Provisional ballots change Banks County judge runoff outcome

A Banks County runoff race last week demonstrates the importance of every vote.

In the race for probate judge, initial polling numbers gave Keith Gardiner an apparent one-vote win over Helen Hewell, but that didn't take into account provisional ballots.

"All provisional ballots were voted on by the Board of Elections and Registration (Ga. Code 21-2-419) and all approved ballots have now been counted with the final outcome: Keith Gardiner - 594, Helen Hewell - 595," said Banks County Elections Superintendent Andra Phagan by email Monday.

Gardiner's vote tally didn't change from 594, but Hewell picked up two votes to bring her total to 595.