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DeKalb County election board certifies municipal runoff after staff reports 7.64% turnout
Summary
Director Smith presented the post-election summary for the Atlanta and Stonecrest municipal runoff: 38,519 registered, 2,941 ballots cast (7.64% turnout); the board recessed to certify and sign paperwork and adopted its 2026 meeting calendar.
The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections reviewed and certified the municipal general election runoff after the elections director presented a post-election summary and the board approved certification paperwork.
Director Smith told the board the catchment area had 38,519 registered voters and 2,941 total ballots cast for an overall turnout of 7.64%. Of those ballots, 2,402 were cast on election day, 481 were early votes, and the office received 62 absentee-by-mail envelopes of which three were rejected and 59 accepted. Smith also reported one out-of-precinct provisional ballot was rejected, and the office deployed equipment to 13 locations and 20 precincts with 102 poll workers, 52 poll pads, 169 touch screens and 18 scanners.
After the presentation the chair asked each board member if they had questions; none were raised. The board then voted to recess to certify the election and to sign official paperwork, returned to regular order and continued business.
During public comment, three speakers addressed the board. Betsy Shackleford thanked staff and said, “The runoffs have their roots in a racist law from years ago,” arguing the 50%-plus-one threshold burdens some candidates. Janet Grant, an area poll manager from the city of Decatur, commended the board and legal counsel for their unanimous vote at the Nov. 17 meeting to dismiss challenges and comply with the National Voting Rights Act, calling that outcome "encouraging." Liz Troupe clarified that ballots processed between 7 and 8 p.m. in the city of Atlanta were provisional ballots, not standard hand-marked ballots, and said hand-marked ballots used as the dominant system can be "fast and efficient."
The board also approved amended minutes from prior meetings and adopted its 2026 meeting calendar, which schedules regular meetings for the second Thursday of each month at 4:30 p.m., with the exception that meetings held after an election may occur on a Monday or Tuesday. No executive session was requested. The meeting adjourned after closing remarks and thanks to staff and volunteers.
