MADRAS, OR -- In-person and online observation of ballot counting has become more popular this election cycle. Starting in the May Primary, Jefferson County Clerk Kate Zemke offered a live-stream via the county website for the public to watch the process,
“The virtual viewing opportunity; that’s just going to be kind of a standard thing. I’ll put it on Facebook, and then I notified the Republican and the Democrat parties of this virtual streaming. And then I’ve got quite a few observers coming.”

Crook County offers a similar live-stream that can be accessed through the county website. They’re part of a trend to try to show more transparency in the system, following increased elections scrutiny across the U.S. But Zemke thinks transparency in ballot counting has always been important, “I think that my observers are all very glad that they come. Most of them say ‘boy this was eye opening’. They’re very pleased with our process. I feel like one of my jobs is to educate the public and this is one tangible way that can happen.”

Zemke says people like watching the tabulation process online and it helps county staff feel more secure, “I know not all counties feel comfortable with it but I’ve visited with our IT and they assure me that we have a system that they feel confident.”

As of yesterday, around 40% of the Jefferson County ballots were in, just over 40% in Crook County, and 45% in Deschutes County.