TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jun 1, 2026

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert has filed a petition in Shelby County Chancery Court challenging the results of May's primary election, alleging that uncounted absentee ballots could have affected the outcome of the race, Local Memphis reports. Halbert, who lost her primary contest by 126 votes, claims in the petition that approximately 1,700 absentee ballots were cast but not counted. According to the filing, the number of allegedly uncounted ballots exceeds the certified margin of victory and could call the election results into question. Halbert also alleges she has been denied access to election records and materials needed to determine whether all legally cast ballots were included in the certified results. The petition asks the court to order the preservation of all materials related to the May 5 primary election, review the Shelby County Election Commission's reconciliation procedures and require reconciliation of certified vote totals with election records and tally materials.