DeKalb County board certifies Nov. 4 municipal election after post‑election report

At a meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections (date not specified in the transcript), the board voted to certify the Nov. 4 municipal general and special election after a staff presentation of post‑election results.

Director Smith summarized the department’s post‑election report, saying the county had 487,913 registered voters and 152,639 ballots were cast, for an overall turnout of 31.28%. She said 94,580 ballots were cast on election day and 56,492 during early voting; 1,455 absentee‑by‑mail ballots were received with 14 rejected. Director Smith also said Memorial Drive was the busiest location, with 2,552 voters on the last day of early voting, and noted equipment and staffing figures used during the election.

The board moved to certify the unofficial and incomplete totals; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair recessed the meeting so members could sign the necessary certification documents.

Before the vote, several members of the public urged the board to certify. Jana Grant, an area poll manager, told the board it “must fulfill your legal responsibilities today with the certification of the November fourth municipal general and special election,” and urged the board not to allow procedural refusals to block certification.

The board also approved a recount request for the Decatur City Commissioner District 1 race after staff confirmed the margin fell within the statutory threshold (less than half a percentage point). The motion to conduct the recount was made, seconded and approved.

What happens next: the board recessed to sign certification paperwork and reconvened to complete remaining business, including scheduling a specially called meeting to hear voter challenges that had been deferred.