Raffensperger says Seminole County's failure to upload a memory card reversed a Georgia House race; county says no card was missing
Georgia's secretary of state says Seminole County failed to upload a memory card holding about 388 Election Day votes, reversing the unofficial lead in House District 154. The county's elections supervisor says no card was missing.
BackgroundHow are U.S. election results certified?
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said on November 6 that Seminole County had not uploaded a memory card holding about 388 Election Day votes, and that adding them put Republican Rep. Gerald Greene 262 votes ahead of Democrat Harry James in House District 154. The county's elections supervisor says no card was missing and that the county's election software had not finished processing the last precinct's card.
Background: How are U.S. election results certified?
Read the full background
Georgia House District 154 covers nine counties in the southwest corner of the state. Rep. Gerald Greene of Cuthbert, the Republican incumbent, faced Democrat Harry James in the November 3, 2026 general election. After election night, the state's unofficial count showed James ahead by 58 votes.
On November 6, the Secretary of State's office said routine post-election checks had found about 388 more voters checked in at Seminole County polling places on Election Day than ballots reported as cast. After the office alerted the county, the Seminole County Board of Elections determined that a memory card containing election results had not been uploaded into the county's election management system. With those results included, Greene led by 262 votes. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger opened an investigation into how the card was overlooked and whether required procedures were followed. Capitol Beat reported that the state's results site showed Greene with 10,193 votes to James's 9,932 that night.
On November 7, Seminole County Elections Supervisor Ron Foskey said no memory card had been missing or found. He said all cards were accounted for on election night, that the county's election management system had not completed its program for the last precinct's card, and that the election-night report was marked unofficial and incomplete. According to The Donalsonville News, completing that step added 388 ballots to the county's report.
Democrats appeared on track to win a majority in the 180-seat state House for the first time in two decades. Capitol Beat reported that without Greene's seat they would hold 92 seats, one more than the 91 needed to pass legislation, and that a runoff for Rep. Mike Cheokas's seat could add one. Counties had until Monday, November 9, to certify their results. As of November 8, we could not locate a public response from James, and we did not find a request for a recount or a legal challenge to the result.
People in this case
Brad RaffenspergerDirectly involved
Kyle BeckerCommented
Timeline
6 timeline entries on this page. Dates: November 4, 2026 to November 10, 2026
November 2026
Unofficial results show Harry James ahead of Gerald Greene in House District 154
By Wednesday, November 4, unofficial results showed Democrat Harry James ahead of Republican Rep. Gerald Greene in House District 154, and Greene had been declared the loser. WCTV reported that James led by 58 votes.
[01]Seminole County Election News UPDATE
The Donalsonville News, the local paper in Seminole County, prints a November 7 announcement from Seminole County Elections Supervisor Ron Foskey disputing reports that a memory card was missing. It reports that the county's election management system had not completed the step that validates and publishes results for the last precinct, and that the completed report added 388 ballots to the election-night total.
Seminole County Election News UPDATEFull article, including the elections supervisor's full announcement[02]Memory card with uncounted ballots found in Seminole County; Georgia SOS launches investigation
WCTV, the Tallahassee station covering southwest Georgia, reports the Secretary of State's release and says the House District 154 race had been separated by 58 votes in favor of Democrat Harry James before the new votes put Republican Gerald Greene ahead by 262. It reports that no one at the Seminole County Board of Elections was available for comment on Friday afternoon.
Secretary of State says Seminole County did not upload a memory card; Greene moves ahead
Source release
The Georgia Secretary of State's office said post-election checks found about 388 more Seminole County voters checked in on Election Day than ballots reported, and that the county board then found a memory card had not been uploaded. With those results included, Greene led by 262 votes, and Raffensperger opened an investigation.
[03]Raffensperger Opens Investigation into Seminole County's Late Upload of Election Day Results
Press release from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office announcing an investigation into Seminole County's late upload of Election Day results. It says post-election checks found about 388 more voters checked in than ballots reported, that the county board then determined a memory card had not been uploaded, and that Rep. Gerald Greene now leads the House District 154 race by 262 votes. It quotes Raffensperger and gives the county's Monday certification deadline.
