By the time you read this, hopefully the vote count from yesterday’s election will be finished.

Things got so bad that Denver City Clerk and Recorder Stephanie O’Malley called in Denver’s swat team to finish counting the ballots. The Election Commission’s website also suffered serious snafus in reporting results. All in all, a frustrating experience for those anxiously awaiting the outcome.

Nonetheless, Mayor John Hickenlooper had reason for optimism last night. The bond referendums appear to have passed easily.

The marijuana initiative that would make pot offenses the lowest priority for Denver cops was winning by 55.5% to 45.5% before the swat team arrived. I’m not sure I like the idea of police officers counting the ballots on it.

Voter turnout was 43% — ten points higher than expected and unusually high for an off-year election with nothing major on the ballot.