Official election results determined for Coosa County
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Following last week’s general election, the Canvassing Board met Tuesday to review provisional ballots and certify the county’s results, making them official.
The Canvassing Board consists of Judge of Probate Richard Dean, Circuit Clerk Anita Spivey and Sheriff Michael Howell. However, since Howell was involved in a contested race on the ballot, the other two members appointed Chief Deputy George Long to fill in for him on the board.
In addition to provisional ballots, there was a somewhat unique situation this election cycle involving an absentee ballot that would not go through the tabulating machine.
As such, Dean said the ballot would have to be counted by hand and added manually to the results. In reviewing the ballot, it appeared it did not go through the machine because the voter had marked in and below the circle intended.
That absentee ballot was cast as a straight-party Republican vote. In local races, that ballot added one vote each for Sheriff Michael Howell and District 4 County Commissioner Ronnie Joiner.
The county had six provisional ballots, as well. Those included two from Richville, one from Marble Valley, two from Ray, and one from Hanover.
Prior to the Canvassing Board meeting, the Board of Registrars reviewed the provisional ballots cast and the reasons behind them. Of those six, the Board of Registrars concluded that one from Ray and the one from Hanover should not be counted.
That left four provisional ballots to be counted and added to the county’s election results. All four of those were cast for straight-party votes.
One ballot was a straight-party vote for the Democratic Party, and the remaining three were straight-party votes for the Republican Party.
However, the one Democratic Party ballot voted separately for Republican Michael Howell for sheriff, adding one vote to his previous total. Additionally, one of the straight Republican Party ballots cast a separate vote for Independent Joshua Jones for sheriff, adding one to his prior total.
In local races, the provisional ballots added a total of three votes for Howell, one vote for Jones, three for Jack Brewer for coroner, one for Brandon Davis for County Commission District 3, two for Ronnie Joiner for County Commission District 4, one for Lamar Daugherty for County Commission District 5, and one for Jenny Kimbrell for Board of Education District 5.
The single absentee ballot and four provisional ballots also added numbers to the state races and proposed amendments, with those numbers reflected in the county’s official election results.
With the official results determined, the county had a voter turnout of 47.33%. This is almost 10% more than the statewide unofficial turnout of 38.50%.
For more information on Alabama’s elections and to further see detailed results by state or county, visit www.alabamavotes.gov.