Update 5:22 p.m.:

The Board of Election wrapped the first day of hand counting ballots, and made it through with the help of volunteers to advance in-person ballots.

Elections Coordinator Brande Coggins said the ballot counting went well through the first day, and continues after the weekend break on Monday.

They’ll have to continue through the in-person early votes from October, then through the rest of the ballots cast on Nov. 3 before they have to be done on Wednesday coming up at 5 p.m.

Note: In the previous update on this topic, I had an error in the number of ballots cast. I have corrected that error below. – KtE

Previously posted:

The hand recount happening statewide of the Presidential Election is underway in Polk County today, and will continue on Monday and Tuesday before it must be wrapped up by the close of business on Wednesday, November 18.

Officials from the Board of Elections posted the notice online this morning for the schedule of the “manual” (by hand) recount, which means all the printouts of ballots are being counted by hand to ensure there is no discrepancy between the count tallied on Election Night as part of the statewide audit to ensure the election results are correct.

The recount in the presidential election was ordered earlier in the week and got underway today, just before Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was forced to self-isolate after his wife was diagnosed with COVID-19.

It is expected to take a few days at least to count the 17,448 ballots in total cast (Edit: this was a typo on my part, the total number of voters who could cast a vote is 24,189) in this past election, which surpasses the vote total in previous election years.

Check back for additional information as it becomes available. Below is the official posting online for the schedule of the manual recount underway: