Proving every vote does count, Irwin County Sheriff Donnie Youghn was victorious by 10 votes — 965-955 — over rival Lanny Dean in Tuesday’s Democratic Party primary.

Irwin County Probate Court Judge Allen Gay said the total could be even closer as three provisional ballots have yet to be counted.

Reports say Dean led through most of the night, but Youghn won by capturing the Ocilla precinct.

After the late night, election officials came back to work Wednesday morning.

“With the total difference less than 1 percent, we had an automatic recount this morning,” Gay said.

Youghn has been the sheriff for a number of years in Irwin County, while Dean has worked in law enforcement in the community, as well as serving as an investigator in District Attorney Paul Bowden’s office.

The race between the two caused a big turnout in the county as election officials said 2,028 of the county’s 4,470 registered voters came out for the election. That is a turnout of 45.37 percent.

After the close Democratic primary, Youghn will now face a challenge from Republican Tracy Paulk in the November general election.

In Irwin County’s two other contested races, a pair of incumbent Democratic commissioners easily won back their seats.

In Post 1, Danny Haire retained against Louell Morris, 306-103, while in Post 2, Larry P. Harper defeated Bruce Daniels, 483-144.

Haire and Harper will both retain their seats, as no Republicans ran for the posts in Tuesday’s election.