Latah County will recount all ballots cast last week after a post-election review found 2,342 ballots with results that were not included in unofficial election night totals.
An initial review showed the additional ballots do not change the outcomes of any races, according to a news release from the secretary of state’s office.
Those races include an innovative plant facility levy in the Moscow School District that passed with 62% of voters in support, according to results posted on election night. The Genesee School District also had a supplemental levy on the ballot.
“This is a significant discrepancy in results, and we are taking it very seriously,” wrote Secretary of State Phil McGrane, in a news release. “Every Idahoan needs to have confidence that their vote counted, and we’re working closely with Latah County Clerk Julie Fry and her team to ensure the results are accurately reported, and every vote is properly accounted for.”
The Latah County Clerk’s Office discovered the discrepancy during a routine review of election results ahead of the official county canvas, the news release said. The ballots were counted by tabulation machines but a portion of early voting results were not fully transferred to the election night results reporting system.
“We have the canvass period and review processes in place to serve as important safeguards to ensure election results are accurate,” McGrane continued. “In this case, Latah County was working through these safeguards and identified a discrepancy that needs to be corrected. Every indication is that the election was conducted properly and a mistake was made when sharing the results publicly.”
McGrane said the paper record of every vote cast is kept for circumstances like this.
“We will go back and count all the original votes so everyone can have confidence in the process,” McGrane wrote. “Clerk Fry and I are committed to ensuring every vote is counted and reported.”
A team from the secretary of state’s office will oversee the recount on Tuesday at the Latah County Courthouse starting at 9:30 a.m. Candidates and members of the public are welcome to observe.
