November 29, 2024
[Mesa County Libraries, Collbran Branch, Collbran, CO.]
Boulder County, CO.
Boulder County General Election 2024 Results
[The following is based on a press release.]
The final official results from Boulder County’s 2024 General Election are now available at BoulderCountyVotes.gov.
The final official results include the Statement of Votes, a document that shows precinct-by-precinct results for each contest. The Statement of Votes will be forwarded to the Colorado Secretary of State’s office as part of the election closeout process.
Elections staff and the appointed Audit Board, composed of seven republican representatives and seven democratic representatives, successfully completed the Boulder County portion of the statewide risk-limiting audit. This is a post-election test that provides citizens with evidence that election results tabulated by our voting system reflect the actual votes cast by voters. The process reviews how a ballot’s votes were captured at the time it was processed by our voting system by comparing the actual physical ballots with their digital tallies. To perform the audit, the Secretary of State’s office assigns a random sampling of the exact ballots we must review out of all the ballots cast in an election.
Elections staff also completed the reconciliation process. This process provides the evidence for the Canvass Board to certify that the number of votes counted is equal to or less than the number of ballots cast and that the number of ballots cast is equal to or less than the number of eligible voters. The Reconciliation Report is also available online.
This year’s Canvass Board consisted of Boulder County Clerk Molly Fitzpatrick and party representatives from the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Hyon Lew represented the Democratic Party. David Brown represented the Republican Party.
Wednesday afternoon via a remote conference, the majority of the Canvass Board certified the election results. Brown, representing the Republican party, declined to sign the documentation citing several reasons including the Secretary of State password leak as well as wanting to review the Cast Vote Record (digital copy of every ballot’s votes). The Cast Vote Record is released to the public after the certification of the election and after it has been redacted to protect voter anonymity. Both topics are outside the scope of the duty of the Canvass Board and his decision not to sign does not impact the certification. The canvass documents, audit documentation, and the Statement of Votes are available at BoulderCountyVotes.gov.
Boulder County Elections did delay the Canvass Board meeting by one day after a staff member conducting a post-election record review this past Monday discovered an error that needed to be addressed. The error resulted in the need to process an additional 271 cure ballots and have the results updated prior to the Canvass Board meeting. The updated results shifted slightly but did not change the recount status of any contests. We have a complete write up of the issue on our website, BoulderCountyVotes.gov under the Ballot Processing Election Night and Beyond section.
Now that the election results have been certified, Boulder County Elections will conduct the automatic recounts for both State Representative - District 19 and Town of Superior Trustee as well as a paid recount for Town of Erie – Council Member District 1 (paid for by candidate Andrew Sawusch). City of Boulder’s Ballot Question 2E was also within the recount margin, however, under Colorado election law an entity (city/special district) has the right to waive their right to a recount if a ballot measure fails to pass. City representatives made the decision to decline a recount after evaluating the cost to conduct the recount. Note that in the most recent recounts vote tallies only shifted by several votes; the vote spread between the Yes and No on this ballot measure is 65 votes: Yes 21,491 vs. No 21,556. There is no option to waive an automatic recount for candidates.
As background, an automatic recount is triggered when the difference between the votes cast for the candidate (or measure) who won the election with the least votes and the candidate who lost the election with the most votes is less than or equal to one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the votes cast for the candidate who won the election with the least votes. The State House District contest includes both portions of Boulder County and Weld County and is separated by 109 votes. The Town of Superior had 6 candidates vying for 3 open seats for Trustee. The final official results show a vote difference of 13 votes between the 3rd place candidate (Cracraft) to the 4th place candidate (Hammerly). Both these contests fall within the .5% threshold to require an automatic recount.
