Brookhaven Voters Approve Cityhood

(UPDATED: August 1, 4:32 am) Brookhaven voters approved cityhood on Tuesday by a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent.

Final results from the DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections Division were reported after 4:30 am Wednesday morning, after about 5,100 absentee ballots had to be entered by hand because they were damaged by a machine that opened the ballots.

Earlier Tuesday evening, BrookhavenYES was "cautiously optimistic" about the results of Tuesday's cityhood vote. The organization refused to claim victory in its quest for Brookhaven cityhood, waiting instead until all the votes had been counted.

"After the vote has been verified by the county, we'll catch our breath and get to work building a city," J. Max Davis, chairman of BrookhavenYES, told Patch earlier in the evening. "Even those who were opposed to cityhood are welcome to join us."

, comprising about , had the opportunity to decide the issue on Tuesday, July 31.

Brookhaven Cityhood Referendum

55% - Yes; 5,939
45% - No; 4,928

12 of 12 precincts reporting