Election 2020 updates in southern Colorado

COLORADO SPRINGS — Election Day is here and News5 is providing full team coverage on-air, online and on your favorite streaming device. Throughout the day, we're breaking down key races, voter turnout and response, election security and more as we bring you the latest results for this election.

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CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF ELECTIONS RESULTS

Below, we're updating this blog with live coverage regarding the 2020 Election. For a look at the results of all races and issues, click here for our Election Results.
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Wednesday, November 4

6:48 p.m. | “Historic” election turnout in Colorado

The latest official tally of ballots counted so far from the Secretary of State’s Office tops 3.3 million as of 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, which represents 86.8% of active registered voters and 78.4% of all registered Colorado voters.

The United States Election Project estimates Colorado’s turnout rate among the voting-eligible population is 76% as of Wednesday afternoon, which would top the 2016 record of 71.9%.

The Secretary of State’s Office said that the 86.8% turnout among active registered voters would top 2016’s turnout among that population of 86.7%, and the rate among all registered voters of 78.4% already beats the 2016 rate of 74.3%.

There remain ballots to be counted from Tuesday's election in Colorado, and military and overseas voters' ballots can be received through the end of the day on Nov. 12 for counting, per state law. There will be a statewide risk-limiting audit after all ballots have been counted before results are finalized Nov. 30 if there are no recounts.

“This is an historic election. More Coloradans voted in this election than in any previous election in our state’s history, even in the midst of a pandemic,” Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in a statement. “I am proud of Colorado’s elections and the voting access that we have added over the last two years. I also commend the county election officials, election judges, and the employees of the Department of State for doing such a tremendous job.”

5:00 p.m. | Colorado voters supporting a national popular vote

Colorado voters helped state leaders take another step forward in attempting to move away from the electoral college and toward a national popular vote for president.

Even though a majority of voters in Pueblo and El Paso Counties voted not to move forward with the National Popular Vote Compact, statewide the numbers show voters support it.

4:00 p.m. | Biden projected to win Michigan

2:30 p.m. | Trump campaign files lawsuits in Michigan, Pennsylvania and seeks recount in Wisconsin

The day after the election, the Trump campaign says it has filed lawsuits Wednesday in Pennsylvania and Michigan and will ask for a recount in Wisconsin.

2:10 p.m. | Biden speaks about state of presidential race

12:25 p.m.| Trump campaign files lawsuit to stop vote count in Michigan

President Donald Trump’s campaign says it has filed a lawsuit trying to halt the vote count in battleground Michigan. The latest counts gives Trump’s Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, a small lead, but the race is still too early to call.

12:20 p.m.| AP announces Joe Biden wins Wisconsin

Joe Biden wins Wisconsin, taking 10 electoral votes. At this time, Joe Biden has 248 Electoral College votes; President Donald Trump has 214, based on Associated Press projections.

11:05 a.m.| Trump campaign signals it will ‘immediately’ request Wisconsin recount

President Donald Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien says the president plans to “immediately” request a recount in the battleground state of Wisconsin, where the race remains close. In Wisconsin, if a race is within 1 percentage point, the trailing candidate can force a recount.

As of about 1 p.m. ET, former Vice President Joe Biden led President Trump 49.6% to 48.9%, with 95% of votes reported, according to the Associated Press.

9:23 a.m. | Nevada to announce additional election results on Thursday

Although Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden slightly leads President Donald Trump in Nevada, the state did not declare a winner on Election Day. According to the Nevada Department of Elections, they would not be releasing any new vote totals until 9 a.m. Thursday. Officials said they have already counted all mail-in ballots through Nov. 2 and all early in-person votes and Election Day votes.

7:30 a.m. | AP officially calls Republican Lauren Boebert wins U.S. House in 3rd Congressional District

Rifle restaurateur and Republican political newcomer Lauren Boebert will be Colorado’s next 3rd Congressional District congresswoman after her Democratic opponent Diane Mitsch Bush conceded just after midnight Wednesday morning. Boebert declared victory in a Facebook Live video late Tuesday. The Associated Press announced her win at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday.

