Harvey County certifies Nov. 4 canvass after counting 62 provisional ballots; turnout reported at ~22.9%

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners unanimously certified the final results of the Nov. 4, 2025 city and school general election after a canvass presented by County Clerk and Election Officer Rick Piepho.

Piepho told the commission that “The total turnout including provisional ballots is 22.9% with 5,258 total ballots cast” and then reviewed 84 provisional and two challenged ballots grouped by reason. The board considered each group and, by motions from Commissioner Becky Reimer and seconds from Commissioner Don Schroeder, approved or rejected ballots as recommended by statute and staff: 30 in-county move ballots (counted), 6 name-change ballots (counted), 1 technical-error ballot (counted), 2 wrong-polling-place ballots (counted), 23 mailed-advance-not-returned-but-voted-at-poll ballots (counted) and 1 mailed-advance-returned-voted-at-poll ballot (not counted), 21 not-registered ballots (not counted) and 2 signature-deficiency ballots (not counted).

Piepho reported that staff separated and scanned the 62 accepted provisional ballots and updated the tabulation. He said outcomes for most contests were unchanged, though the candidates with the first and second highest totals in the Newton City Commission race switched places. Commissioner Becky Reimer moved to certify the final results “as presented”; the motion passed unanimously.

The commission’s formal certification completes the county canvass process. The canvass packet attached to the meeting materials also includes a county “Statement of Votes Cast” that lists total ballots cast as 5,172 in a tabulation printout; the clerks’ spoken canvass remarks and the tabulation file reflect slightly different total-ballot figures in the packet. The board signed the final election abstract and concluded the canvass.