UPDATE: The vote has been certified by the Rockdale County Board of Elections and an automatic recount will take place for the Sheriff's race on Tuesday, since the results fell under the 1 percent margin. Sheriff Jeff Wigington also submitted a brief letter drafted by his attorney requesting a recount. No candidate from the Tax Commissioner's race requested a recount before the deadline of certification on Saturday. The Tax Commissioner's race had a difference of 1.1 percent. The sheriff's race recount will take place on Tuesday, since Veteran's Day observed is on Monday, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Board of Elections Office, 1400 Parker Road, Lobby C.
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(Nov. 9, 10:50 p.m.) With a difference of only 34 votes after an exhaustive count of provisional and absentee ballots on Friday, first time Democratic challenger Eric Levett had a total of 18,760 votes or 50 percent to five-term Republican incumbent Sheriff Jeff Wigington’s 18,726 votes or 49.9 percent.
“Well, once again as I’ve stated to everyone, I’ve stepped out in faith and I’ve always believed that I was going to declare victory,” said Levett. “All I can say is my Lord and Savior did not fail me not that I’d think he would, so here we are. I want to thank the citizens of Rockdale County, everyone who supported me and everyone who supported Wigington, for just coming out and voting in general. I want everyone to know that I have Rockdale County’s best interest at heart and we are planning to serve Rockdale County well.”
He said one of the first things he would be looking at are candidates for Chief Deputy.
“The next smart move, we need to audit the entire race and then we’ll look at the budget. Those are the first things that we’ll do. And then we’ll have meetings with the staff,” said Levett. He reiterated he would not be laying off personnel. “I have no intentions of getting rid of anyone,” he said.
Wigington quietly exited the BOE office and was not available for comment Friday night.
A candidate needs to receive 50 percent plus one vote to win.
There were 193 legitimate ballots counted consisting of 103 military ballots, 71 provisional ballots and nine over-votes. There were 166 provisional ballots rejected.
Only one person came in with ID; eight were rejected due to a citizenship challenge or they didn't provide proper ID.
The Board of Elections will certify the results on Saturday at 1 p.m. at 1400 Parker Road.
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(Nov. 9, 9:21 p.m.) With absentee ballots counted, Eric Levett has 18,716 votes or 49.97 percent, and Jeff Wigington has 18,703 votes, or 49.94 percent. Levett has a razor thin lead of 13 votes.
The provisional ballot count has yet to be announced.
There were 193 legitimate ballots counted consisting of 103 military ballots, 71 provisional ballots and nine over-votes. There were 166 provisional ballots rejected.
Only one person came in with ID; eight were rejected due to a citizenship challenge or they didn't provide proper ID.
"One of the worst results that could come out is to have an extremely close election like this," Board of Elections Chairman William Todd told crowd of more than 130 that were gathered at 5 p.m. to watch the count.
Jeff Wigington was there from the start and Eric Levett arrived around 6pm. Surrounded by their supporters, both candidates watched the process for the duration. Other candidates who were there when the counting began were Tom Harrison, Jo Coggins, George Levett Jr., and Phinia Aten.
Check back for updates.
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(Nov. 9, 10:31 a.m.) The Georgia Secretary of State's office is sending an investigator during the counting of provisional and absentee ballots for Friday.
When asked whether there was a complaint filed, Secretary of State's Office Deputy Press Secretary Chris Perlera said there was an open investigation and that the office would not be able to comment.
Elections Supervisor Cynthia Welch said her office was contacted around Wednesday by the SOS office and her office had not called for the investigator.
Welch said this was the first time in her career of 20-plus years that she had had an investigator from the SOS office, but that "It's common when you have elections this close."
"For us, I think that benefits Rockdale... The key is that all process are open to the public."
Rockdale County reported 237 provisional ballots to be researched that were given on election day. In the 2008, there were 63 provisional ballots given on election day.
The race for Rockdale's Sheriff hangs in the balance, since there was only an 18-vote difference between incumbent Republican Jeff Wigington and Democratic challenger Eric Levett.
As of election night, Wigington received 50.02 percent, or 18,675 votes, to Levett's 49.98 percent, or 18,657 votes. Votes for write-in candidates that are not certified before the election are not counted in the total. There were no candidates certified for write-in for Sheriff.
A candidate needs to receive 50 percent plus one vote to win. A candidate can request a recount if the difference is less than 1 percent.
The Tax Commissioner's race is also close - it had a difference of 350 votes. Democratic challenger RJ Hadley received 50.45 percent of the vote, or 18,624, and Republican incumbent and five-term Tax Commissioner Dan Ray received 49.5 percent, or 18,274.
Welch explained that the Rockdale Board of Elections office staff has spent the last two days researching the provisional ballots, as is standard procedure after an election, and the three Board of Elections members will be in on Friday to review the findings of the staff. The Board of Elections members, made up of a representative from the Rockdale Republican party, Rockdale Democratic party, and an at-large chairman, and can choose to accept or reject the staff's conclusions on individual ballots. In the case of a tie, the Board of Elections chairman William Todd will cast the tie-breaking vote.
Out of the 237 provisional ballots researched, Welch said only a portion of those are being recommended for consideration, pending Board of Elections approval.
Some of the provisional voters were found to be registered in different counties and some were found to be overvotes - where a voter might have crossed out one name and circled another in the same race. Also, if a resident had not voted in the last two general elections, a notice was mailed to them letting them know they'd be taken off the voter registration list unless they indicated otherwise.
Out of 99 mail-in absentee ballots, which include military and overseas ballots, 11 of those were received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Rockdale elections office is also waiting for nine voters to come to the office by 4:30 p.m. with proper identification.
Provisional ballots are given at the time of election to voters who don't have proper ID or questions arise with their registration; voters who did not have proper ID at the time of voting must present a valid ID to the board of elections within three days for their vote to be counted.
A report explaining the findings will be released to the public at the conclusion of the review.
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IN BRIEF: The Ga. Secretary of State's Office is sending an investigator to Rockdale County's Board of Elections Office on Friday, according to a Secretary of State's Office spokesperson, during the process of counting provisional and absentee ballots. The spokesperson did not reply when asked whether a complaint had been filed with the SOS office. Rockdale County reported 237 provisional ballots to be counted. The race for Rockdale's Sheriff hangs in the balance, since neither candidate, incumbent Republican Jeff Wigington nor Democratic challenger Eric Levett, had 50 percent plus one. Calls to the Rockdale Elections Supervisor have not been returned as of Thursday evening. In neighboring Newton County, there were about 10 provisional ballots reported. Provisional ballots are given at the time of election to voters who don't have proper ID or questions arise with their registration; voters who did not have proper ID at the time of voting must present a valid ID to the board of elections within three days for their vote to be counted.
