How are votes counted and certified in North Carolina?

The county board of elections receives the precinct results, counts absentee ballots, prepares the county abstract of votes and sends it to the State Board of Elections. County boards canvass at 11 a.m. on the 10th day after the election, November 13, or a reasonable time thereafter if counting is incomplete despite due diligence.

The State Board of Elections receives the county abstracts, canvasses the statewide results and certifies them. The State Board canvasses at 11 a.m. on the third Tuesday after the election and may adjourn up to 10 days for missing county abstracts, which is December 4, 2026.

The State Board issues certificates of election six days after the state canvass is complete, unless an election protest is pending. If every fixed deadline holds, state certification is December 10, 2026.

A candidate in a statewide contest may demand a recount if the margin between the winner and the requesting candidate is 0.5% of the votes cast or 10,000 votes, whichever is less. In non-statewide contests the threshold is a margin of 1% or less of total votes cast. A recount is not automatic; the trailing candidate must request one when within the threshold.

If the protest concerns how votes were counted or results tabulated, it must be filed before the beginning of the county canvass meeting. If the protest states good cause for delay in filing, the deadline is 5 p.m. on the second business day after the county has completed its canvass and certified results. Contests for Council of State offices and legislative seats must be filed with the Clerk of the House within 10 days after the certificate of election is issued.

North Carolina Senate Bill 382 transferred the State Board of Elections to the Department of the State Auditor, giving the State Auditor authority beginning in 2025 to appoint all State Board members and each county board chair. The elections provisions took effect July 1, 2025. The reconstituted State Board, appointed by State Auditor Dave Boliek, was sworn in on May 7, 2025, with three Republican and two Democratic members.