Election audit underway in Ga. amid tight race

November 13, 2020 Amber Coakley US 0

Officials sort ballots during an audit at the Floyd County administration building in Rome, Ga. on Friday morning, Nov. 13, 2020. Election officials in Georgia’s 159 counties are undertaking a hand tally of the presidential race that stems from an audit required by state law. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 11:38 AM PT – Friday, November 13, 2020

All 159 counties in Georgia are conducting an audit of each one of the almost 5 million ballots cast in this year’s presidential election. While some counties began recounting by hand early on Thursday, every other county in the Peach State was required to begin counting by 9 a.m. Friday morning.

Currently, Joe Biden leads by razor thin margins of less than one-percent in the state. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said the recount is an effort to restore confidence in the legitimacy of the election results.

“With the margin being so close, it will require a full by hand recount in each county,” he stated. “This will help build confidence…it will be an audit…a recount and a re-canvass all at once.”

Providing access and oversight of the full hand recount process has been part of the planning since the beginning. We have encouraged counties to livestream their recounts when possible and have made sure political parties can ensure a clean and fair recount in Georgia.

— GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (@GaSecofState) November 13, 2020

Some accused the state of succumbing to pressure from the Trump campaign who is focusing it’s efforts on legal battles surrounding alleged voter fraud in multiple states across the country and called on the secretary of state to resign. However, Raffensperger said the recount “makes the most sense with the national significance and the closeness of this race.”

All counties are required to complete counting by midnight on Wednesday, just two days ahead of the state certification deadline on November 20.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger speaks during a news conference with Fran Leathers, Director and Chair Oconee County Board of Elections reflected at right, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. Georgia election officials have announced an audit of presidential election results that will trigger a full hand recount. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)