Two elections decided by single vote

Two tied elections in Franklin County this week prove that your vote really does count.

Mayoral races in the small towns of Royston and Franklin Springs - located just a mile from each other and about 30 miles northeast of Athens - ended in ties Tuesday night.

After recounts Wednesday and a provisional ballot counted Thursday, both elections were decided by just one vote.

"I've never seen two side-by-side mayoral races won by one vote," Franklin Springs Mayor Brian James said. "What are the chances of that happening?"

James defeated challenger Lee Moore, 119-118. The machine that scans ballots did not read one vote for James on Tuesday, but poll workers caught it when counting votes by hand Wednesday, Franklin County elections supervisor Sandy Phillips said.

In Royston, former city councilman David Jordan beat Mayor Bill Stewart, 225-224. Stewart initially led by one vote, but a hand recount found two additional votes for Jordan and one for Stewart.

A provisional ballot cast by a voter who did not bring the required photo identification to the polls was opened Thursday after the man had an ID made, Phillips said. It broke the tie in favor of Jordan.

Jordan said he thought he had the race sewn up, but it seemed like Stewart was gaining ground as Election Day approached.

"I warned people, 'Please come out,' " Jordan said. " 'I don't want to be too overconfident. I need every vote I can get.' And that

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