Recount Procedures in North Carolina’s 2026 Primary Elections
As North Carolina concludes its 2026 primary elections, candidates in close races have the opportunity to request a recount. This process comes into play after the county canvasses, which wrap up on March 13. Subsequent recounts will be administered by the county boards of elections in the following days.
Among the races potentially subject to recounts is the Senate District 26 contest, spanning Guilford and Rockingham counties. Additional races may also see recount requests. All recounts remain accessible to the public and are funded by the respective county boards.
Recount requests for the 2026 primary will be posted by State Board staff at Recount Requests.
“The county boards of elections have put in long hours, working tirelessly throughout this election and the post-election period,” said Sam Hayes, State Board executive director. “Our goal is to provide the counties with the resources they need during any recounts to ensure the process is transparent and orderly.”
Eligibility for Recount Requests
Recount requests can be made by candidates trailing in the vote count after the county canvass if certain conditions are met:
- Statewide contests: The vote difference between the leading candidate and the one requesting a recount must be 0.5% or less of the total votes cast, or 10,000 votes, whichever is smaller.
- Non-statewide contests: The vote difference must be 1% or less of the total votes cast.
For county jurisdiction contests, recount requests must be submitted in writing by 5 p.m. on March 16. For contests under the State Board’s jurisdiction, including multi-county state legislative districts, requests must be submitted by noon on March 17.
Initial Recount Process
Upon a recount request, the State Board of Elections will provide a schedule and instructions to county boards. Ballots in the specified contest will be recounted using tabulators.
To maintain process integrity, two-person bipartisan teams oversee the recounts. Ballots rejected by machines are hand-recounted by a four-person bipartisan team. Decisions on ambiguous voter intent require a quorum, including at least one member from each major political party.
Recounts are public, with a mandatory 48-hour notice before commencement. However, photography and video recording of individual ballots are prohibited by state law.
Hand Recount Procedures
Following a machine recount, trailing candidates have a 24-hour window to request a hand recount of a sample from 3% of precincts and early voting sites. This sample is randomly selected by State Board staff for contests under its jurisdiction. A hand-to-eye recount, if necessary, must start within two business days.
The sample recount helps determine if machine recount discrepancies justify a full hand-to-eye recount of all ballots in the contest.
Full Hand Recount Criteria
If the sample hand-to-eye recount reveals discrepancies significant enough to potentially alter the election outcome, the State Board will mandate a full hand-to-eye recount of all ballots in that contest.
Election Protests
During the post-election phase, election outcomes can be contested through an “election protest.” These formal complaints allege election law violations, irregularities, or misconduct that could have influenced results. Successful protests may lead to corrected results, a recount, or even a new election. For more information on election protests, refer to the State Board’s Election Protest Procedures Guide.
Visit Election Protests to view protests filed in the 2026 primary election.
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