Secretary Williams certifies 2016 election results
DENVER, Dec. 9, 2016 -- Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams today officially certified the results of the 2016 general election, although the final results were posted on the web site earlier this week.
The certification came after the deadline passed for an interested party to request a recount from the state.
"This represents the hard work of 64 county clerks, their staffs and thousands of election judges," Williams said. "More Coloradans voted than ever in our history, and for that we can be proud."
Included in the attachments is a ballot-issue certificate that Williams signed off on showing the fate of nine statewide ballot measures. Under Colorado law, the governor has 30 days to sign the successful measures into law. After that period, any unsigned measure passed by the voters automatically becomes law. The Colorado General Assembly after it convenes in January will consider any necessary enabling legislation regarding the measures.
Earlier today, Gov. John Hickenlooper handled official paperwork related to the election. The governor signed the results of the presidential election; nine individual certificates for each of the presidential electors; and a certificate declaring Democrat Michael Bennet the winner of the U.S. Senate race, a document required by the Senate secretary.
The Secretary of State's office today mailed letters to all nine electors instructing them to appear in the governor's office Monday Dec. 19 to "perform your duties." Under state law, the electors must cast their votes for the winning presidential candidate in Colorado, Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Two of the nine electors filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Denver this week challenging the constitutionality of that law. Williams vigorously opposes the lawsuit, which is scheduled to be heard at 3 p.m. Monday.
Other attachments included in this release contain information about the gender and age of those who voted and a county-by-county vote tally.
Ballot issue certificate (PDF)
