Andrews Asks For a Recount in Franklin County Sheriff’s Race

Scott Andrews has asked for a recount in the results of Tuesday’s Franklin County Sheriff race. Andrews submitted the required paperwork to the Franklin County Board of Elections and Registrations office late Wednesday afternoon.

Andrews lost that race by a narrow 26 votes. Sheriff Thomas received 2,874 votes or 50.23% to Andrews’s 2,848 votes or 49.77% of the vote. UNOFFICIAL-AND-INCOMPLETE-JUNE-9-2020-ELECTION-SUMMARY-REPORT

WLHR News spoke with Franklin County Elections Supervisor Gina Kesler Wednesday afternoon who confirmed Andrews had requested the recount.

Georgia Code 21.2.495 paragraph C states that whenever the difference between the number of votes received by a candidate who has been declared the winner and the number of votes received by any other candidate is not more than one-half of 1 percent of the total votes which were cast for a particular office, the losing candidate has two business days, following the certification of the election results, to request a recount of the votes cast, which must be made in writing. § 21-2-495. Procedure for recount or recanvass of votes; losing candidate’s right to a recount; rules and regulations

The total number of votes cast in the Franklin County Sheriff’s race was 5,722.

One half of one percent of that is 28.61 votes, meaning Andrews has the right to ask for a recount in writing once the all of the election results have been certified.

Kesler said the Franklin County Board of Elections plans to meet Friday to certify Tuesday’s election results.

Andrews had until next Tuesday, June 16th to request a recount in writing. Kesler said the recount will take place one day next week at a date and time to be announced. By law, the recount will be done in public with both candidates present.

If a recount determines that the original count was incorrect, the returns and all papers prepared by the superintendent, the superintendents, or the Secretary of State shall be corrected accordingly and the results re-certified.

However, if the recount determines the result Tuesday evening was correct, the original result will stand and Thomas will remain the winner.