The Final Tally examines the long afterlife of the 2020 presidential election through the lens of Georgia, a state that became a focal point in America’s ongoing battle over election legitimacy, public trust and democratic institutions.
The series begins with a startling development in 2026: the FBI’s seizure of Fulton County’s 2020 election records, including ballots, tabulator tapes and voter data. From there, the series traces the years-long campaign to challenge election results and explores why those disputes continue to shape politics today.
Produced and reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the series investigates three central questions: What happened? Why does it matter? And what comes next?
Through original reporting, public records and firsthand accounts, AJC journalists follow the path from recounts, conspiracy theories and threats against election workers to the pressure campaign that culminated in then former President Donald Trump’s call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Across three episodes, the series explores how Fulton County became ground zero in the national fight over election trust. The final episode brings listeners into the present, featuring a key figure with unique access to the story and providing a real-time perspective on how the 2026 midterm elections unfolded.
