Channel 2 Investigates

State opens investigation into new claims of irregularities in Atlanta mayoral runoff election

ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News has learned that there are new questions about the integrity of last year's Atlanta mayor's race.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Aaron Diamant confirmed with Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp's office recently launched a new investigation into last December's runoff election between Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mary Norwood.

Those sources told Diamant that the probe will focus on how absentee ballots were handled.

The secretary of state's office, which oversees Georgia’s elections, confirms its investigators will seek access to election records for a forensic review of the mayoral election's results.

“This simply casts another cloud over City Hall,” Georgia State University professor emeritus Harvey Newman said. “There are all kinds of questions raised, but very few answers at this point.”

Sources close to the investigation told Channel 2 Action News and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the probe involves new allegations of irregularities in that election -- specifically the mishandling of absentee ballots.


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“To me, the evidence would have to be rock-solid in order change the outcome of the election in any way,” Newman said. 

Bottoms beat Norwood by a razor-thin margin of 821 votes out of about 90,000 that were cast.

Newman believes whatever the state may find, it’s unlikely to change the outcome.

“If there were mishandled ballots, the logical assumption would be that the number of ballots cast for either candidate would almost equal canceling each other out,” he said. 

Kemp’s office would not confirm the source of the claims, but spokesperson texted a statement to Diamant saying: 

“Our law enforcement officers investigate every single complaint from voters alleging election or voting violations. Based on new information, we have opened a case into the City of Atlanta mayoral run-off. We cannot disclose any additional details at this time.”

“Well, you’re certainly going to have supporters on both sides that feel like something happened that shouldn’t have happened,” voter rights advocate Justin Wiedeman said.

Diamant contacted Norwood by phone on Tuesday.

“When there are concerns about elections, they should be investigated, they should be resolved, and we should have the resolution presented to the public, so that the public has confidence in the fairness of the process," Norwood said.

A representative for Bottoms sent Diamant a statement saying: 

"We are unaware of, nor have we been formally notified of, any credible allegation of impropriety related to the election that was certified in December 2017.  

“While we have not been contacted by the Secretary of State’s Office regarding an investigation, we trust the Secretary to investigate any credible allegations and are confident our campaign acted within the boundaries of the law."