Two counties in North Carolina are poised to delve deeper into the vote counts for the N.C. Senate District 26 race, as election boards in Guilford and Rockingham counties prepare for a hand recount. This comes after a tight race between candidates Phil Berger and Sam Page, with Page currently leading by a narrow margin of 23 votes following a machine recount.
In accordance with state law, the trailing candidate, Berger, has requested a partial hand-to-eye recount. This procedure involves manually checking ballots from randomly selected precincts to ensure accuracy. The State Board of Elections has designated two precincts in Guilford County and one in Rockingham County for this recount, which together account for 1,340 ballots.
Guilford County Precincts
- JEF1 precinct (McLeansville Baptist Church): 263 ballots
- OR1 precinct (Oak Ridge Town Hall): 617 ballots
Rockingham County Precinct
- MO precinct (Monroeton Elementary School): 460 ballots
To initiate a full hand recount of all ballots, Berger needs to gain a net increase of two votes during this partial recount.
The recounts are scheduled to start on Tuesday morning. The Guilford County session will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Guilford County Courthouse in Greensboro, while the Rockingham County meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. at their Board of Elections Office in Reidsville.
While the exact duration of these recounts remains unknown, transparency is ensured as both meetings will be open to the public and live-streamed. However, due to state regulations, photography or videography of the ballots during the recount is prohibited, except under specific conditions for media personnel.
Hand-to-Eye Recount Methodology
The recount will be executed by bipartisan teams composed of Republican and Democrat members, following guidelines outlined in a memo on the process. The recount must occur in the presence of the county board or a bipartisan team of board members who oversee proceedings and resolve uncertainties regarding voter intent.
For more detailed information on ballot markings and procedures, refer to the memo: “Hand-To-Eye Recount for N.C. Senate District 26 Republican Party Primary.”
Election Protests Under Review
In parallel to the recount, the Berger campaign has lodged election protests in both counties, which will be examined in upcoming hearings. Rockingham County’s hearing is set for 2 p.m. on Friday, March 27, at the Commissioners Chambers in Reidsville, while Guilford County will convene at 2 p.m. on April 6 at the Carolyn Q. Coleman Conference Room in Greensboro.
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