Jefferson County Commission Certifies Election Canvass, Accepts and Rejects Provisional and Absentee Ballots
The Jefferson County Commission met in a special session on May 18, 2026 to canvass election results. Commissioners reviewed provisional and absentee ballots from more than a dozen precincts, accepting valid ballots and rejecting those cast outside registered party lines, by unregistered voters, or received after deadlines. The canvass was declared complete and approved unanimously.
Call to Order
President Pasha Majdi called the special session to order at 9:04 am. All five commissioners were present, along with the County Administrator, County Clerk, Chief Deputy Clerk of Elections, and six poll workers.
Recount Bond Amount
Commissioners voted to set the bond amount required to request a recount at $300.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Random Precinct Selection for Hand Count
Commissioner Hefestay drew a precinct number at random from a basket. Precinct #17 was selected to undergo a hand count. That precinct's ballots were processed at the end of the canvass session.
Provisional and Absentee Ballots — General
Commissioners voted to accept the general batch of provisional ballots as presented.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners voted to accept the general batch of absentee ballots as presented.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #3
Commissioners accepted the provisional ballots from this precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners rejected one absentee ballot because it was received after the filing deadline.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #7
Commissioners accepted the provisional ballot from this precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #12
Commissioners rejected one provisional ballot because the voter cast a ballot outside their registered political party.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #13
Commissioners rejected provisional ballots from this precinct because the voters cast ballots outside their registered party.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #14
Commissioners accepted the provisional ballot from this precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #16
Commissioners rejected one provisional ballot because the voter was not registered to vote.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners rejected a second provisional ballot because the voter cast their ballot in the wrong precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #19B
Commissioners rejected one provisional ballot because the voter had already cast an early vote and then voted again on Election Day.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners accepted the absentee ballots from this precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #20
Commissioners accepted the absentee ballots from this precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #22
Commissioners rejected one provisional ballot because the voter cast a ballot outside their registered party.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners accepted provisional ballots from voters who cast in-person ballots after receiving an absentee ballot, because neither absentee ballot was returned.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #23A
Commissioners accepted a provisional ballot cast by a poll worker.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #24B
Commissioners accepted provisional ballots from voters who cast in-person ballots after receiving an absentee ballot, because neither absentee ballot was returned.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #26
Commissioners rejected provisional ballots because the voters cast ballots outside their registered party.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #27
Commissioners accepted a provisional ballot from a voter who cast an in-person ballot after receiving an absentee ballot, because the absentee ballot was not returned.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners accepted an additional provisional ballot from this precinct as presented.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #28B
Commissioners rejected a provisional ballot because the voter cast a ballot outside their registered party.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #29
Commissioners accepted a provisional ballot from a voter who cast an in-person ballot after receiving an absentee ballot, because the absentee ballot was not returned.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #31
Commissioners accepted the absentee ballot from this precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #32
Commissioners rejected provisional ballots because the voters cast ballots outside their registered party.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #33
Commissioners accepted an absentee ballot from a voter who voted in their new precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners rejected a provisional ballot from a voter registered in Morgan County, not Jefferson County.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners rejected a provisional ballot from a voter who was not registered to vote.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #34
Commissioners accepted the absentee ballot from this precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #35
Commissioners rejected an absentee ballot because the postmark was incorrect.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #36
Commissioners rejected provisional ballots because the voters cast ballots outside their registered party.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Precinct #17 (Hand Count Precinct — Processed at End of Session)
This precinct was selected by random draw for a hand count and was processed last.
Commissioners rejected three provisional ballots from voters who cast ballots outside their registered party.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners rejected one provisional ballot because the voter was not registered.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners accepted a provisional poll worker ballot.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Commissioners accepted the absentee ballots from this precinct.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Adjournment
With no further business, commissioners voted to accept the canvass as complete and adjourn the meeting.
Vote: Passed 5-0.