COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office is testing all voting system equipment Tuesday ahead of the primary election later this month. Officials say the process includes running the full election system and tabulating ballots to ensure totals match.
The testing begins with a logic and accuracy test of 3,000 ballots. Next, election judges cast ballots, which are processed the same way they would be during the election. Finally, the ballots are hand-counted. Election officials say results must be 100% accurate or the election cannot begin.
Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker said once the testing is passed and the county is certified by the Secretary of State, the office can mail ballots.
“Once we pass, we get certified by the Secretary of State, we can mail our ballots on Monday June 8, so to all eligible voters in El Paso County—ballots will be dropping this coming Monday on June 8th,” Schleiker said.
Election officials encourage voters to check and update their registration information at GoVoteColorado.gov, including address and party affiliation.
“You want to check to make sure your address is correct, party affiliation, a number of different things on your voter record,” Schleiker said.
Colorado is an open primary state, meaning party affiliation determines which ballot a voter receives. Unaffiliated voters will receive both ballots, but they can only vote for one for their vote to count.
Schleiker noted primary turnout is historically around 30% or less.
“I just don’t understand why we allow 30% of our community to determine who goes on to the general mid-term election,” he said.
Officials say eight in-person voting centers will open throughout the month, and all 44 ballot drop boxes in the county will open this Friday.
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