While much of the state, in fact much of the country, focused on Maricopa County’s Sharpiegate controversy, elections officials in Pima County are concentrating on finishing their ballot counting as soon as possible.
Pima County has only two Election Day precinct totals and one early-voting precinct total outstanding as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to a report issued by Elections Director Brad Nelson. The report does not indicate which precincts were incomplete, but shortly before 2 p.m. Pima County’s Facebook page noted the number of ballots stood at between 26,000 and 34,000.
There were also about 18,000 provisional ballots to verify, according to the Facebook posting. However, all early and mail-in ballots must be verified before provisional ballots can be verified and counted in order to ensure a voter does not cast more than one ballot.
“Using history as a guide, about 80 to 85 percent of provisional ballots are determined to be legally cast by the Recorder and are submitted to Elections for tabulation,” the posting states. “The pace of counting will depend on the pace of ballot verification. Provisional ballots take longer to verify, so there may be some days no counting takes place before the full count is complete.”
Only two races of consequence remain in Pima County — U.S. President and County Treasurer. Arizona’s 11 electoral votes are still in doubt as of press time, so election observers are closely following any changes to voting totals, which as of Wednesday night stood at 468,911 ballots counted out of Pima County’s 638,355 registered voters.
Meanwhile, Democrat Brian Bickel continued to hold a steady 2,500 to 3,000 vote advantage over Beth Ford, the county’s longtime treasurer.
As to the Sharpie controversy, Pima County officials went on the offensive Wednesday morning to address rumors that several voters believed their ballots would be discarded because of what type of pen was used.
“The felt-tip pen ballot controversy burning through social media is false,” the statement reads. “Don’t get caught up in it. Arizona ballot tabulating machines can read ballots marked with a felt tip pen,” the statement reads. “All ballots in which voter intent can be discerned will be counted.”
The Pima County statement, however, went on to contradict Maricopa County’s official voting procedures which specifically encouraged the use of Sharpies at polling places.
“Felt pens are discouraged because the ink can bleed through,” the Pima County statement reads. “If it does bleed through, the ballot will most likely get sent for duplication so it can be read by the scanner.”
Voters can track a mail-in or early ballot at https://www.recorder.pima.gov/VoterStats/BallotInfo but there is no such website for verifying in-person votes cast on Election Day.
Pima County elections officials remind voters that state law requires all provisional ballots be processed even if the results will not alter the outcome of any race. The deadline for processing those ballot is 10 calendar days after the General Election.