Marijuana ban vote flips in Colorado Springs, unofficial Saturday counts

The Colorado Springs ballot question that proposed a charter amendment to ban recreational marijuana sales is now failing, according to the latest unofficial ballot count from the El Paso County Clerk & Recorder's Office.

The office wrapped up its counting Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The City Council-backed Ballot Question 2D is now failing 49.5% to 50.5%, with 118,571 votes for passage to 120,984 votes against.

No races were called Saturday night.

The Gazette reached out to the clerk's office to determine whether a recount will occur if votes continue to hold in close margins but did not receive a response Saturday night.

Earlier in the week, 2D was passing along with a opposing ballot question that would authorize existing medical marijuana dispensaries to sell recreational marijuana. Saturday night, the resident-backed Ballot Question 300 was approved, and at a higher margin than earlier in the week — 54.64% to 45.36%, up from 53.6% to 46.4% Wednesday. The vote count as of Saturday was 129,979 votes for Question 300 to 107,888 votes against.

Results are not certified yet, as military and overseas voters, alongside those who need to cure their ballot, have until Nov. 13. The clerk's office will announce another, final unofficial result on Thursday once those ballots have been tabulated.

Races will not be officially called until the Canvass Board certifies the original vote count on Nov. 27.

On Saturday, Kristi Ridlen, assistant clerk and recorder, said about 390,000 ballots were returned in El Paso County, for a 78% turnout. Throughout the weekend, 25-30 people were working to process the results.

Gazette reporter Breeanna Jent contributed to this report.