NCSBE Releases Number of Provisional Ballots Cast by County, 40,000+

RALEIGH – The N.C. State Board of Elections (NCSBE) has released a list of provisional ballots cast in each county. These ballots have to be certified (hence the ‘provisional’ label), before being counted as a legitimate vote.

Yet, in keeping with the protracted delays to keep from calling North Carolina for as long as possible, the certified provisional votes won’t register until other absentee meetings and tabulations wrap up. That means as late as November 13, according to the NCSBE.

The total provisional ballots from all 100 counties totals more than 40,000. Again, each has to be certified as an eligible voter.

From the Board’s press release:

“Under state law, elections officials must release the number of provisional ballots cast in each county by noon two days after the election. The State Board surveyed the 100 county boards of elections across North Carolina and provides the provisional ballot numbers by county below.

Provisional ballots must still be researched to determine voter eligibility. Provisional ballots are cast when an individual’s name does not appear on the poll book or other questions arise about that person’s eligibility to vote or to vote a particular ballot.

After Election Day, each county board of elections meets before certifying the results to make decisions on provisional applications submitted by voters. If the board determines that the voter is eligible, the provisional ballot is counted. If the voter is eligible for some contests on the ballot but not others, the eligible contests will be counted for that voter. These ballots will be added to the official results during the canvass process.

Ballots determined to be cast by eligible voters will be added to the results after county board absentee meetings scheduled through November 13. The State Board is compiling a schedule of county board meetings and will release it as soon as possible.”

There is no reason this process should take more than a week to execute. The high turnout notwithstanding, it has never taken so long before. The feet dragging is excruciating, considering the affect of such delays; it keeps North Carolina ‘too close to call’ in the presidential race, when it really isn’t. Donald Trump has won North Carolina.

Yet, a very long week of waiting is in front of us, for no other reason than Democrats in control of the NCSBE would like it to stay in limbo for as long as possible.

Here is the list, with each county’s provisional ballot numbers: