INDIANAPOLIS — Since Tuesday, all eyes have been on the handful of states where the presidential race is still too close to call as of this article being published.
However, states like Georgia and Arizona are not the only ones still counting. Indiana is as well. Dedicated workers continue to count all the absentee ballots at the Marion County Election Board despite projected winners already being called. This happens under the watchful eyes of people like Caroline Ellert.
"It's a multi-step process and a bi-partisan team is required to validate each step of the way," Ellert said. Ellert, who is a Democrat, explains the checks and security measures in place when you votes are being counted.
"For counting absentees, it's a bi-partisan team that goes through every single ballot. "They check signatures. Each person checks each signature. They match that and then, it goes to a different set of bi-partisan teams," Ellert said. "They check that the precinct on the ballot matches the precinct on the envelope. Then, they check that there are 2 clerk initials on the back of the ballot."
Only then, after all those checks, can a voted be counted. Ellert tells WRTV, the public should have confidence that any votes being counted here in Indiana or elsewhere are all legitimate because of the security measures in place
"We all come together, Democrats, Republicans, just to carry out the process that's dictated by state law. We come together in that moment to make sure folks get the results of the elections as quickly as possible, but as accurately as possible," Ellert said.
County election boards certify results 10 days after the election. Then, the state certifies the results. That certification provides the authority to swear in newly-elected office holders and how we get official election results.