Friday’s count of provisional ballots from Tuesday’s general elections cut Floyd County Superior Clerk of Court Barbara Penson’s lead by a slim margin, and her challenger says he will ask for a recount.

Penson, a Democrat, was leading Republican Mark McAllister by 32 votes after Tuesday’s election. Following Friday’s tally of provisional ballots, Penson’s lead was down to 25.

According to Elections Supervisor Evon Billups, Penson had 15,578 votes to McAllister’s 15,553 votes after the provisionals were counted.

The final vote count after Tuesday’s general election was 15,514 for Penson and 15,482 for McAllister, and the lead went back and forth during the night.

“With 30,000 votes cast and the margin being 25 votes, a recount is in order,” McAllister said.

Georgia law allows candidates to ask for a recount if the difference between two candidates is less than 1 percent.

But McAllister doesn’t expect the recount to happen soon. He said he has to wait until the Secretary of State certifies the election before he can ask for the recount, and then he must send a letter to Billups.

Election officials had 206 provisional ballots on Friday, but only 144 of the votes were valid, according to Billups.

Penson is running for her second term. She won her first term in 2008 after defeating John Harkins in the Democrat primary after long-time clerk Joe Johnston retired.

Floyd County Elections Office