Local

Fulton election results show more than 100% turnout in 4 precincts

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — There is new confusion over the belated primary election results in Fulton County.

Voters went to the polls on July 31, but one week later, Channel 2's Lori Geary is looking at the unusual numbers Fulton County certified on Monday.

One precinct reported a 3,300 percent voter turnout. Fulton County said it is aware of the strange numbers and have reached out to the Center for Election Systems at Kennesaw State. The Secretary of State's Office said they are also looking into why some of the turnout numbers are so far off.

"Somebody give me an explanation as to why these numbers keep changing," sheriff candidate Richard Lankford told Geary.

Lankford said he is 37 votes shy of a run-off against incumbent. He showed Geary printouts from Fulton County's Board of Elections showing the vote totals continued to change, even though 100 percent of the precincts had reported.

The totals ranged from 56,000 to 62,000, and then from 70,000 to 71,000.

In addition, four of Fulton County's precincts had a voter turnout greater than 100 percent, including the one with a 3,300 percent turnout.

Lankford said he wants to know how the number discrepancies happened.

"How does a precinct have a 154 percent turnout? Thirty-three hundred percent turnout. There's a glitch somewhere," Lankford said.

Fulton County Board of Elections Chairman Rod Edmond said Monday night he is very confident in the results after Monday's primary results certification.

Fulton County was the last county in the state to certify its election results and could face state fines over the delay.

Lankford was granted a recount, but after seeing the strange turnout percentages, he says he questions the accuracy.

"I believe in the recount you're going to see a drastic change in numbers. If we're dealing with a tabulation system that can be manipulated, then there's no safe way to run for office in Fulton County," Lankford said.