Two votes decide candidate for runoff; recount held

Magistrate judge candidates Marcia Callaway-Ingram and Loretta Rakestraw will be on the ballot for the runoff election after two provisional ballots tallied Friday afternoon narrowed Rakestraw’s lead to just two votes over opponent Wayne Woods.Provisional ballots were read Friday, Aug. 3, after the final mail run and the two ballots cast for Woods made the final total 953 votes for Rakestraw and 951 votes for Woods. Marcia Callaway-Ingram received nearly 48% of votes in the race. Woods requested a recount in the race. A recount was held from 1-4 p.m. Monday, but the ballot totals remained the same. Woods has two business days after the election was certified late Friday afternoon to submit his written request.Early voting for the runoff will start Monday, Aug. 13, when the ballots arrive from the Secretary of State’s elections division. The last day of early voting in the runoff will be Thursday, Aug. 16 due to the courthouse closure Friday, Aug. 17. The courthouse will be closed to citizens as electrical work that requires complete power loss at the building is conducted.