Update from Lt. Gov. Henderson states the CD2 recount experienced problems in two counties
Aug 3, 2024, 10:11 AM | Updated: Aug 6, 2024, 8:33 am
A vote for Celeste Maloy in the Utah’s 2nd Congressional District GOP primary race is pictured in a stack of ballots getting scanned at the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said the Tooele County Clerk and Washington County both discovered an issue during its Second Congressional District recount process Friday. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — There are two more days left in the Second Congressional District race, according to Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, eleven of the thirteen counties included in the recount have completed recounts and canvasses.
Tune in to Dave & Dujanovic
The update on the recount comes one day after it was reported that both Tooele and Washington Counties experienced a software issue. According to Henderson, that issue caused ballots to not appear in tallies.
“As soon as we were aware of the situation, my office immediately worked with each county to review their data and processes from multiple angles to find out who else might have had the same issue,” Henderson said in the update. “My Director of Elections is thoroughly reviewing this matter and will report his findings and recommendations on Monday.”
Tooele County was able to account for the ballots that had the issue, according to Henderson.
Henderson stated that out of the 55 ballots with the tally problem, 37 were cast for Colby Jenkins and 18 were cast for Rep. Celeste Maloy.
“This morning, Washington County will continue to work with a representative of ES&S to reconcile the adjudicated ballots and ensure they are properly tallied,” Henderson said. “My Deputy Director of Elections Shelly Jackson will be onsite to oversee the process.”
Henderson added that if there are any problems found with the ES&S software, she will direct Washington County to use different methods to count and verify the votes.
“I express gratitude and empathy for the candidates and their supporters who are rightly frustrated by this process,” Henderson said. “I especially admire the poll watchers who spend countless hours standing as sentinels. Their watchful eyes are indispensable to our free government.”
According to Henderson, Washington and Tooele Counties are the only counties to have experienced the tally issue.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
