Stephens County audits confirm matches in May primary and June runoff vote counts

Stephens County's Board of Elections and Registration set up the May 19, 2026 General Primary and Non-Partisan General Election with logic and accuracy testing of voting equipment, an advance voting schedule at the Historic Courthouse, and a called meeting to process and tabulate absentee ballots early, followed by canvassing of returns to begin the evening of election day.

The board scheduled a special meeting for May 22 to certify the results of the primary under state election law.

On May 29 the board conducted a risk-limiting audit of the primary, hand-counting 989 ballots in randomly selected statewide races; the count matched the electronic vote totals one hundred percent.

The Secretary of State ordered a statewide recount of the Public Service Commissioner District 3 Republican race from the May primary. The county then held a General Primary Runoff on June 16, with a called meeting to process absentee ballots early and canvassing of returns beginning that evening.

On June 25 the board audited the runoff, hand-counting 2,219 ballots in randomly selected statewide races; the count again matched the electronic totals one hundred percent.