Secretary of State Gigi Dennis Requires Ten Counties to Conduct a Manual Hand Count

Denver, November 16, 2005 - Today Secretary of State Gigi Dennis is requiring 10 counties to conduct a manual hand count of ballots. It was discovered that one model of tabulation equipment may be tallying votes inconsistently. The discovery was made during the post-election audit.

Pursuant to Colorado law, County Clerk and Recorders are required to conduct a post-election audit and must randomly select not less than one percent of the voting devices used in each county. It was during this process that counties using the Optech III-P Eagle equipment received varied results.

"I am asking the county clerk and recorders using the Optech III-P Eagle equipment to do their due diligence and conduct a manual hand count of these ballots," Secretary of State Gigi Dennis said. "I am requiring this to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the election."

Counties requested to conduct a manual hand count:

• Bent
• Chaffee
• Clear Creek
• Custer
• Elbert
• Fremont
• Huerfano
• Park
• Pueblo
• Sedgwick

Although most of these counties experienced no problems with their post-election audit, the Secretary of State is requiring the hand count to ensure the accuracy of the vote.

"The post election audit was adopted into Colorado law to address these types of concerns," Secretary Dennis added. "No election results have been certified by my office, and I will not put my stamp of approval on any results until I am confident that the vote is accurate."

The Secretary of State's office has instructed the aforementioned County Clerk and Recorders that their first priority is to conduct the hand count. Therefore, all press inquiries should be directed to the Secretary of State's office.