Following election statute and Secretary of State rule, the recount will consist of a full rescan of House District 19 and Town of Superior ballots, which also includes re-adjudicating ballots as needed. Ballot adjudication occurs when a voter changes their mind on a contest (or makes a mistake) and/or has conflicting markings on their ballot on a particular contest. Ballot adjudication is done by a bipartisan team of election judges using Secretary of State guidelines on how to interpret the voter’s intentions. During a recount, ballots with under votes (i.e., ballots with less than the maximum number of selections or ballots with no apparent voter markings within the target areas aka filled in bubbles) are also examined. When there are changes in vote tallies, it is usually because of different human interpretation of unusual ballot markings.
Additionally, as mentioned above, Boulder County Elections will also conduct a paid recount of Town of Erie – Council Member District 1. Any “interested party” (typically defined as candidates, political parties, governing bodies, or ballot issue campaigns) may request and pay for a recount. Because Town of Erie – Council Member District 1 falls entirely within House District 19, the cost for a recount is far less than it would be if Boulder County Elections were not already conducting a recount in that area. The process for this recount is the same as outlined above.
Prior to conducting the any recount, the county must retest the voting system (a mini version of the Logic and Accuracy test conducted prior to each election). This testing of the voting system will be conducted December 2, 2024, from 12:30 P.M. – to approximately 4:30 P.M. with members of the Democratic and Republican parties. The recount will then begin December 3, 2024, at 9 A.M. We anticipate that the recount will take two days, however, it could stretch into Thursday. Regardless of how long the process takes, Boulder County Elections will then post updated results on our website at the conclusion of the process (hopefully Wednesday evening). The Canvass Board will then reconvene to review and certify the results of the recount. That will most likely occur December 5, 2024, but that meeting has not yet been scheduled with party members.
For more information and any additional updates after this point, including the recount results and canvass meeting time, see the Ballot Processing Election Night and Beyond section on our website, BoulderCountyVotes.gov.
Businesses
Mountain Man Nut and Fruit Company
1 Old Town Square, Suite 103
Fort Collins, CO.
80524
(970) 694-2807
Mountain Man Nut and Fruit Company
Colorado Creatives
Thomas Noel
Thomas Noel, Colorado Historian
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Gray Wolf Updates
[The following is based on a press release.]
An updated Collared Gray Wolf Activity Map was released to show where wolves moved around the state this month. This map is updated on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Wolf Movement Updates:
GPS points are currently taken every 4 hours.
A wolf successfully crossed Highway I-70 to the south.
Garfield County, Eagle County and Pitkin County are the counties currently being considered for releasing gray wolves during the 2024-25 capture and release season.
Comics
Denver County, CO.
Denver, CO., National Western Stock Show: Kathy Sabine Named Grand Marshal of the 2025 National Western Stock Show Kick-Off Parade
[The following is based on a press release.]
The National Western Stock Show presented by CommonSpirit Health is excited to announce Kathy Sabine—longtime Colorado ambassador, chief meteorologist, and avid equestrian—as the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Stock Show Kick-Off Parade.
On January 9, 2024, Kathy Sabine will lead the iconic parade, kicking off the start to the 119th National Western Stock Show. The parade will start at noon outside Union Station and will march twelve blocks down 17th Street to Glenarm Place. Sabine will guide the procession, which includes a spectacular array of over 30 Longhorn cattle, horses, and western wagons, through the streets of downtown Denver. The parade marks the start of the best 16 days in January and serves as a reminder of the state’s rich history and the importance of preserving its agricultural traditions.
Sabine is well known across Colorado as the Chief Meteorologist for 9NEWS, where she’s spent decades connecting with viewers through her accurate forecasts and warm personality. But beyond the newsroom, Kathy has deep ties to the Western lifestyle.
Raised in the mountain town of Truckee, California, near Lake Tahoe, Kathy grew up with a love for the outdoors and animals. She began horseback riding as a child, eventually competing in barrel racing and serving as a rodeo queen.
Kathy’s professional journey reflects her diverse passions: she initially pursued Veterinary Science at Cal Poly before transitioning to Journalism, later earning a Meteorology degree from Metropolitan State College in Denver and Mississippi State University.
