Screenshots show GOP Windham Senate race dropped 300 votes in 15 hours
by Guy Page
A spokesman for the Vermont Secretary of State (SOS) has apologized for the lack of information about state senate results from the August 9 primary. The “senate” tab has not been visible on the Election Night Reporting page since Tuesday night.
SOS hopes to have all results reported and certified by the county election officials by tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, screenshots show that the Windham County race actually dropped by 300 total votes in 15 hours from Tuesday night to the following afternoon, based on Associated Press statistics reported on VPR website. Some news operations gather election returns directly from town clerks, rather than rely on the Vermont Secretary of State.
This morning, Vermont Daily Chronicle emailed this question to Eric Covey, spokesperson for the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office. “Hi Eric Trying to find more information on the Windham Senate race. What’s the problem with the page? When can we expect results? Thanks.”
The Windham County race between independent/Republican Mark Coester, Richard Kenyon, and Richard Morton was – at last official report – separated by just a handful of votes.
At 12:35 pm, VDC received this email reply from Covey.
“It is important to note that all results are unofficial and preliminary until they are carefully reviewed and certified as per the deliberate process laid out in state law. Preliminary results reporting is completely separate from the tabulation, counting and certification of official results.
“Our vendor has, so far, been unable to correct an issue with a narrow subset of how Senate races are appearing from Election Night Reporting (ENR), as a result of redistricting. Our focus is on the process by which the Town Clerks submit their official returns of vote, and the certification of those official returns by the respective canvassing committees.
“Following the election, the Clerks have 48 hours to submit their official return of votes. Senate and County results are certified by the County Clerk’s canvassing committee on Friday morning. Statewide results are certified by the statewide canvassing committee on Tuesday, August 16.
“At this time, I would encourage you to contact the Town Clerks directly if you need their unofficial results for a race not appearing in our election night reporting site. After the County Clerks hold their canvasses tomorrow at 10am, you could get the Senate/County official results from the County Clerks.”
“I apologize that we are not able to provide the convenience of the ENR site in these limited cases,” Covey said.