State to Allow Certification of Algood Council Race

The Putnam County Election Commission will certify the Algood City Council election results Friday after being granted the opportunity by the state.

Debbie Steidl is the Election Commission Administrator for Putnam County. She said both Ruby Hawkins and Justin Grant will have reason to contest the results after an audit discovered errors in the city’s results.

“Three people voted in the city that should not have voted,” Steidl said. “Did they vote? We don’t know, but they were given the ballot, so therefore three people had the ballot that should not have.”

Steidl added another mistake discovered via the election commission’s audit was that two Algood voters did not receive the correct ballot while at the precinct.

“Did they realize they should’ve gotten a ballot? Well if they did, they should’ve said something,” Steidl said. “It doesn’t matter, they should’ve gotten the ballot, and they did not get that ballot.”

Steidl said the mistakes leave five votes up in the air while a second provisional ballot still remains. On Friday morning, a provisional ballot was added, tying the race between Hawkins and Grant at 300 votes apiece.

Steidl said both candidates have five days from the time the election is certified to contest the vote.

“I can only know that, if I knew five mistakes were made and I were that close, then I would probably do something,” Steidl said.

According to Steidl, Hawkins plans to contest the election results. Once contested, a judge will determine the next step, including whether a recount or reelection will take place to determine the final spot on Algood’s City Council.