Council certifies election results

Published 10:25 pm Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Last week’s municipal election was certified Tuesday, adding a few votes to the final tallies.

In total, 27 provisional ballots were cast in the election. Of those, 15 were accepted and 12 were rejected.

In the mayoral election, Darrio Melton added six votes, while James Perkins Jr. netted five more and George Evans two more.

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The final vote totals were Melton, 2,454 (36 percent); Perkins, 2,090 (30 percent); Evans, 1,276 (19 percent); Greg Bjelke, 713 (10 percent); and Jerria Martin, 358 (5 percent).

Of the 15 provisional ballots, two were from the polling place at Selma High School. However, the ballots were not in their box when opened.

City Attorney Jimmy Nunn checked with the Alabama League of Municipalities, which advised going ahead and certifying the election since two votes wouldn’t change the outcome of any election.

A provisional ballot is used whenever there is an issue of voter eligibility.

Melton and Perkins will meet in an Oct. 4 runoff to decide which man will be Selma’s next mayor. Several additional runoff races will be decided that day, including:

* Council President between incumbent Corey Bowie and Lydia Chatmon

* In Ward 3, between Miah Tolbert-Jackson and Regina Woods.

* In Ward 4, between incumbent Angela Benjamin and Joyce Whitely.

* In Ward 6, between Johnnie Leashore and incumbent Benny Tucker.

* In Ward 7, between Jack Shannon Jr. and Jannie Thomas.

* In Selma BOE District 1, between Daniel Wooten and incumbent Kirit D. Chapatwala.

* In Selma BOE District 3, between Phyllis M. Houser and Lola Sewell.

The last day to update voter registration information or register to vote in the runoff will be Sept. 19. Absentee voting will begin Sept. 7 and go through Sept. 19.

Due to the Central Alabama Fair, the old armory will not be used as a polling location for the runoff.

All Ward 1 voters will instead cast their ballots at Memorial Stadium.