Affidavit ballots did not affect the outcome of three Monticelloaldermen races that were too close to call after the municipalelections Tuesday, officials said today.

“The affidavits didn’t change anything,” said Mayor DavidNichols.

Affidavits could have determined who won races in Wards One,Three and Four, where the number of affidavit votes could possiblyhave bridged the gap between the leading candidates.

An affidavit ballot is a ballot cast by a person whose name doesnot appear in the registered voters roll book. The voter is allowedto fill out a ballot, but the ballot is set aside and not countedwith the others, pending determination of the voter’s eligibilityto cast a ballot.

Election commissioners met Wednesday morning to count theaffidavit ballots and certify the election.

In complete and certified totals, Jerry Goode retained his seatas Ward One alderman by defeating Robert Collier by a final tallyof 32 to 26. Goode was the only other incumbent seeking to retainhis office.

In Wards Three, Four and Five, incumbent aldermen decided not toseek re-election.

In Ward Three, James Wilson and Greg Sutton split the valid 12of 13 affidavit votes to give Wilson the win on a 38 to 26vote.

Although John Catt in Ward Four captured a majority of theaffidavit vote, receiving six of the eight valid ballots, he wasunable to overcome the lead Thomas Kevin Garrett gained in openvoting. Garrett was proclaimed the winner on a vote of 35 to Catt’s30.

In Ward Five, Craig “Bowie” Davis defeated a challenge by threeother opponents Tuesday to claim the alderman’s seat. Daviscaptured 57 votes followed by Jimmy Ray Hutchinson (21), TonyNorwood (20) and Glynn Vince (10). The nine affidavit ballotsreceived in Ward Five did not affect the outcome of the race.

Nichols and Ward Two Alderman Steve Mormon were unopposed forre-election. The mayor said he was disappointed with the voterturnout Tuesday.

“There was approximately a 36 percent voter turnout. I thinkthat’s terrible,” he said.

Nichols said he felt that although there were three contestedaldermen races on the ballot, there were not enough candidates todrive voters to the polls.

He cited Ward Five, where voter turnout was nearly 50 percent,as an example of how a large number of candidates can bring out thevoters.