Recount requested in Gwinnett County commission chairman’s race

Gwinnett County residents cast their votes during the Georgia primary elections at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Gwinnett County residents cast their votes during the Georgia primary elections at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Democrat Curt Thompson, who finished third in the primary race for chair of the Gwinnett County Commission, has requested a recount.

Thompson finished 20 votes behind Lee Thompson Jr. The second-place finisher will face Nicole Love Hendrickson in an August runoff. She had more than 49% of the vote, but did not get enough votes to win outright.

Curt Thompson said he chose to request a recount because of the number of hand-marked ballots and problems on election day.

“A 20-vote margin is worth looking at,” he said.

Thompson was not the only candidate eligible to ask for a recount. Candidates have until Tuesday afternoon to request recounts.