Hi from the (beautiful) Jasper County Courthouse where the auditor’s office is doing a hand audit of the votes from the Clear Creek Poweshiek precinct.

A human error during the data entry process was detected in this precinct (not a mechanical issue at polling place) #IA02

This is closely watched bc it could impact outcome in Iowa’s 2nd congressional district, which is too close to call.

Initial preliminary results had Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) up 282 votes. After error corrected, Rita Hart (D) up 162. After countywide recount, Hart up 163.

On Saturday there was a countywide machine recount of all votes. Today election workers are doing a hand audit of the precinct where the error occurred, Clear Creek Poweshiek. Here they are taking an oath before beginning. #IA02 #iapolitics

The opening of the Clear Creek Poweshiek counting machine. Ballots had been sealed inside plastic shrink wrap type bags and locked inside the machine since the recount of Saturday. Note the clippers used to cut open the metal seal. #IA02 #iapolitics

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is here. He spoke briefly to the group at the start, said this is part of the checks & balances of ensuring election results are accurate. Said Saturday’s recount process speaks for itself (it affirmed the correction the auditor made). #IA02

The process is happening inside what is apparently an old vault here at the Jasper County Courthouse. Lots of presidents watching from the walls (there is a serious penchant for presidential memorabilia here). #IA02 #iapolitics

More views from the Jasper County Courthouse in Newton. #iapolitics #IA02

@538politics is calling the race for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District ‘perhaps the closest race in the country’ in their write up of the country’s unresolved races.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/2020-election-uncalled-races/?amp

#IA02 #iapolitics

Iowa Secretary of State’s preliminary results website shows same count it’s been since Saturday’s countywide machine recount in Jasper County: Rita Hart (D) up 163 over Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R).

Margin could change w last absentee ballots, which were due today at noon. #IA02

Whatever the results are of today’s audit of the Clear Creek Poweshiek precinct, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors is slated to canvass and certify the results tomorrow. Per Co. Auditor Dennis Parrott, at that point the county’s results will be considered official... #IA02

But per Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott, the district-wide results won’t be considered official until the state canvass of all the counties’ certified results. That must happen by Monday Nov. 30th. #IA02 #iapolitics

A statement from former Democratic State Sen. Rita Hart

#IA02 https://twitter.com/ritahartia/status/1325866190653321217

Election workers did final tally for CD2 and came up with...562 votes. There’s only supposed to be 561 ballots.

Auditor says must’ve been human error, tired eyes today.

Did a second count of all the ballots just for CD2 & came to 562 again.

Now trying third count. #IA02

The third count for CD2 also was off. The election workers are just getting tired. It’s been a long day for them of staring at these ballots, tired eyes are starting to fail them.

But the election workers want to try it again tonight rather than coming back tomorrow #IA02

Election workers are now recounting all of the ballots from the Clear Creek Poweshiek precinct for the fourth time, just tallying CD2 votes.

Representatives from both campaigns & the auditor are eager to get to that magic number of 561 total ballots cast. #IA02

Important to say that under state law, the machine recount conducted Saturday is the result that sticks.

Today’s audit is simply intended to confirm the machine recount, which is the unofficial result, and which the auditor has said was right on the money. #IA02

The 4th count also netted...562 votes.

They recounted just the physical ballots & it’s still just 561 ballots.

Deputy auditor Tina Mulgrew: ‘something’s off somewhere because we’ve got 561 ballots but they’re coming up with 562 votes’.

Count 5 coming soon #IA02

Meanwhile there are updated preliminary results on the Secretary of state’s website. Hart still ahead in unofficial count but the margin has narrowed to 152.

This comes after today’s final deadline for last absentee ballots to arrive. #IA02

On the fifth count, the board of election workers successfully totalled 561 votes, but the vote breakdown between Hart and Miller-Meeks didn’t match the election night breakdown. Again, tired eyes. There is a reason we use machines to count ballots. Trying for count six. #IA02

We are wading through those weeds, folks! This is what democracy looks like! https://twitter.com/zacharyos/status/1325952228298006529

A reminder that this seems to be the closest House race in the country. Election workers want to get this right. #IA02 https://twitter.com/rachelsb/status/1325879618499383296

The folks here tonight are among the estimated 1 million Americans nationwide who stepped up to keep the wheels of our democracy turning during a global pandemic. Some have worked the polls before, for others it’s their first cycle. Our elections do not run without them. #IA02