7 a.m. | States that have called so far

Biden:

Arizona (11 Electoral College votes)
California (55)
Colorado (9)
Connecticut 7
Delaware (3)
District of Columbia (3)
Hawaii (4)
Illinois (20)
Kansas (6)
Maine - (3) Biden has won at least three of the state's four Electoral College votes, with one outstanding.
Maryland (10)
Massachusetts (11)
Minnesota (10)
Nebraska - CD 2 (1) Biden awarded one Electoral College vote for taking the congressional district in the Omaha region.
New Hampshire (4)
New Jersey (14)
New Mexico (5)
New York (29)
Oregon (7)
Rhode Island (4)
Vermont (3)
Virginia (13)
Washington (12)

Trump:
Alabama (9)
Arkansas (6)
Florida (29)
Idaho (4)
Iowa (6)
Indiana (11)
Kentucky (8)
Louisiana (8)
Mississippi (6)
Missouri (10)
Montana (3)
Nebraska (4)* Nebraska divides its Electoral College votes by congressional districts.
North Dakota (3)
Ohio (18)
Oklahoma (7)
South Carolina (9)
South Dakota (3)
Tennessee (11)
Texas (38)
Utah (6)
West Virginia (5)
Wyoming (3)

5:05 a.m. | Presidential race will come down to razor-thin margins in several key states

The polls have been closed throughout the U.S. for several hours, and the outcome of the presidential election remains in doubt — for now. As it stands, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has a slight advantage over President Donald Trump in electoral college votes, but several key swing states have yet to be called.

12:15 a.m. | Trump tweets claim that election is being stolen, which Twitter flags for misinformation

Twitter flagged a post from President Donald Trump late Tuesday night that claimed the election is being stolen.

A number of battleground states remain uncalled, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina and Arizona. With an influx of mail-in voting, states are needing more time than usual to count ballots. Officials in Pennsylvania have said that the vote count there could take days. The winner of Pennsylvania could be what decides the winner of the election.
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Tuesday, November 3

11:40 p.m. | Boebert declares victory, Mitsch Bush concedes in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District

Republican candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District Lauren Boebert declared victory over Democrat Diane Mitsch Bush Tuesday night, and Mitsch Bush conceded.

Boebert was leading Mitsch Bush 51%-46% with 89% of precincts reporting as of 11:40 p.m.

Boebert posted on Twitter: "Freedom wins! Thank you so much. This is a great victory for freedom and prosperity."

10:55 p.m. | Proposition 116 approved

Colorado's Proposition 116 to lower the state income tax has been approved, according to the Associated Press. "Yes" votes on the measure led "No" votes 57%-43% with 83% of precincts reporting shortly before 11 p.m.

Proposition 116 asks voters whether they would like to decrease the state’s income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.55%. Colorado has held the same rate for income taxes since 2000.

11 p.m. | Colorado voters pass Proposition 116, which cuts the state income tax rate

Colorado voted to pass Proposition 116, which cuts the state income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.55% and will reduce the state’s revenue by millions in the midst of a recession.

10:45 p.m. | Biden makes statement Tuesday night

10:30 p.m. | Colorado voters approve Proposition 118 to create Paid Family and Medical Leave program

Colorado voters approved a measure that will create a Paid Family and Medical Leave program in the state after several failed attempts to create such a program at the state legislature.

10:15 p.m. | Pueblo voters set record turnout

A record 89,705 ballots were cast by Pueblo County Voters in the 2020 General Election eclipsing the previous record from 2016 by nearly 9,000 votes.

"It's incredible the amount of voter turnout that out there, that's happening right now," said Clerk and Recorder Gilbert "Bo" Ortiz.

10:10 p.m. | Amendment B to repeal Gallagher Amendment is approved

Colorado's Amendment B — which would repeal the Gallagher Amendment, a measure meant to keep residential property tax rates lower than the rates paid by non-residential property owners — has been approved, according to the Associated Press. "Yes" votes on Amendment B led "No" votes 58%-42% with 82% of precincts reporting around 10:20 p.m.

Amendment B’s passage repeals the amendment, meaning that the 45%-55% ratio, which requires residential properties to pay 45% of the state’s property tax share and non-residential properties to pay 55% of the share, will no longer be intact.

When the amendment was originally passed, the residential assessment rate was set at 21%, but it has been adjusted every two years to keep the 45-55 ratio intact and currently sits at 7.15%, with another expected drop to 5.88%, as residential property values increased in Colorado’s urban areas but not as much in rural areas.

Because of the repeal, the reference to the original 21% rate is also repealed, except for producing mines and lands or leases that are producing oil or gas.

