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It was another long day for Hamilton County Auditor, Kim Schaa Tuesday, who was on the job early, and still there at 10 p.m. Before the day ended, a total of 2498 absentee ballots and early voters were processed, in addition to the votes that were cast at the precincts. A final total of 5,971 ballots were received, nearly 62% of registered voters. By all accounts, she said the election day went well.
"We just had a couple of minor issues that were pretty easy to work out," she said. "It's one of the biggest midterm elections I've ever seen."
Schaa said the reason one precinct reported later was because people in line had not voted yet when the polls were to be closed.
"Jewell had people in lines still at 8 p.m.," she explained. "Jewell took a little longer."
The polls closed at 8 p.m., which is when precincts start reporting their results. But if people were in line at 8 p.m., they were still allowed to vote, she explained.
When asked if she was taking some time off after the long days, she laughed.
"Tomorrow the absentee and special precinct board will process all the absentee votes. They will tally the write-in votes, and they will hand count two races."
She probably won't be taking a deep breath until after November 18.
"The votes are certified on November 10, the board will examine the official canvas," she said. The special precinct boards are required to count the ballots by hand to determine if the machines counted correctly on election night.
"The Secretary of State determines which races and precinct in each county," she said.
This year it will be the Jewell Precinct. They will be counting the U.S. Senate race and the Treasurer of State. This is done by hand to determine that it agrees with the machine count on election night, she said.
Part of the process is looking at the open seats, such as the township trustees and clerks that had no names on the ballots.
"In every general election, there will be two trustees on the ballot," she explained. "In the mid-term elections it will be a trustee and a clerk."
Write-in votes will be considered for those open seats, and those people will have 10 days to accept or decline the position. If there are two trustees elected, they are able to appoint a third trustee and a clerk. If that is not handled, then it goes to the county supervisors to make appointments.
On top of the long day, Schaa also was educating employees.
"We had three new staff members," she said. "We had to do baptism by fire. But they all hung in there, and we got through it."
Schaa commended the work of Lisa Matteson, the assistant auditor. "She has helped with elections before, but she took on a bit more this time, doing some of the work I normally do."
But just because the results are in, the auditor’s office isn't done with the election process.
"Our work won't be done until the week of the 16th, said Schaa "Votes are certified on November 10, but we still have work to do."