RALEIGH, N.C. — The NC State Board of Elections completed a statewide recount of all 100 counties in the race for state supreme court chief justice.
Following the recount, the State Board says Republican Paul Newby leads Democrat Cheri Beasley by 401 votes out of nearly 5.4 million cast in that race.
Beasley has requested another recount. Her campaign sent the following statement.
“Following the initial recount, the general election between Chief Justice Beasley and Justice Newby continues to be the closest of any statewide race in North Carolina history. In order to ensure a complete and thorough ballot count, we have requested that the State Board of Elections proceed with a 3% hand-eye recount in a sampling of precincts statewide. We are grateful for the diligent work being carried out across the state by our Board of Elections officials and volunteers to ensure that every North Carolina voter is heard.”
According to the NCSBE, when the first recount was requested, the margin between the candidates stood at 406 votes, favoring Newby. Several counties subsequently recanvassed, at which point the margin was 416 votes, favoring Newby. After the recount, the margin is now 401 votes, favoring Newby.
The NCSBE says some differences are expected with any recount, as different machines may read stray marks differently.
Under state law, Beasley had 24 hours to request a hand-to-eye recount in a random sample of 3% of voting sites in each county. Her campaign requested the recount early Thursday morning. The State Board will hold a drawing to determine the random samples.
If the results from the hand recount are different from the previous results, to the point of reversing the election results, then a statewide hand-to-eye recount of all ballots would happen.
Both candidates have filed a total of more than 100 election protests in this race. Some are still under consideration by county board of elections.