Reginald Johnson will retain his Jefferson County Justice of the Peace District 3 seat after a recount revealed no changes to the original, unofficial tally.
Johnson defeated Joseph O’Neal 260-256 following the March 3 preferential primary election to win the Democratic nomination. Since no one filed to run in another party, Johnson will begin a new term on the Quorum Court on Jan. 1, 2027.
“I think the (Jefferson County) Election Commission took their time and carefully tallied the votes,” Johnson said. “They did it by hand.”
Indeed, poll workers gathered at the commission headquarters in downtown Pine Bluff to count the ballots by hand. Commission chairman Michael Adam said the state Election Board did a hand count as it would be faster than placing each ballot at a time in a machine.
“As far as I know, it’s been the first (recount) in a while,” Johnson said. “I think they handled it professionally and with integrity, so everything is good.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The county Election Commission or a candidate may call for a recount within 48 hours of an election, Adam said; otherwise, the requesting candidate must pay a fee of 25 cents per ballot, up to $2,500. All the final tallies are expected to be certified Friday evening, which would mark 10 days after an election.
“When I found out there was a recount, I didn’t understand why because the machines are accurate,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t really worried about it. I had prayed about it, and I left it alone.”
O’Neal said he was satisfied with the process and talked with Johnson afterward, echoing Johnson’s thoughts about the integrity.
“It’s about Jefferson County at the end of the day,” O’Neal said. “I told (Johnson) he has my full support.”