[04]CBS News
CBS News Atlanta reports the Secretary of State's investigation into Seminole County's late upload of several hundred Election Day votes and quotes Raffensperger's statement in full. It reports that the state's unofficial totals had shown Democrat Harry James slightly ahead of Republican Rep. Gerald Greene in House District 154 and that officials say Greene now leads by 262 votes.
Georgia secretary of state investigating county's late upload of votes that flips House seat · CBS NewsFull articleState results site shows Greene ahead 10,193 to 9,932
Capitol Beat reported that on Friday night the Secretary of State's website showed Greene with 10,193 votes to James's 9,932 in House District 154, a difference of 261 votes.
[05]Missing memory card temporarily changed apparent outcome in state House race
Capitol Beat News Service reports that the Secretary of State's website on Friday night showed Rep. Gerald Greene with 10,193 votes to Harry James's 9,932 in House District 154. It reports that Democrats appear on track to win 92 of the House's 180 seats without Greene's, one more than the 91 needed to pass legislation, and that a runoff for Rep. Mike Cheokas's seat could change the count.
Seminole County elections supervisor says no memory card was missing
Reaction
In an announcement printed by The Donalsonville News, Elections Supervisor Ron Foskey said all memory cards were accounted for on election night and that the county's election management system had not finished processing the last precinct's card. The paper reported that the completed report added 388 ballots to the election-night total.
[01]Seminole County Election News UPDATE
The Donalsonville News, the local paper in Seminole County, prints a November 7 announcement from Seminole County Elections Supervisor Ron Foskey disputing reports that a memory card was missing. It reports that the county's election management system had not completed the step that validates and publishes results for the last precinct, and that the completed report added 388 ballots to the election-night total.
Seminole County Election News UPDATEFull article, including the elections supervisor's full announcementSeminole County certifies its results; state says the card was overlooked, not missing
Incident
Seminole County certifies its results by the state's 5 p.m. Monday deadline with the memory card's votes included. FOX 5 Atlanta reports that the Secretary of State's office confirmed its investigation had concluded and that the card was overlooked, not missing. After the deadline, the state results site lists Greene with 10,194 votes to James's 9,941, still marked unofficial, which would leave Democrats with 92 of the 180 House seats.
[06]How a 388-vote discrepancy changed who won a Georgia House seat
FOX 5 Atlanta report on November 9, 2026, saying the Secretary of State's office confirmed that day that its investigation had concluded and that the memory card was overlooked, not missing, and that Seminole County's results were certified by the 5 p.m. Monday deadline.
[07]Newsweek
Newsweek report updated after the November 9, 2026, county certification deadline. It says the Secretary of State's results site lists Gerald Greene with 10,194 votes and Harry James with 9,941 in House District 154, still marked unofficial, and that Greene's lead would leave Democrats with 92 of the 180 House seats.
Georgia House race flips to GOP by 253 votes after memory card discovery · NewsweekFull article, updated November 9, 2026, 10:05 p.m. ETState says its review of the Seminole County count is still open
A Secretary of State's office spokesperson tells WTXL that investigators still need to interview Seminole County election officials and review records, and that a report will go to the State Election Board. The office gives no timeline. The account differs from FOX 5 Atlanta's report a day earlier that the investigation had concluded.
[08]Seminole County certifies House District 154 results, but Georgia's investigation into the reporting issue stays open
WTXL ABC 27 report on November 10, 2026. A Secretary of State's office spokesperson says the final precinct's memory card results have been uploaded and the county has certified, but investigators still need to interview county election officials and review records before a report goes to the State Election Board.
[06]How a 388-vote discrepancy changed who won a Georgia House seat
FOX 5 Atlanta report on November 9, 2026, saying the Secretary of State's office confirmed that day that its investigation had concluded and that the memory card was overlooked, not missing, and that Seminole County's results were certified by the 5 p.m. Monday deadline.
