Photo: TAMI CHAPPELL / AFP / Getty Images
Madelyn Orochena announced her victory on social media for the Kennesaw City Council Special Position 1 seat after she said the results were confirmed.
“I feel excited and very grateful! It’s a win! See you on Monday, “Orochena wrote in a post on her social networks.
The original winner was Madelyn Orochena with “1,629 votes and second-place finisher Lynette Burnette receiving 1,629 votes, it was too close to call before outstanding provisional and absentee votes were counted.”https://t.co/lvoLW31Z1R— F.ani R.everend O.ssoff G.arland 🤫 (@550Ribbits) November 31, 2022
However, Orochena’s victory it was short-lived after a memory card was discovered on Wednesday. The results changed and the projected winner would now be Lynette Burnette.
“Unfortunately, once we found it (the memory card), we uploaded it and it changed the outcome of the Kennesaw City Council race,” Cobb County Elections Director Janine Eveler said.
The memory card contained 629 uncounted ballots from the county and with those votes, Burnette defeated Orochena by just 31 votes.
Following the announcement, Orochena issued a statement on social media sharing his disappointment and frustration.
“This is shameful. …And our faith in our governing bodies continues to fail,” Orochena wrote.
Cobb election officials said the memory card was found in the Kennesaw area as poll workers prepared for a risk limitation audit.
Results attributed to the card have since been sent to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, election leaders said.
Orochena said in a social media post that she would file a complaint with the Office of the Secretary of State.
“I’m just trying to get more information, which is within my rights, so that we can be sure that whoever wins wins fairly,” said Orochena.
The election results will be re-certified at a special meeting called on Friday.
“Sorry We regret this mistake immensely, and after the upcoming runoff, we will launch an investigation and review of procedures to ensure this never happens again,” the election leaders said in a press release.
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