10 p.m. | Colorado's six incumbent members of US House of Representatives win re-election

Colorado’s six incumbent members of the House of Representatives who were up for re-election in Tuesday’s General Election handily won their races, with the 3rd Congressional District race still too close to call as of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

9:20 p.m. | Colorado voters approve tax increase, new taxes on tobacco and nicotine with Prop. EE's passage

Colorado voters approved sweeping new taxes on nicotine and tobacco products that are expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the state and significantly raise the price of cigarettes and other tobacco and vaping products.

9 p.m. | Colorado voters reject ballot measure that would have banned abortions after 22 weeks

Colorado voters rejected a ballot measure that, if passed, would have banned abortions in the state after the 22nd week of a woman’s pregnancy unless her life is at risk and potentially punished doctors who performed them.

8:45 p.m. | Ballot Issue 2a passes

Colorado Springs voters have passed Ballot Issue 2a.

2a asked voters if the city can keep nearly two million dollars collected in 2019 that was over the limit set by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). It also aims to grow the TABOR cap from the city's 2019 value moving forward, rather than having to ratchet down to the 2020 revenue.

8:40 p.m. | Congressional District 5: Incumbent Doug Lamborn defeats challenger Jillian Freeland

In the race for Colorado's 5th Congressional District, the Associated Press is projecting that Republican incumbent Doug Lamborn has defeated Democrat Jillian Freeland.

8:15 p.m. | Tight race for Prop 114

8 p.m. | Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers issues statement on 2A

7:45 p.m. | John Hickenlooper defeats Cory Gardner for Colorado's U.S. Senate seat

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner in the state’s 2020 U.S. Senate race.

7:30 p.m. | Biden leads Trump in Colorado

With 53 percent of precincts reporting, Joe Biden leads Donald Trump in Colorado 59 percent to 39 percent.

7 p.m. | Polls close

A number of states closed at the hour. Trump is the projected winner in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, and Nebraska. Biden is projected to win New York and New Mexico. Biden holds narrow leads in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas, while Trump has narrow leads in Florida, Georgia, and Michigan.

6:45 p.m. | Explaining the 11 Colorado ballot initiatives

6:28 p.m. | Electoral College votes so far:

Joe Biden has 85 Electoral College votes; Donald Trump has 55, based on Associated Press projections.

States called so far:

Biden:

Connecticut (7 Electoral College votes)
Delaware (3)
Illinois (20)
Maryland (10)
Massachusetts (11)
New Jersey (14)
Rhode Island (4)
Vermont (3)
Virginia (13)

Trump:

Alabama (9)
Kentucky (8)
Mississippi (6)
Oklahoma (7)
South Carolina (9)
Tennessee (11)
West Virginia (5)

6:20 p.m. | Majority Leader McConnell holds his Kentucky Senate seat

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has won a seventh term in Kentucky.

The 78-year-old McConnell defeated Democrat Amy McGrath, a retired Marine combat pilot who challenged him as a political outsider. McConnell is the longest-serving Republican leader in Senate history.

6:15 p.m. | Large number of polls in eastern time zone close

A large number of polls in the eastern and central time zones closed at 8 p.m. ET. Trump picked up wins in South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma; Biden won the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. So far, no surprises.

6:10 p.m. | Election watchers watching out for voters during election

On Election Day, there are people at polling locations watching out for voters across Southern Colorado and they're called election waters, otherwise known as poll watchers. They're the eyes and ears of what's happening at voting locations on Election Day and making sure everything is running smoothly.

6 p.m. | Ballot Measure 6A: Pueblo voters to decide on sales tax increase for upgrades to Pueblo West Fire Department

For the second year in a row, Pueblo voters will decide a one percent sales tax to pay for upgrades to the Pueblo West Fire Department.

Right now, the fire department covers 50 square miles of the Pueblo West Metropolitan area with only two fire stations and limited staff. If approved, Ballot Measure 6A would allow them to build another fire station and include four firefighters per shift which will bring the numbers to eleven responders.

5:45 p.m. | Across Colorado, musicians played outside of polling places to help ease people's stress and angst

For many people across the country and Colorado, this election is accompanied by angst and uncertainty. For that reason, across 48 states, musicians headed out to the polls to play in front of voters casting their ballot.