Today, Kathy actively supports organizations such as the National Western Stock Show, Colorado Horse Council, and local 4-H and FFA programs. Her commitment to agriculture shines through her role as host of the Junior Livestock Auction, where she highlights the importance of agricultural education and youth involvement. In addition to her professional contributions, Kathy devotes time to charitable causes and embraces Colorado’s natural beauty with her family—spending her free time riding horses, skiing, hiking, and running.
“The National Western Stock Show is an event that’s so dear to my heart, and I’m beyond excited to serve as the Grand Marshal for this year’s parade,” said Sabine. “Growing up with horses and a love for the outdoors, I can’t think of a more fitting way to kick off an event that celebrates everything I cherish about western culture and agriculture.”
Parade-goers, downtown businesses, and passersby are invited to the Stock Show Fair at McGregor Square following the parade, with McNicholas Miniatures therapy horses, western royalty, a food market, and more.
Dry Bar Comedy
You Can't Go Hunting If You Drive A Prius, Tim Harmston
Finding Colorado
The thirty-ninth highest mountain in the State of Colorado is Mt. Bierstadt, with a summit above sea level of 14,060 feet.
Larimer County, CO.
Bellvue, CO., Fresh Cut Christmas Trees
[The following is based on a press release.]
Come pick out your Colorado Christmas tree, fresh cut from Bellvue, CO., at Revive, 4608 Rist Canyon Road, Laporte, CO. 80535 November 29, 2024.
Suggested donations start at $40.00
All proceeds will go to our growing Youth Ministry.
More dates will be announced.
Estes Park, CO., Estes Park Noon Rotary Donates to Blue Santa Drive
[The following is based on a press release.]
Estes Park (Noon) Rotary is proud to support the Estes Park Police Blue Santa Program. The Blue Santa program purchases and delivers non-perishable food, a grocery gift card, hygiene products, and other small gifts to elderly, disabled and shut-in community members needing holiday cheer in December each year.
On November 22, 2024, Noon Rotary met with Police Chief Ian Stewart and members of the Police Auxiliary to deliver a check in support of the Auxiliary’s Blue Santa program.
Police Auxiliary member Lori Bradford says that the need has gone up this year – there are over 100 households, some households with several residents, on the list to receive gifts this year.
But so far, donations are below contributions at this time last year.
“We will include what we can in each gift bag,” said Bradford. “If we receive more donations in the next week or two, we will be able to include more items.”
You can help make sure the bags are filled! Take monetary donations (cash or check) to the Police Department front window or mail a check to Blue Santa Program, c/o Estes Park Police Auxiliary, P.O. Box 1287, Estes Park, CO 80517.
Or you can pitch in to one of the Blue Santa donation jars around town. Jars are located at Animal Medical Center, Bank of Colorado, Bank of Estes Park, Bart’s Liquor, Cowlick Hair Saloon, Mountain Dew Liquors, Estes Park Mountain Shop, Premier Credit Union, Park Supply, Rocky Mountain Discount Liquor, and Rocky Mountain Pharmacy.
Online go to estespark.colorado.gov/bluesanta
Contact BlueSanta@estes.org for more information.
Funds for Noon Rotary’s grant to Blue Santa came primarily from sales of the Friendship Card, a local discount card which costs $10 and provides year-round discounts at over 70 local Estes Park businesses.
Montrose County, CO.
Montrose, Ute Indian Museum Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival
[The following is based on a press release.]
Join Us for the Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival!
Celebrate the season with us at the Ute Indian Museum on Thursday, December 7, 2024, from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM! Our free festival is the perfect place to find unique holiday gifts while supporting Native American and local artists. Shop handmade crafts, discover treasures in our gift shop, and enjoy the delicious taste of fry bread.
Do not miss the silent auction, where you can bid on one-of-a-kind items and support the museum. It’s a festive day filled with creativity, culture, and community—bring your friends and family and get into the holiday spirit!
Ute Indian Museum
17253 Chipeta Road
Montrose, CO 81401
Resources
Until next time,