Close Races Ignite Possibility of Recounts in Charlotte Area
Charlotte, NC – As the dust begins to settle on the recent elections, it seems it’s not quite over yet for some candidates in the Charlotte area! With three races hanging on by a thread, recounts could soon be in the works if certain candidates decide to shake things up. Grab your popcorn, folks; this political drama is just getting started!
Races in the Spotlight
According to Kristin Mavromatis, the friendly public information manager for the county’s Board of Elections, we have three nail-biting races lurking in the shadows of recount territory. Here’s the scoop: In the race for the N.C. state Senate District 42, it’s Democrat Woodson Bradley who’s narrowly leading over Republican Stacie McGinn by a mere 27 votes. With results this close, you can bet everyone is on the edge of their seats.
Meanwhile, in N.C. state Senate District 37, Republican Vickie Sawyer is in a tight spot, clinging to a lead over Democrat Kate Compton Barr by just 116 votes, which translates to around 0.56%. This district largely leans Republican due to its hearty majority in Iredell County, where Sawyer scored a big win, so a recount might not flip the result.
And don’t forget about District 105 for the N.C. House of Representatives! Republican Tricia Cotham is ahead of Democrat Nicole Sidman by 275 votes or 0.52%. Talk about a tight race where every single vote counts!
Statewide Showdown
But wait, there’s more! The statewide election for an associate justice seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court is equally electrifying. The contest pits Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs against Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, who currently holds the lead by just 10,130 votes, or an astonishing 0.18%. With margins like these, a candidate can request a recount, and it might look like both sides are holding their breath.
What’s Next?
With voting officially wrapped up, the county election boards are rolling up their sleeves for the all-important tasks of canvassing and auditing the results. In the canvassing process, officials count votes, verify results, and also take a good look at absentee and provisional ballots to determine which ones can be counted. Mavromatis reveals that Mecklenburg County has about 5,000 outstanding provisional ballots and just over 4,000 absentee ballots. Yikes! That’s a lot of numbers to sort through!
In fact, the Board is set to meet tomorrow to start counting those absentee ballots, and let’s not forget about the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots for our brave folks overseas and in the military, which will be counted on November 14th. Exciting times ahead!
Counts from Neighboring Counties
In nearby Gaston County, Director Adam Ragan reported there are about 1,340 outstanding provisional ballots from early voting and Election Day, alongside over 200 mail-in ballots that rolled in Tuesday. Meanwhile, Union County is still tallying the numbers of available provisional and absentee ballots, with no totals shared just yet.
Iredell County’s Board of Elections Director, Susie Jordan, noted that there are about 816 outstanding provisional ballots, and they continue counting absentee voting. Catawba County has 574 provisional ballots remaining, with a final number of absentee ballots still a mystery.
Stay Tuned for Updates!
As we wait for the dust to settle, it’s essential to keep our eyes peeled for any updates on these recounts and final counts. It seems the Charlotte area is still very much in election mode, and every vote counts in determining who will ultimately take the reins in these pivotal races. In the world of politics, stay tuned, because it ain’t over until it’s over!
