The Carter Center and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy have come together once again to propose bipartisan guiding principles for election administration intended to assist the election community.

The Carter Center and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy have come together once again to propose bipartisan guiding principles for election administration intended to assist the election community.

Credit: GPB

Mary Norwood says she will ask for a vote recount in the Atlanta mayoral race.

The city councilwoman trails former state Senator Kasim Reed by more than 700 votes after Tuesday's runoff election.

But an unclear number of provisional and absentee ballots have yet to be counted.

Norwoods’s vote tally is within the 1% margin which gives her the legal right to request a recount.

"I think a recount, when you’re this close is appropriate, absolutely appropriate,” Norwood said during a Wednesday press conference.
“We came within a razor-thin margin of not being able to say we’re the front runner today."

Norwood said Wednesday she will make a formal re-count request on Monday.

Barry Garner, Director of Elections for Fulton County, says everything has been counted, except for the provisional ballots.

There are 560 provisional ballots.

Fulton County is still verifying them and will begin counting them Thursday evening.

On Wednesday afternoon, Kasim Reed e-mailed the following statement to the media: "The swearing in of Atlanta’s next mayor will take place in just under one month and it’s crucial that our city’s next Mayor use all of that time to build an administration that is ready to govern on day one. While I respect Mrs. Norwood’s request for a recount in this election, I must move forward and focus my energies on building an administration that is going to address the serious challenges facing Atlanta. After a closely contested election, now is the time for unity in our great city. There are many obstacles ahead and we will only overcome them by working together. I look forward to working with Mrs. Norwood and her supporters in this effort."

Contributors: Edgar Treiguts and Odette Yousef

Tags: Atlanta, voting, Mary norwood, Kasim Reed, mayor, runoff, recount