Daily Archives: August 27, 2014

Paving work overnight on Interstate 17 south of SR 169 continues

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Paving work continues in both directions on Interstate 17 between the State Route 169 junction and the Dugas/Orme exit (mileposts 268 to 279).

As weather permits, drivers can expect a single lane restriction Sunday through Thursday nights between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. through Sept. 30 as crews finalize paving, striping and seeding operations.

Some daytime lane restrictions are expected Monday through Thursday between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. through the work zone as ideal weather conditions exist for rubberized asphalt.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Who needs a car show?

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1956 Chevrolet Bel Air visits Williams.

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air visits Williams.

800px-140827-10WILLIAMS – One thing about having the “Mother road” as your main street is that sooner or later you see one classic or another passing through. This evening we had a visit by an Idaho resident with the popular 1956 Bel Air model by Chevrolet. Last week we had a road show of Corvettes.

With or without a car show, you are bound to see some cool cars along Route 66 in Williams.

Yavapai County Primary Election night reporting delay

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Arizona-electsPRESCOTT – During Primary Election Night Reporting, Yavapai County, working with new election equipment, experienced technical difficulties properly exporting the results file out of its system. Yavapai County worked throughout the night and exported a results file at approximately 5:40 a.m. Once Yavapai exported the file, that data was successfully uploaded into the state election night reporting system without difficulty. It does not appear to significantly change the results of the primary.

A press release from Leslie M. Hoffman, Yavapai County Recorder, stated:

The elections results for the Primary Election of August 26, 2014 were accurately tabulated, published on the Yavapai County website, and reported to the Arizona Secretary of State. There was a delay in reporting election data to the Secretary of State due to a communication issue that slowed the export of the data to the Secretary of State. The new Unisyn Voting Solutions’ equipment installed by Yavapai County pursuant to ARS 16-442(F) performed as designed. The new equipment is certified by the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission and used in multiple jurisdictions across the country. The vote tabulations were accurate and posted on the County website beginning at 9:30PM and the election data uploaded to the Secretary of State by 6:00AM. The Elections Department is working closely with Unisyn Voting Solutions to resolve the communication issue that created the delay.

The office of the Secretary of State stated in their email:

In May 2014, Yavapai County approved this election equipment for experimental use pursuant to A.R.S. 16-442(F). Since the Secretary of State’s Office certifies an end-to-end voting system, the system as configured in Yavapai County was not certified by the State. This new election system, Unisyn OpenElect, is only used in Yavapai County.

A.R.S. 16-442 referenced provides:

The secretary of state or the governing body may provide for the experimental use of a voting system or device without a final adoption thereof, and its use at the election is as valid as if the machines had been permanently adopted.

Unisyn OpenElect voting systems is part of International Lottery & Totalizator Systems corporation which makes online wagering systems for horse racing and lottery systems. According to the company website, Berjaya Lottery Management (HK) Ltd. in Wan Chai, Hong Kong has become their major shareholder. The Unisyn OpenElect voting system was approved for use by the Election Assistance Commission in 2005.

It appears that the voting problem is not a significant factor in the CD-1 race between Andy Tobin and Gary Kiehne, despite television news reports.

What is a factor are the votes yet to be tabulated. According to a press release by the Secretary of State there are still votes yet to be tabulated in Coconino and Yavapai Counties. There are still 2,596 early and 984 provisional ballots yet to be tallied in Coconino. There are 1,894 early and 507 provisional ballots remaining in Yavapai. Only 470 votes separate Tobin from opponent Kiehne.

The current results are not official as the canvasing process is not over. Counties have five-days until the close of business Wednesday, September 3 to verify and process the remaining ballots. A state canvas to certify the election results for national, State and legislative races is scheduled for September 8.

Yavapai County election officials did not respond to a phone call for an interview, but did issue a press release through the office of the Secretary of State.

Cochise County ballot tabulation issue could revise primary election results.

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Arizona-electsCOCHISE COUNTY – The office of the Secretary of State reports that Cochise County experienced technical difficulties with yesterday’s tabulation of ballots that will cause a revision of the Primary Election Night Results, possibly changing the outcomes of some races. Cochise County is covered by Legislative District #14 and Congressional District #2. Thus no Coconino County results will be affected.

Previously posted results for this county have been removed from the Secretary of State’s election reporting system. Cochise County is actively working on a resolution and new files will be uploaded when available.

Please note that all election results are unofficial until the Canvass.

The only Statewide election which might be affected is the race for Corporation Commission between Tom Forese, Doug Little and Lucy Mason on the Republican side. On the Democrat side, Sandra Kennedy and Jim Holway are about 14-points apart.

Gail Griffin is running unopposed in LD-14 for the office of State Senator. Republicans David Gowan and David Stevens appear too far ahead of Susan Syfert to effect much of a change in the race for representative of that district.

Overnight dirt haul on SR 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley continues

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adot-logo-03aPRESCOTT – Traffic on State Route 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley (mileposts 320 to 325) will be required to stop intermittently, weather permitting, for the next four weeks to allow trucks to safely cross the highway.

The hauling operation will continue tonight, Aug. 27 and continue through Tuesday, Sept. 30. Overnight work hours are 7 p.m. through 5 a.m. each night and intermittent closures are expected for dirt hauling and removal and relocation of temporary concrete barrier along the roadway.

Drivers can expect delays of up to 10 minutes at a time.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Andy Tobin the Republican nominee for Arizona CD-1

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As of this morning, Andy Tobin has pulled ahead of Gary Kiehne by 532 votes with one precinct left to report. It appears that Tobin took all precincts albeit by very narrow margins.

Ann Kirkpatrick took the seat back after Paul Gosar ran to another district because she was too hard to beat. Tobin will probably have to appeal to the ever increasing number of Independent voters to make a good showing.