Election Day may be over, but ballot counting continues until certification

EPHRATA — While polls have closed and preliminary results have been released, election officials in Grant County still have weeks of work ahead before the Nov. 24 certification deadline. “We are still counting ballots,” Grant County Elections Coordinator Rebecca Pettingill said. As ballots arrive from drop boxes and the mail, election workers verify signatures, open ballot envelopes and prepare ballots for tabulation. Staff members also review challenged ballots and organize election documentation that will eventually be presented for certification. Election day itself was far from a typical day in the office. Speaking Tuesday afternoon, Pettingill said election staff had spent much of the day helping voters rather than counting ballots.