Old North News

Today marks the deadline for all county boards of elections in North Carolina to finalize results from the recent general election. The State Board of Elections is set to officially certify the election on November 26.

In preparation for this, county boards are meeting to count absentee ballots received by Election Day. This includes those mailed by military members and U.S. citizens abroad that arrived by November 14. They are also reviewing provisional ballots cast during early voting or on Election Day to determine voter eligibility.

Common Cause North Carolina is monitoring these meetings to ensure proper vote counting. Preliminary data shows nearly 5.7 million voters participated, a turnout of 73%.

Bob Phillips, Executive Director of Common Cause North Carolina, expressed gratitude towards election workers: “We’re grateful for election workers across North Carolina who have tirelessly ensured our election has been safe, secure, and accessible for voters." He highlighted the efforts in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.

Phillips emphasized the importance of counting absentee and provisional ballots post-Election Day and praised county staff's diligence: “No matter the outcome of races, the people of North Carolina can have confidence that our election has been free, fair, and secure.”

He urged lawmakers to recognize high voter engagement with options like early voting and same-day registration: “Instead of attempting to limit access... lawmakers should build upon the successes...and ensure our dedicated election workers have all the resources they need.”