Greg Murphy leads by 233 votes as counties prepare to finalize election results
Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy leads Democrat Raymond Smith by 233 votes in North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District as election officials in Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties prepare to review provisional ballots and verify the results of the Nov. 3 midterm election.
Unofficial returns show Murphy with 117,583 votes to Smith’s 117,350. Libertarian Daniel Cavender received 2,971 votes. Murphy’s lead amounts to just under one-tenth of a percentage point, within the margin that would allow the trailing candidate to request a recount if it holds after the county canvass.
Smith led Murphy by 102 votes in Lenoir County, 9,729 to 9,627. Murphy led in Greene County, 3,408 to 2,803, and in Jones County, 2,324 to 1,537.
What the other returns show
Democrat Roy Cooper won North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race against Republican Michael Whatley, according to The Associated Press. Cooper led in Lenoir County, 10,459 to 8,727, and in Greene County, 3,080 to 3,055. Whatley led in Jones County, 2,140 to 1,677.
In N.C. House District 12, Republican Chris Humphrey led Democrat Don Hardy by 1,269 votes across the three counties, 15,422 to 14,153. Humphrey led in each county, with his narrowest margin in Lenoir County, where he was ahead by 244 votes.
In state Senate District 3, Democrat Charles Dudley led in Lenoir County, but Republican Bob Brinson led districtwide, 44,365 to 36,279. In District 4, Republican Buck Newton led in Greene County, but Democrat Jess Rivera led districtwide, 37,539 to 35,962. In District 9, which includes Jones County, Republican Brent Jackson ran unopposed.
In the state Supreme Court race, Democrat Anita Earls led Republican Sarah Stevens statewide and in Lenoir County. Stevens led in Greene and Jones counties. All three counties backed the proposed constitutional amendments on voter photo ID, a property tax levy limit and a 3.5% maximum income tax rate. All three measures also led statewide.
What happens before certification
Voters cast 256 provisional ballots in Lenoir County, 85 in Greene County and 37 in Jones County, according to the State Board of Elections. County boards review each ballot to determine which contests the voter was eligible to vote in. Only votes in those contests are added to the totals.
Tuesday, Nov. 10. County boards will hold public meetings to count eligible provisional ballots and absentee ballots whose voters corrected a paperwork or ID issue by noon. Noon is also the deadline for voters who cast a provisional ballot because they lacked acceptable photo ID to bring it to their county elections office. Voter challenges to absentee ballots are due by 5 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 12. Eligible military and overseas ballots mailed by Election Day must reach county elections offices by 5 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 13. County boards meet at 11 a.m. to canvass the results. They verify vote totals, rule on absentee ballot challenges and certify contests within their jurisdiction. As part of the post-election review, bipartisan teams also hand-count randomly selected groups of ballots and compare the results with machine totals. The canvass and audits are open to the public.
Tuesday, Nov. 24. The State Board of Elections is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. to certify contests under its jurisdiction, including congressional races.
How a recount could happen
If the 3rd District margin is 1% or less after the county canvass, the trailing candidate can demand a recount. The State Board must receive the request in writing by noon Tuesday, Nov. 17. If a candidate submits a qualifying request, county boards will recount the ballots by machine in public meetings. For races under county jurisdiction, the deadline to request a recount is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16.
