Retrieved Dec. 9, 2022 20:28 from Online at: https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/posts/Scott%20County%20Administrative%20Recount%20Report%2012072022.pdf December 7, 2022 To: Iowa Secretary of State’s Office From: Kerri Tompkins RE: Scott County Administrative Recount This report is to review the process of the Scott County Administrative Recount for the November 8,2022 General Election. Scott County met the state requirements for the Administrative Recount on November 21 by providing the updated abstract and election canvass summary. This report and documentation is voluntary. In addition, each count was open to the public and I explained the process each day and answered questions via the public. The process began with a staff hand count on Sunday, November 6 of each envelope and identified a total of 23,453 envelopes. However, the Absentee and Special Voters Precinct Board (ASVP) counted and accepted 23,351 envelopes as a miscount from staff was identified of 102 envelopes. This number (23,351) does not include what was later rejected by the ASVP Board and was a number to start the counts. The ASVP Board consisted of 23 bi-partisan poll workers. The ASVP Board counted the ballots starting on Monday, November 7 and finished on November 8. They used two ballot counting machines (DS850's) and experienced numerous issues with the machines jamming. This consisted of the machines stopping and ballots becoming “crunched together.” There was a representative from ES&S (machine vendor) to assist with the machines. The machine total of counted ballots was 22,874 on November 8th. On Thursday, November 10 in the afternoon, auditor staff reviewed numbers from the ASVP Board reports and compared them to the machine report. It is important to note each envelope may not have been accepted. Some may have had zero ballots, some may have had multiple ballots and therefore, were rejected by the ASVP Board. All of the legal ballots were in the room and under the ASVP custody. The concern was whether or not every legal ballot was counted via the machine. After further review, I called the Iowa SOS office on Thursday, November 10 asking for an Administrative Recount. On Friday, November 11, I coordinated efforts between our staff, elected officials and the Iowa SOS to proceed. On Monday, November 14, the ASVP Board met to review ballots from the final deadline of noon that day. At that time, an additional 23 ballots were reviewed and accepted. The updated expected total became 23,362. This now is reflective of the rejected ballots. : On Tuesday, November 15, the recount took place using the same DS850 machines with three poll workers and a professional machine technician. Again, the machines jammed, but progressed better than the first count. The total recount number from this recount was 23,395. The Administrative Recount process continued on Thursday, November 17, with a hand count of every legal ballot. This process included 22 poll workers in groups of three and were party balanced. During this recount, each worker counted in groups of 10 and that ballot group was re-counted by the other two workers in the group. The ballots were then separated into bundles of 100 with one bundle including the remaining ballots in the bin. In addition, the ballots were stacked in the bins and packed with boxes to assist in keeping the bundles in place and the ballots stacked. The total ballot count from this process was 23,297. To finalize this process, the recount continued with a machine count on Friday, November 18 at 8:30 a.m. using the same two DS850 machines. Seven poll workers conducted the recount and one professional machine technician was on-site. Since the ballots were now laid flat and had time to straighten, I was assured the machines would perform as expected. The process was successful in using the machines as there were very few issues. Each bin that was hand counted on 11/17 matched the machine count on 11/18, except two bins. Box 8 had 2994 on 11/17 and 3056 on 11/18, a 62 ballot increase. Box 9 had 1864 on 11/17 and 1867 on 11/18, a 3 ballot increase. These discrepancies were counted via hand by the poll workers on 11/18 and again, confirmed via the machine on 11/18. The total count was 23,362. Scott County recorded 24,286 requested absentee ballots as of 11/8. The requested number includes duplicate requests. An example is if a ballot was mailed on 10/19 and a voter called requesting another ballot be sent because they did not receive the first requested ballot. It is very important to us to count every ballot and to count it correctly. In accordance with the law, every legal ballot has been within our custody under lock, seal and camera during this process. Each recount consisted of confirming the seal on the bin with the poll workers. At this time, it is still unclear if the original discrepancy was due to the machines or human error. Videos have been reviewed and nothing stands out via our process from Election Day. However, we will review our processes with ES&S and other stakeholders for additional clarity. We will modify our internal practices as necessary. In addition, we have been coordinating our efforts with the Iowa SOS office and appreciate their support and guidance. Our goal is to ensure accuracy. I am grateful for all of our poll workers and staff who worked hard through this process. Thank you for your patience and support through this process. Administrative Recount Numbers: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ED- | Machine Count-| Hand Count-11/17 | Final Count-11/18 | 11/8 | 11/15 | | -----------------------|--------|---------------|------------------|------------------ Delivered to the ASVP | 23,453 | 22,874 | 23,395 | 23,297 Board: | | | | -----------------------|--------|---------------|------------------|------------------ Returned from the | 23,351 | 23,395 | 23,397 | 23,362 ASVP Board: | | | | -----------------------|--------|---------------|------------------|------------------ Machine/Hand count: | 22,874 | 23,395 | 23,297 | 23,362 -----------------------|--------|---------------|------------------|------------------ *Expected Count: | 23,351 | 23,360 | 23,360 | 23,360 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scott County Absentee Ballots: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Ballots Counted/Accepted: | 23,362 -----------------------------|----------------------------------- Ballots Rejected: | 79 -----------------------------|----------------------------------- Total: | 23,441 (16-provisional, 80-UOCAVA, 5-Safe at Home-state program for victims of domestic violence) *Approximate numbers.