BISBEE — Just two days after voting to hand count 100 percent of precinct votes in the Nov. 8 General Election, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors reversed course and will conduct a hand count of a random sampling of ballots cast in a specific manner.
The board voted unanimously Wednesday to follow the direction laid out by the Secretary of State’s Office in a letter to the board dated Oct. 25.
The letter states that, under state statute, the county may only conduct a hand count of ballots cast at vote centers — no early ballots may be part of the hand count — as the vote centers serves as the county’s precinct.
There is also a limit on what races can be hand counted. With agreement and participation by representatives from the Republican and Democratic parties, the hand count is limited to one legislative race, one race for statewide office, one federal race and one statewide ballot measure. The races are to be selected “by lot.”
The hand count can only proceed if both political parties submit to the county Recorder’s Office a “sufficient number of persons” to conduct the count, and the hand count cannot proceed if one party has greater than 75 percent of the persons conducting the count.
Supervisor Peggy Judd, who represents Willcox, said despite the reversal, she sees the board’s actions as positive.
“In my experience, if I do my best, then it’s OK,” she said. “I’m trying to win a few followers today.”
The other item on the special meeting’s agenda dealt with retaining outside legal counsel to defend the board if action is filed. County Attorney Brian McIntyre previous told the board his office could not defend the board because it was his opinion the board had acted illegally.
Supervisor Tom Crosby did not want to take action on finding outside counsel.
“I think we’re going to win and this is the direction we’re going,” he said.
The board agreed to table the issue until the Nov. 1 regular meeting; however, the board agreed a special meeting could be called if any parties file suit against the county over the hand count.
