RALEIGH, NC — The North Carolina State Board of Elections released a statement today outlining procedures currently underway throughout the state regarding the recent general election and the race for governor.
The following processes were laid out in the State Board’s release:
County Canvass
State law established Friday (Nov. 18) as the date for local certification of election results in the state’s 100 counties. This initial canvass of results confirms that all votes have been counted and tabulated correctly. That is followed by a final certification of statewide totals by the State Board of Elections. Counties may, however, delay canvass for a “reasonable time” if the initial counting has not been completed. Many, if not all, counties are expected to do just that.
Postponing canvass is necessary when certain decisions have not been made regarding provisional ballots, certain types of election protests are pending, or a delay is necessary to comply with a judicial order. The counties have good reason to extend their canvasses this year, including a recent court order.
In the final days of early voting, a federal court required election officials and the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to create a new review process for certain voters who claim they registered or changed their address at the DMV, even if no record of registration could be found. The State Board acted immediately to create necessary procedures and to print special materials for North Carolina’s 2,700 precincts in the week before Election Day. The order requires counties to approve a provisional ballot if the voter affirms she either registered or changed her address at the DMV, unless DMV can locate a signed form declining voter registration services during a certain period of time. The process of locating that data remains ongoing.
Recounts
After counties canvass, a statewide candidate who trails by 10,000 votes or fewer may demand a recount by noonon the second business day. If a recount is demanded, the counties would conduct recounts individually in public view.
The State Board of Elections is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, for the statewide canvass.
Protests
Meanwhile, a number of election protests have been filed with county boards of elections across the state. If the protest concerns the counting of ballots, county boards should meet as soon as possible to determine whether there is probable cause that a violation or irregularity occurred. If so, the boards will conduct a full hearing on the protest. Protests can result in different outcomes, including dismissal, re-tabulation, or other options spelled out in G.S. § 163-182.10. Appeals are to the State Board of Elections.
Meanwhile, Governor McCrory also announced Thursday that protests are being filed in 50 counties to challenge alleged voter fraud cases. Additional protests are also expected to be filed.
McCrory’s office says cases of ballots being cast by suspected felons, double voters, and the dead have been found in the following 50 counties:
1. Alamance
2. Alexander
3. Beaufort
4. Bertie
5. Bladen
6. Brunswick
7. Buncombe
8. Burke
9. Cabarrus
10. Camden
11. Carteret
12. Cherokee
13. Cleveland
14. Craven
15. Cumberland
16. Davidson
17. Durham
18. Edgecombe
19. Forsyth
20. Gaston
21. Gates
22. Granville
23. Greene
24. Guilford
25. Halifax
26. Harnett
27. Haywood
28. Hoke
29. Iredell
30. Jackson
31. Johnston
32. Lee
33. Madison
34. Martin
35. Meckenburg
36. Moore
37. Nash
38. New Hanover
39. Orange
40. Person
41. Pitt
42. Richmond
43. Robeson
44. Rockingham
45. Stanly
46. Stokes
47. Vance
48. Wake
49. Warren
50. Wayne
A spokesman for Cooper For NC responded to Governor McCrory’s accusations saying, “Governor McCrory has set a new standard for desperation in his attempts to undermine the results of an election he lost. The truth is this election was administered by Republicans appointed by Governor McCrory himself. Roy Cooper’s margin of victory has grown since Election Day and will continue to grow stronger as final votes are tallied. Voters chose a new Governor, it’s time for the McCrory campaign to accept it.”
Kim Strach, executive director of the State Board, says in their release, “this agency will do what is necessary to protect the integrity of the election and give confidence to all North Carolinians.”
