A Denver Elections Division worker loads unopened mail ballots into a machine that scans each voter signature so it can be verified by a human worker on a screen using old voter records. (Jon Murray, The Denver Post)
Denver Elections Division officials on Monday walked reporters through the steps they’re using to process tens of thousands of mail ballots each day in Colorado’s first major all-mail election. Several steps are broken up into four rooms with different sets of workers and procedures to add security.
Workers, including some recruited by political parties and others who applied directly, work full shifts for two weeks and are paid $12 to $14 per hour. They are assigned specific tasks and often wear color-coded vests under the watch of security cameras.
Here’s a look at the process Denver is following, often speeded up by better technology than smaller counties can afford:
Tour of Denver elections office. This is receiving room – making sure right county, counting number of ballots etc
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
Denver elections: this gizmo stamps date, lasers off privacy sleeve and scans image of signature. 8,000/hour
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
Denver elections: other side of verification room: ppl trained to scrutinize signature check every single one
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
Just now, two guys (1 Republican, 1 unaffil) agreedone voter’s signature bore zero resemblance to past ballots/reg. I agree. Quarantined.
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
Voter gets letter, signs affidavit it’s them & mails back image of ID RT : What is protocol for a unverifiable signature?
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
3rd of 4 Denver Elections rooms: preparation of signature-verified ballots (removed from envelope in secrecy sleeve)
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
Also Denver Elections Room 3: workers remove ballots from sleeves, unfold & stack. Voter names already disassociated.
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
Denver Elections last room: 8 counting machines, bipartisan teams. Feed in, look at ones rejected to determine intent
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
Key here: screens show ballot tallies, NOT race tabulations. Results go by secure network to server for nobody’s eyes
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
Good eye! Each of the eight counting machines is named after a Denver sports team. RT : …does that say Broncos?
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
On Nov. 4, Denver Elections will report results every 90 minutes beginning 7p – which will start w/ all votes received by that morning
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray)