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
The Seminole County Board of Elections did not upload a memory card containing Election Day results into the county's election management system, leaving about 388 ballots out of the county's reported count until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap.
What is disputed
The Secretary of State's office says post-election checks found about 388 more voters checked in at Seminole County polling places on Election Day than ballots reported as cast, and that the county board found the memory card had not been uploaded after the state alerted it. Seminole County Elections Supervisor Ron Foskey says no memory card was missing, that all cards were accounted for on election night, and that the county's election management system had not finished processing the last precinct's card.
Sources (3)
- Georgia secretary of state investigating county's late upload of votes that flips House seat · CBS NewsFull article
- Seminole County Election News UPDATEFull article, including the elections supervisor's full announcement
Disputed claim
No memory card was missing in Seminole County: all cards were accounted for on election night, and the county's election management system had not completed its program for the last precinct's memory card.
What is disputed
The Secretary of State's office said the Seminole County Board of Elections determined that a memory card containing election results had not been uploaded into the county's election management system, and that its investigation will examine how the card was overlooked and whether required procedures were followed.
Sources (2)
- Seminole County Election News UPDATEFull article, including the elections supervisor's full announcement
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
6 responses. Newest first.
Harry JamesDemocratic nominee for Georgia House District 154, in a phone interview with WTXL ABC 27 Before this statement
WTXL reports that differing explanations from election officials have raised questions about how the House District 154 results were reported, and that Seminole County's board is seeking guidance from the Secretary of State's office.
"It's not Harry James that loses. It's the citizens ... when our democracy doesn't work the way it's supposed to"
CondemnedResponding to: The Seminole County Board of Elections did not upload a memory card containing Election Day results into the county's election management system, leaving about 388 ballots out of the county's reported count until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap.
Full statement and sources
In a phone interview with WTXL, James says the reporting problem goes beyond the result of his race and that citizens lose when the election process does not work as it should.
After the statement
James says the episode creates doubt in the election process. WTXL reports that it asked Rep. Gerald Greene for a response and had not heard back.
What's next for Georgia House District 154? Seminole County turns to state after vote count flips raceArticle and on-air report; Harry James phone interview from about 0:53 to 1:22 of the videoWhy this label?
The reference point is Seminole County's handling of its November 3, 2026 Election Day count, which left about 388 ballots out of the reported results until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap on November 6. James, who led on election night, says citizens lose when the process does not work as it is supposed to and that the episode creates doubt, which criticizes how the count was handled.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Ben AdidaExecutive director of VotingWorks, posting on Bluesky Before this statement
Adida opens by asking how a found memory card of uncounted ballots can change the winner of a race.
"Ballot tabulators scan paper ballots and store the data on memory cards. They're not connected to the Internet or to each other, so forgetting a memory card happens."
MinimizedResponding to: The Seminole County Board of Elections did not upload a memory card containing Election Day results into the county's election management system, leaving about 388 ballots out of the county's reported count until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap.
Full statement and sources
Adida explains that ballot tabulators store results on memory cards that are not connected to the internet or to each other, and says forgetting a memory card happens.
After the statement
He links The Current's report that a missing memory card in Seminole County reversed the apparent outcome of a Georgia state House race and put Greene ahead of James by 262 votes.
Ben Adida on Bluesky: how a found memory card can change a race · Ben AdidaFull postWhy this label?
The reference point is Seminole County's handling of its November 3, 2026 Election Day count, which left about 388 ballots out of the reported results until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap on November 6. Adida treats a forgotten memory card as an expected risk of offline tabulators, which downplays the seriousness of the county's omission rather than criticizing it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Gabriel SterlingFormer chief operating officer and deputy secretary of state in the Georgia Secretary of State's office, replying on X Before this statement
Sterling replies to a post saying elections are haphazard and careless and that cheating is easy when elections are sloppy. He opens by calling it an ill-informed comment.
