Georgia’s hand-counted audit of the president’s race in Gilmer County is over. Everything matched.
“It is done,” said Gilmer County Chief Registrar Tammy Watkins. “Here in Gilmer County, ours was right on it.”
Four tables of two counters each began the recount at 9 a.m. Friday morning with support personnel and watchers from each party, Watkins said. They stopped at 4 p.m. Friday and resumed counting Monday morning at 9 a.m. They were done by 2 p.m.
At each table, one counter would verify the presidential vote on a ballot followed by the second counter verifying the vote. It was then placed in a pile. Each pile was then hand-counted, then rescanned.
All told, the audit cost $2,700 in labor.
“The Republican Party of Gilmer County would like to express thanks to county election officials and their staff throughout this process of auditing the 2020 election results,” said Republican Party of Gilmer County Chairman Richie Stone. “Their professionalism in their meticulous accounting of over 16,000 ballots by hand is truly amazing.”
Results of the audit were as expected, he said.
“We have zero reason to doubt the honesty or integrity of anyone involved,” Stone said.
He did voice concerns of the integrity of absentee by mail ballots, the changes to signature verification requirements and ballot drop boxes.
“We remain confident that any irregularities will be discovered and challenged in a court of law,” Stone said. “However, we believe the business of the 2020 election in Gilmer County is now closed.”
Republicans beat their goal of turning out 12,000 Republican votes by nearly 1,500, he said.
“The Gilmer County Supervisor of Elections, Probate Judge Scott Chastain, and his staff get an ‘A+’,” said Gilmer County Democratic Committee Co-Chair Melba Gandy. “The recount was well organized, well staffed, and well managed. Both Judge Chastain and his staff were present during the entire recount, which was completed without difficulty due to the careful preplanning and excellent instructions to workers given by Registrar Tammy Watkins.”
Gandy was present at the audit because she is a member of the Gilmer Resolution Board which is made up of a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent. The board reviews any ballot rejected by the scanner.
“I completed my service on the recount celebrating that our hand recount matched the Election Day count and being fully confident that Gilmer County’s election procedures are in capable, efficient hands,” she said. “And the Democratic monitors, Leslie Wade and David Ashley, did a great job.”
Results of the audit have been submitted to the state.
“Now, we just wait and see if they have something else for us to do,” Watkins said.
Her office also begins preparations for the Jan. 5 runoff which will include the two Senate seats for the state. A public service commission runoff which was switched from Dec. 1 to Jan. 5 by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger will also be on the ballot.