 1 percent or less, or a 0.5% margin.
“Pursuant to Colorado law, the percentage of vote totals between the candidates requires the secretary of state to order a recount,” the order from Griswold’s office reads. The process calls for a bipartisan canvass board to perform a logic and accuracy test, sometimes referred to as a “LAT”, on its equipment and begin recounting ballots.
Canvassed results of the race were delivered to Griswold’s office on Monday, when the recall order was issued. State law requires the recount to be completed by no later than Dec. 6. The order notes that because of the manner of tabulation of the original ballots in the race, El Paso County will be required to re-scan ballots counted during that election in a similar manner.
The order further requires El Paso County to provide the secretary of state a date and time it will “begin, conduct and complete its recount.”
“Voters demanded balance this election and House Republicans will remain focused on delivering balanced policy solutions to the very real problems facing our state,” Colorado House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese wrote recently on Twitter/X.
Very disappointed in Speaker McCluskie’s cheap rhetoric in the Colorado Sun, refusing to take accountability for the losses that voters handed her caucus. She’s supposed to be Speaker for the whole House, not just narrow partisan interests. Voters demanded balance this election…
— Rose Pugliese (@RoseforCO) November 15, 2024
The House District 19 race pitting Republican Dan Woog and Democrat Jillaire McMillan in Boulder and Weld counties will also require a recount. Woog finished 121 votes ahead of McMillan with 28,416 of the 56,711 votes cast. It is a difference of 22 one-hundredths of 1 percent, or 0.22%. The recount is expected to also take place in the first week of December.
Republicans will need both recounts to return favorably in order to preserve the elimination of the Democratic supermajority in the Colorado House. Presently, with both the District 16 and 19 seats included, Republicans hold 22 seats in the Colorado House, the minimum needed to prevent a Democratic supermajority.