"This election in Georgia and nationwide was the smoothest, most well run one likely ever. This issue was discovered in canvassing which is in part why it is done to get to certification. There are over 10,000 election jurisdictions, with nearly 30k polling locations. In GA, nearly 2,600. This was a single memory card. It was a close election. Humans again are always the weakest parts of the system. That is training people and robust processes are so necessary. The outcome is what the voters intended and that is the most important point here."
MinimizedResponding to: The Seminole County Board of Elections did not upload a memory card containing Election Day results into the county's election management system, leaving about 388 ballots out of the county's reported count until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap.
Full statement and sources
Replying on X to a post that called elections careless, Sterling says the election was among the smoothest ever, that the Seminole County issue was caught in canvassing, that it involved a single memory card in a close race, and that the outcome is what voters intended.
After the statement
On November 6, Sterling had posted that post-election canvassing found a memory card of Election Day votes from Seminole County had not been uploaded, that it had since been uploaded, and that Greene was now winning the race.
Gabriel Sterling on X: reply on the Seminole County memory card · Gabriel SterlingFull postGabriel Sterling on X: Seminole County memory card had not been uploaded · Gabriel SterlingFull postWhy this label?
The reference point is Seminole County's handling of its November 3, 2026 Election Day count, which left about 388 ballots out of the reported results until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap on November 6. Sterling acknowledges a human error in the county's count but downplays it as a single memory card in a well-run election that canvassing caught, and says the corrected outcome reflects voters' intent.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Ron FoskeySeminole County elections supervisor, in an announcement printed by The Donalsonville News Before this statement
The Donalsonville News says Foskey made the announcement to clarify what it calls incorrect information about the Seminole County election being reported by media outlets and on social media.
"There was NO memory card "discovered," "missing," or "found". All precinct card chain of custody protocols were followed, and all memory cards were accounted for by the Seminole County Board of Elections on election night."
Challenged the characterizationResponding to: No memory card was missing in Seminole County: all cards were accounted for on election night, and the county's election management system had not completed its program for the last precinct's memory card.
Full statement and sources
In a November 7 announcement, Foskey says no memory card was discovered, missing or found, that chain-of-custody protocols were followed and every card was accounted for on election night, and that the county's election management system had not finished processing the last precinct's card.
After the statement
Foskey says the election management system did not complete its program for the last precinct's memory card, so the election summary report marked "Unofficial and Incomplete" was just that, and that the ballots, scanner tape and memory card data agreed on 2,911 ballots. The paper reports that completing the step produced a final report 388 ballots higher than the election-night report.
Seminole County Election News UPDATEFull article, including the elections supervisor's full announcementWhy this label?
The reference point is Seminole County's handling of its November 3, 2026 Election Day count, which left about 388 ballots out of the reported results until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap on November 6. Foskey disputes the account that a memory card was missing and then found, saying the county accounted for every card and that an unfinished software step left the election-night report incomplete. He disputes how the episode has been described rather than arguing that the late count was acceptable.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Kyle BeckerConservative writer and host of the Becker Brief podcast, posting on XBefore this statement
Becker writes that a missing memory card flipped the apparent outcome of a Georgia House race, with Greene going from 58 votes behind to 262 ahead after uncounted votes were found in Seminole County, and that Democrats would have a one-seat majority if the result holds.
"Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has launched an investigation into the error. Maybe Democrats can agree that we should now go to ALL PAPER BALLOTS?"
CondemnedResponding to: The Seminole County Board of Elections did not upload a memory card containing Election Day results into the county's election management system, leaving about 388 ballots out of the county's reported count until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap.
Full statement and sources
Becker posts that a missing memory card flipped the apparent outcome of the House District 154 race, calls it an error under investigation, and asks whether Democrats can now agree to move to all paper ballots.
After the statement
The Secretary of State's office describes Georgia's voting system as a paper ballot system, and Seminole County's elections supervisor said the county's ballots, scanner tape and memory card data agreed on its total.
