On Sept. 2, 2025, the Athens City Council, sitting as the city’s canvassing board, adopted a canvassing resolution certifying vote totals from the Aug. 26 municipal election and ordering a runoff election for City Council District 3 on Sept. 23, 2025. The council approved the resolution by roll call vote, 5-0.

The resolution, identified in the meeting as the canvassing resolution, set the certified totals for the mayoral race at William R. (Ronnie) Marks — 2,427 votes; Danny Whitfield — 1,570 votes; and Mark Wilson — 240 votes. The council also certified winners in other city council contests: District 2 — Alan Creasy (1,030 votes) over Tim Colling (245 votes); District 4 — Dana Henry (650 votes) over Jared Schulte (249 votes); and District 5 — Amy Golden (285 votes) over Jamie Elliott (101 votes). The council recorded that no candidate received a majority in City Council District 3; the certified totals for that race were James Lucas (295 votes) and Henry White (277 votes), prompting the ordered runoff.

City staff said provisional ballots were reviewed by the Board of Registrars and opened at the canvassing meeting; the council did not disclose voter names in order to protect privacy. After staff presented district-by-district provisional counts and incorporated them into the totals, the council read and voted on the canvassing resolution.

The canvass cited state law governing runoffs; the resolution orders the runoff for Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. Council members present voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.

Practical details for voters — including absentee and provisional ballot handling and the Sept. 23 runoff date — were discussed by staff after the vote.