The former DeKalb County CEO, Vernon Jones, joins Justice Unfiltered to discuss the 315,000 unsigned Fulton County ballots, paper ballot reform, and his vision for restoring public trust in Georgia elections.
Georgia election integrity has become one of the most debated topics in American politics. And few people are more passionate about it than Vernon Jones. The former DeKalb County CEO and Georgia State Representative recently sat down with A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds CEO Daniel Matalon and host Tug Cowart on the Justice Unfiltered podcast. Jones laid out exactly why he’s running for Georgia Secretary of State in the May 2026 Republican primary.
His message was clear. “Trust in our elections has been shaken,” Jones said. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
The 315,000 Unsigned Ballot Controversy
Jones wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room. In December 2025, Fulton County officials admitted that approximately 315,000 early voting ballots from the 2020 election were certified without the required poll worker signatures on tabulator tapes.
Georgia law requires that poll managers and two witnesses sign each tabulator tape. These tapes verify that vote counts match voter numbers. They are a critical part of the chain of custody process.
“They call it a clerical error,” Jones said on the podcast. “A clerical error? 315,000 votes? That makes those ballots invalid.”
The Georgia State Election Board voted 3-0 to refer the case to the Attorney General’s Office. Fulton County could face fines of up to $5,000 per unsigned tape. That could total more than $670,000.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger responded by saying, “A clerical error at the end of the day does not erase valid, legal votes.” But for Jones and many Georgia voters, the explanation falls short.
Who Is Vernon Jones?
Vernon Jones brings decades of experience to the Secretary of State race. He served as DeKalb County CEO from 2001 to 2009. He oversaw a budget of roughly $3 billion and managed about 7,000 employees. He also served 12 years in the Georgia House of Representatives.
“I’m the only candidate that actually ran a government,” Jones told Matalon and Cowart. “Not a chairman. A chief executive officer. I ran law enforcement, fire rescue, planning, economic development, and elections.”
Jones started his career as a Democrat. He switched to the Republican Party in January 2021 after endorsing President Donald Trump. He spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention and has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s policies ever since.
Born in Laurel Hill, North Carolina, Jones grew up on a farm. He describes his upbringing as rooted in discipline, hard work, and faith.
“My dad was a military man who served in Third Army under General Patton,” Jones said. “We didn’t believe the government owes you anything. You had to work hard and pray hard.”
A Crowded Republican Primary for Georgia Election Integrity
Jones faces a competitive Republican primary. The other candidates include:
- Gabriel Sterling, former chief operating officer of the Secretary of State’s office under Brad Raffensperger
- State Rep. Tim Fleming, who chairs a committee studying Georgia’s election system
- Kelvin King, a former U.S. Senate candidate and construction company owner
Sterling rose to national prominence in 2020 when he defended Georgia’s election results against fraud allegations. He has been a target of criticism from Trump supporters who question the state’s voting machines.
Jones took direct aim at Sterling during the podcast. “He was the chief operating officer. He oversaw those elections. He was responsible for them,” Jones said. “You can’t just say, oh, clerical error. No. There’s got to be some accountability.”
The Republican primary is set for May 19, 2026. The general election will take place on November 3, 2026.
Paper Ballots and Voting Machine Concerns
One of Jones’s key campaign promises is pushing for paper ballots instead of Georgia’s current electronic voting system.
“We can track a package around the world to the second,” Jones said. “But we can’t track ballots?”
Georgia currently uses touchscreen voting machines manufactured by Dominion Voting Systems. The state paid $104 million for the system, which was implemented before the 2020 election. Critics argue that machine-marked ballots are more vulnerable to manipulation than hand-marked paper ballots.
Jones said he would involve the public in any decision about new voting equipment. “I would require those vendors to go around the state and hold public meetings,” he explained. “Let the public understand what your system does. Let them try to tear that thing apart.”
State Rep. Tim Fleming has also called for a trial of hand-marked paper ballots. The issue appears to be gaining traction among Republican candidates.
The Trump-Raffensperger Phone Call
Jones also discussed the infamous January 2021 phone call between President Trump and Secretary of State Raffensperger. In that call, Trump asked Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn Georgia’s election results.
The call was secretly recorded and later leaked to the media. Jones questioned the intent behind the recording.
“If you want to record the phone call, then make a public announcement to everybody on the phone,” Jones said. “But no. One side knew what they were doing.”
Jones noted that the Washington Post later issued a correction about its initial reporting on the call. He argued that the recording led to unfair legal consequences for Trump and his allies while others faced no accountability.
Beyond Elections: Immigration, Bail Reform, and Law Enforcement
The conversation on Justice Unfiltered covered more than just elections. Jones and Matalon found common ground on several issues affecting Georgia communities.
Immigration and Sanctuary Cities: Jones criticized sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. He pointed to the recent conviction of a federal judge who helped an undocumented immigrant evade ICE agents. “She’s now a felon,” Jones said.
Bail Reform: Matalon, who operates A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds and A 2nd Chance Monitoring, shared his perspective on bail reform. “Bail reform is good if it’s done right where people still are held accountable,” Jones agreed. He warned against the “cashless bail” policies adopted in some major cities.
Law Enforcement Support: Both Jones and Matalon emphasized the importance of supporting law enforcement. “Back in the blue is important,” Jones said. “We always look at them protecting us, but we have to protect them too.”
What Jones Would Do on Day One
Jones believes his executive experience sets him apart from other candidates. He compared the Secretary of State’s office (with a $45 million budget and 345 employees) to DeKalb County (with a $3 billion budget and 7,000 employees).
“Day one, I can hit the ground running,” Jones said. “I know a lot of things going to have to go through the legislature. I’ve served with those guys. I know the leadership. I know how legislators think.”
He outlined several priorities:
- Advocating for paper ballots
- Strengthening voter ID laws
- Limiting mail-in voting
- Holding public hearings on voting equipment changes
- Working with both parties to restore confidence in elections
“I’ve been a Democrat. I’ve been a Republican. I’ve always been conservative,” Jones said. “If I’m fortunate to get elected, it’s not just about serving those who elected me. It’s about earning the support of those that didn’t elect me by doing a good job.”
The Cover-Up Is Worse Than the Crime
Jones closed the interview with a personal story from his childhood on the farm. His father once sent him and his brothers to plant peas in a field. When their father left, the boys threw the peas into the woods instead of planting them.
Three weeks later, Jones’s father discovered what happened. “He said, boys, I’m not going to whip you because you threw them out there. I’m going to whip you for the cover-up. You lied.”
For Jones, the lesson applies directly to Georgia’s election controversies.
“Do I believe there was some cover-up when happened in our election? Absolutely,” he said. “The cover-up is worse than the crime.”
Georgia election integrity remains a defining issue for the 2026 race. Vernon Jones is betting that voters want accountability, transparency, and a Secretary of State who isn’t afraid to ask tough questions.
“Georgia is a great state to live in,” Jones said. “Some of the greatest people on Earth live here. They deserve someone who’s going to fight for them.”
Listen to the Full Episode
Hear the complete conversation on the Justice Unfiltered podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.
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About Justice Unfiltered
Justice Unfiltered is presented by A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds on Extra 106.3, Atlanta’s only conservative news and talk station. The podcast features candid conversations with law enforcement leaders, attorneys, elected officials, and community voices. Topics include bail reform, court processes, public safety, and the justice system.
A 2nd Chance Monitoring provides electronic monitoring and alcohol monitoring services across Georgia and Alabama, helping defendants stay compliant while awaiting trial.