Kyle Becker on X: missing memory card flips Georgia House race · Kyle BeckerFull postRaffensperger Opens Investigation into Seminole County's Late Upload of Election Day ResultsFull releaseSeminole County Election News UPDATEFull article, including the elections supervisor's full announcementWhy this label?
The reference point is Seminole County's handling of its November 3, 2026 Election Day count, which left about 388 ballots out of the reported results until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap on November 6. Becker calls the omission an error and presents it as a reason to move to all paper ballots, criticizing a count that depended on a memory card being uploaded.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Brad RaffenspergerGeorgia secretary of state, in a press release from his officeDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The release says post-election checks found about 388 more voters checked in at Seminole County polling places on Election Day than ballots reported as cast, and that the county board then determined a memory card had not been uploaded into its election management system.
"Our office identified a significant discrepancy, alerted county officials, and uncovered a failure to properly upload election results. This oversight didn't just affect the numbers - it changed who was leading an election. That is unacceptable, and we intend to find out exactly how it happened."
CondemnedResponding to: The Seminole County Board of Elections did not upload a memory card containing Election Day results into the county's election management system, leaving about 388 ballots out of the county's reported count until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap.
Full statement and sources
In a November 6 release, Raffensperger says his office found the discrepancy and uncovered a failure to properly upload election results in Seminole County, calls the oversight unacceptable because it changed who was leading the race, and opens an investigation.
After the statement
The release says the investigation will examine how the memory card was overlooked, whether required election procedures were followed and what corrective measures are needed. Raffensperger adds that even a relatively small number of unreported ballots can change the outcome of a close election.
Raffensperger Opens Investigation into Seminole County's Late Upload of Election Day ResultsFull releaseGeorgia secretary of state investigating county's late upload of votes that flips House seat · CBS NewsFull articleWhy this label?
The reference point is Seminole County's handling of its November 3, 2026 Election Day count, which left about 388 ballots out of the reported results until the Secretary of State's office flagged the gap on November 6. Raffensperger calls the county's failure to properly upload its results an oversight that is unacceptable, which criticizes the handling under review.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(13)
Official statement
Raffensperger Opens Investigation into Seminole County's Late Upload of Election Day Results
Relevant passage: Full release
About this source
Press release from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office announcing an investigation into Seminole County's late upload of Election Day results. It says post-election checks found about 388 more voters checked in than ballots reported, that the county board then determined a memory card had not been uploaded, and that Rep. Gerald Greene now leads the House District 154 race by 262 votes. It quotes Raffensperger and gives the county's Monday certification deadline.
- Author
- Georgia Secretary of State's Office
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Georgia House race flips to GOP by 253 votes after memory card discovery
Relevant passage: Full article, updated November 9, 2026, 10:05 p.m. ET
About this source
Newsweek report updated after the November 9, 2026, county certification deadline. It says the Secretary of State's results site lists Gerald Greene with 10,194 votes and Harry James with 9,941 in House District 154, still marked unofficial, and that Greene's lead would leave Democrats with 92 of the 180 House seats.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Seminole County certifies House District 154 results, but Georgia's investigation into the reporting issue stays open
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
WTXL ABC 27 report on November 10, 2026. A Secretary of State's office spokesperson says the final precinct's memory card results have been uploaded and the county has certified, but investigators still need to interview county election officials and review records before a report goes to the State Election Board.
- Author
- Vanessa Lawrence, WTXL ABC 27
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
How a 388-vote discrepancy changed who won a Georgia House seat
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
FOX 5 Atlanta report on November 9, 2026, saying the Secretary of State's office confirmed that day that its investigation had concluded and that the memory card was overlooked, not missing, and that Seminole County's results were certified by the 5 p.m. Monday deadline.