5:30 p.m. | Record-breaking turnout in Pueblo

5 p.m. | Polls closed in six states

Polls are closed in six states (Vermont, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Indiana). As soon as polls closed, Vermont was called for Joe Biden and Donald Trump was declared the winner of Kentucky. The other states are either too close or too early to call.

4:45 p.m. | Pennsylvania gears up for days of counting ballots

With 20 electoral votes at stake, all eyes will be on Pennsylvania on Election Day. However, officials warn that counting the ballots could take days.

4:15 p.m. | Protesters gather in Washington DC as nation awaits Election Day results

Protesters on both sides of the political spectrum have gathered in the nation’s capital as the U.S. prepares for Election Day results.

Specifically, the area surrounding the White House has become a hot spot for demonstrators in support of President Donald Trump, as well as those in favor of former Vice President Joe Biden.

3:30 p.m. | 2b or 2c: Springs voters to decide how city purchases or swaps park land

Two ballot measures Colorado Springs voters will decide on would both change the requirements for the city to purchase or swap park land.

2b and 2c. If you didn't read your ballot carefully, you may not have realized the difference between the two measures, but there is one. It's the result of a years-long fight over public park land in the city.

1:50 p.m. | FBI investigating Election Day robocalls telling people to 'stay safe and stay home'

Multiple Secretaries of State in battleground states are reporting robocalls to their residents telling them to stay home Tuesday. They are worried the calls are misleading and spreading misinformation on Election Day, and the FBI and other law enforcement agencies are looking into where the calls are originating from.

1:30 p.m. | When will we know who won the presidency?

With record numbers of early votes and mail-in votes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Election Night 2020 should be one unlike any other.

Typically, forecasters and analysts have a pretty good idea which presidential candidate will prevail in the electoral college within a few hours of the final polls closing. But it's not uncommon for the outcome of the election to remain in doubt for several days — or even, like in 2000, several weeks.

1 p.m. | Local party leaders satisfied with campaign efforts as 2020 Election draws to a close

On Election Day in 2020, Americans are voting to elect the country's next president. While this election gets international headlines, the work to educate and inspire votes starts in our communities. And even in the final hours of the 2020 campaign, our local party leaders answered questions and connected with voters to help them make their voices heard at the ballot box. At the end of the day, party leaders told News5 that win or lose, they're satisfied knowing they left it all out on the field.

11:55 a.m.| Colorado voters surpass 2016 turnout

The latest update from Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswold shows Colorado has surpassed 2016 voter turnout with 2,893,395 people who have voted as of 10 a.m.

11:45 a.m.| Pueblo hits new voter turnout record

The Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder's Office said more than 79,000 people have cast their ballots so far this election, more than any other election in Pueblo County's history. These numbers do not include ballots from today that still have to be counted.

9:25 a.m.| Both major parties keeping busy in El Paso County day before election

What was it like for both major parties in El Paso County the night before an election? The two major parties are more similar than you might think. News5's Spencer Humphrey spoke to volunteers and officials for both major parties who showed they were following a similar game plan.

7 a.m. | Here's what to expect if you are voting in El Paso County today

Election Day is finally here, and county officials across southern Colorado are expecting people to come out in droves to cast their ballot in person. Polling centers around the area are officially open as of 7 a.m. Tuesday. If you do plan on casting your vote, whether in person or if you plan on dropping off your ballot, here's what you need to know.

6 a.m. | Calling a race is tricky: How AP does it

In the 2020 U.S. general election, The Associated Press will declare winners in more than 7,000 races – starting with the White House and reaching down the ballot to every seat in every state legislature. Click here for the process the AP follows.
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KOAA News5 coverage of the statewide and local issues.

Amendment B - Repeal Property Tax Assessment Rates
Amendment C - Bingo Raffles Allow Paid Help and Repeal Five-Year Minimum
Amendment 76 - Citizenship Qualification of Electors
Amendment 77 - Local Voter Approval of Gaming Limits in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek
Proposition EE - Cigarette Tobacco and Nicotine Products Tax
Proposition 113 - National Popular Vote
Proposition 114 - Restoration of Grey Wolves
Proposition 115 - Prohibition on Late-Term Abortions
Proposition 116 - State Income Tax Rate Reduction
Proposition 117 - Voter Approval Requirement for Creation of Certain Fee-Based Enterprises
Proposition 118 - Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program

Colorado Springs Proposition 2A

Election Results Map: