All Eyes on Race for Governor As NC Extends Ballot Count

CHARLOTTE, NC — Monday will be the earliest we can find out who will be North Carolina’s next Governor.

Friday’s deadline for counties to turn in provisional and absentee ballots has been extended after several counties asked for more time.

Attorney General Roy Cooper claimed victory in the Governor’s race on election night.

Mecklenburg County Board of Elections says it still needs the Department of Motor Vehicles to send voter information before finishing its count.

Mecklenburg is one of 50 counties with contested votes.

Director Michael Dickerson says the NCGOP challenged three voting machines that did not work.

“I presented that to the board this morning, and they decided there was no probable cause for anything to go further,” said Dickerson.

At least five counties dismissed the protest claims by Friday afternoon, finding no probable cause for fraud.

McCrory’s campaign wrote in part that “Protests are being filed in 50 counties to challenge known instances of votes being cast by dead people, felons or individuals who voted more than once. Additional ballot protests are expected as additional cases are discovered.”

Cooper’s campaign responded saying,
“It’s time for Governor McCrory to respect the will of the voters and stop the desperate attempts to undermine the results of this election.”

UNC Charlotte Political Science Professor Dr. Eric Heberlig says even after the votes are counted, McCrory can still call for a recount, if Cooper wins by less than a half percent.

“The bottom line is any one of these methods is unlikely to produce a 5000 vote shift,” said Dr. Heberlig.