- Author
- FOX 5 Atlanta
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
What's next for Georgia House District 154? Seminole County turns to state after vote count flips race
Relevant passage: Article and on-air report; Harry James phone interview from about 0:53 to 1:22 of the video
About this source
WTXL ABC 27 report from Donalsonville on November 9, 2026. Seminole County's Board of Elections says the county attorney is seeking guidance from the Secretary of State's office, and Democratic candidate Harry James says in a phone interview that the reporting problem goes beyond his race and creates doubt in the process.
- Author
- Vanessa Lawrence, WTXL ABC 27
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Gabriel Sterling on X: Seminole County memory card had not been uploaded
About this source
Gabriel Sterling posts on X that post-election canvassing found that a memory card of Election Day votes had not been uploaded from Seminole County, that it has now been uploaded, and that Rep. Gerald Greene is winning a race he had trailed since election night. The post quotes a Greg Bluestein post reporting the update from the Secretary of State's office.
- Author
- Gabriel Sterling
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Ben Adida on Bluesky: how a found memory card can change a race
Relevant passage: Full post
About this source
Ben Adida, executive director of VotingWorks, explains on Bluesky that ballot tabulators scan paper ballots and store the results on memory cards that are not networked, and links The Current's report on the Seminole County card.
- Author
- Ben Adida
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Kyle Becker on X: missing memory card flips Georgia House race
About this source
Kyle Becker posts on X that a missing memory card flipped the apparent outcome of the Georgia House District 154 race, that Raffensperger has opened an investigation, and asks whether Democrats can now agree to all paper ballots.
- Author
- Kyle Becker
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Gabriel Sterling on X: reply on the Seminole County memory card
About this source
Gabriel Sterling, a former chief operating officer of the Georgia Secretary of State's office, replies on X to a user who called elections careless. He says the Seminole County issue was found in canvassing, calls it a single memory card in a close election and says the outcome is what voters intended.
- Author
- Gabriel Sterling
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Missing memory card temporarily changed apparent outcome in state House race
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Capitol Beat News Service reports that the Secretary of State's website on Friday night showed Rep. Gerald Greene with 10,193 votes to Harry James's 9,932 in House District 154. It reports that Democrats appear on track to win 92 of the House's 180 seats without Greene's, one more than the 91 needed to pass legislation, and that a runoff for Rep. Mike Cheokas's seat could change the count.
- Author
- Ty Tagami
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Seminole County Election News UPDATE
Relevant passage: Full article, including the elections supervisor's full announcement
About this source
The Donalsonville News, the local paper in Seminole County, prints a November 7 announcement from Seminole County Elections Supervisor Ron Foskey disputing reports that a memory card was missing. It reports that the county's election management system had not completed the step that validates and publishes results for the last precinct, and that the completed report added 388 ballots to the election-night total.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Memory card with uncounted ballots found in Seminole County; Georgia SOS launches investigation
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
WCTV, the Tallahassee station covering southwest Georgia, reports the Secretary of State's release and says the House District 154 race had been separated by 58 votes in favor of Democrat Harry James before the new votes put Republican Gerald Greene ahead by 262. It reports that no one at the Seminole County Board of Elections was available for comment on Friday afternoon.
- Author
- WCTV Staff
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Georgia secretary of state investigating county's late upload of votes that flips House seat
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
CBS News Atlanta reports the Secretary of State's investigation into Seminole County's late upload of several hundred Election Day votes and quotes Raffensperger's statement in full. It reports that the state's unofficial totals had shown Democrat Harry James slightly ahead of Republican Rep. Gerald Greene in House District 154 and that officials say Greene now leads by 262 votes.
- Author
- Dan Raby
- Published
- Accessed
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Raffensperger says Seminole County's failure to upload a memory card reversed a Georgia House race; county says no card was missing
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/seminole-county-memory-card-georgia-house-district-154
The Dispute Index. "Raffensperger says Seminole County's failure to upload a memory card reversed a Georgia House race; county says no card was missing". First published: 2026-11-09. Last updated: 2026-11-10. https://disputeindex.com/cases/seminole-county-memory-card-georgia-house-district-154