2022 Municipal Election Process Update

The Town of Erie Town Clerk will be undergoing a few important steps to further verify Election Results over the next several days.
 
Yesterday, a candidate was reviewing the latest updated totals of Election Results and this candidate reported to the Town a discrepancy between the total votes reported versus the Poll Book count of total envelopes received. The Poll Book is used to log the total number of envelopes either dropped off at Town Hall or mailed in through the USPS. Another tracking mechanism, a Batch Sheet, follows the ballot from its arrival at Town Hall to the final counting. There are two tracking mechanisms – one for the envelope, one for the ballot. This process ensures that all ballots remain completely anonymous.
 
Town staff believes the discrepancy between received envelopes and counted votes is a result of an undercount on the Poll Book. To verify this hypothesis, the staff will review and verify the Poll Book (envelope) count and the Batch Sheets. Each Batch Sheet followed the envelope until opening, and then continued to follow the ballot, so the Batch Sheets should reveal how the undercount in envelopes occurred.
 
This review process will be open to Poll Watchers, and candidates can choose to send a Watcher to this review on their behalf.  Because of the strict deadlines in the Municipal Election Code, the review of the envelopes and Batch Sheets will occur over this weekend. Final timing will be announced before the end of day today.
 
The Town Clerk is also required by law to complete a Recount of votes for two candidates – Dan Hoback and Andrew Sawusch – because the vote totals are within the legal limit for a mandatory Recount. This action must be completed by Wednesday, April 20. Staff will be scheduling the recount of ballots for Monday or Tuesday and will announce the exact timing as soon as possible. Those two candidates can opt to be there in person for the recount themselves or send a Watcher in their place.