Georgia official finds 388 uncounted ballots on lost memory card
New data flips the lead in a tight statehouse race in Seminole County and triggers a state investigation into polling errors.
By Chioma Kuznetsov ·
A lost memory card surfaced Friday containing records for 388 voters who checked in at Seminole County, Georgia polling places but were never counted. The discovery immediately flipped the lead in the state house District 154 race and prompted a state-level probe into how the error occurred.
The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office identified the gap during a post-election audit. The agency found that voter check-in records exceeded reported cast ballots by 388. Officials then alerted the Seminole County Board of Elections to the discrepancy.
The new numbers change the standing of the race, which had remained uncalled. Democrat Harry James had held a 58-vote advantage over incumbent Republican Gerald Greene. With the addition of the 388 ballots, Greene now leads by 262 votes. The Secretary of State’s Office stated the county must certify its final results by Monday.
Brad Raffensperger’s office launched an investigation to determine the cause of the oversight. The review will examine how the memory card was missed and whether standard election procedures were followed. The agency also aims to define corrective measures to prevent similar issues in future cycles.
The Seminole County Board of Elections did not respond to a request for comment made on Friday afternoon. The state office said its investigation seeks to establish facts before determining if further action is required.
