Some very close races in the local GOP Primary this week received new vote totals on Friday after provisional ballots were counted.  While the numbers didn’t result in new outcomes, it did narrow the commissioner’s race down to just two votes between the top two candidates. 

The provisional ballots now have Blake Elsberry with 1,600 votes and incumbent Commissioner Jason Winters with 1,598 votes.  Jeff Coley received more votes as well to move his vote total to 1,496.  Elsberry and Winters will be facing off in the August 11th runoff election.   Democratic Commissioner candidate Jimmy Holbrook received three more votes from the provisional ballots but was unopposed in the Primary.

In the Probate Judge race, the total now stands at 2,220 votes for Gary Woods; 1,457 votes for Teresa Pope and 891 votes for Derrick Ekroat.  Woods and Pope are headed for the runoff and the winner will face Independent Hollie Strawn-Gilliland in November.

A provisional ballot is used to record a vote when there are questions about a given voter’s eligibility that must be resolved before the vote can count.