Three votes separates two legislative candidates for Tuesday's special election in northeast Georgia. Chris Erwin is leading incumbent Dan Gasaway by those three votes – a total that could change between now and the end of the week.
"Every vote counts," Erwin smiled Wednesday. The retired school superintendent said the close race could provide a useful real-life civics lesson.
"I would love to use my story to talk about how one vote can make a difference in this country," Erwin said. "So go exercise your right to vote."
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House District 28 spans Banks, Stephens and part of Habersham counties in northeast Georgia. The special primary election pitted incumbent Republican Gasaway against Republican challenger Erwin.
They faced off in a May primary, but some eligible voters got the wrong ballot for a house race in an adjacent district. A court ordered Tuesday’s do-over.
When the two candidates awoke Wednesday, Erwin had three more votes than Gasaway, out of 7378 votes cast. Three votes.
"This is America," said Jason Hensley, a chicken farmer who voted Tuesday. "A lot of people died for that right for people to vote" which, he said, feels especially significant now. "According to that election? Oh, yes."
11Alive's Doug Richards met Hensley in a hardware store parking lot near downtown Homer. Tony Johnson, a lifelong non-voter, was nearby.
"I don’t like to vote for liars," Johnson said of politicians generally. "I look at it, either way, I have to deal with what I have to deal with anyway regardless of who’s in office."
We were unable to reach Gasaway, who has been in the legislature six years. The votes will get certified Friday. Erwin says there are still some provisional votes out there – less than a dozen – which could yet change the outcome and the current three-vote margin.