State Board of Elections

Senate leader Phil Berger is calling for a second recount in his close Republican primary race with Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. A machine recount wrapped up Thursday without changing Page's 23-vote lead. But state law allows Berger to seek a hand-to-eye recount of randomly selected ballots, a process that would likely begin next week.

A machine recount is underway following the state's normal procedure, but Senate leader Phil Berger wants election officials to perform a hand-to-eye recount on certain types of ballots.

As a recount (and possible election legal challenges) loom in the close primary between Senate leader Phil Berger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, Page is raising concerns over whether the process can be handled fairly.

Twenty state legislators will likely win another term after no one filed to run against them in next year's election. All but one of the lawmakers running unopposed for re-election are Democrats who represent left-leaning districts.

The final Election Day tally in Morehead City showed City Councilman Lee Anthony Stiles defeating longtime Mayor Jerry Jones by just one vote — out of more than 1,500 votes cast.

The State Board of Elections has hired new top staff members who have previously worked for Republican elected officials. The hiring moves come after the legislature moved the agency into the state auditor's office and gave the board a Republican majority.

The new leader of the State Board of Elections wants the power to replace more than a third of the agency's staff. A bill that passed the N.C. House Elections Committee Thursday would strip employment protections from 25 people at the agency administering elections.

Since Republican Dave Boliek won last year’s election for state auditor, the position has been getting more powerful. He’s now responsible for appointing and overseeing the State Board of Elections, and lawmakers want to put him in charge of a sweeping government efficiency review.

While the legal battle over last year’s N.C. Supreme Court election is now settled, it’s not the last unresolved election contest remaining in North Carolina. A legal dispute over the 2023 election for mayor of the Robeson County town of Pembroke is still dragging on.

Former local elections directors from across the state and ex-military officials and service members' spouses have filed briefs against Jefferson Griffin in his legal battle to turn around his electoral loss in a race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court.