RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A statewide recount has left both Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs and her Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin separated by the same margin as before the recount.
After the remaining counties reported their recount tallies to the NC State Board of Elections, both candidates lost 110 votes each—allowing Justice Riggs to maintain her 734 vote lead.
“We want to to see that the process worked, that the counting worked, and that’s exactly what we saw here. So we actually saw the exact same margin that was there before the recount. After the recount, obviously, we have what’s about to come next, but at least up to this point, it seems like the process is working. And let’s be clear too, everybody is doing what is well within their rights as a candidate,” said Western Carolina University political scientist Chris Cooper.
A statewide recount can be requested by the second-place candidate if a race is separated by one‑half of one percent (0.5%) of the votes cast in the ballot item, or 10,000 votes, whichever is less.
Jefferson Griffin has asked for a hand-to-eye recount.
The NCSBE said in a statement:
“State law provides that after the initial recount, the candidate with fewer votes may demand a hand recount in a random sample of Election Day precincts or early voting sites. Under state law, each of the 100 county boards of elections will conduct a hand-to-eye count of all ballots in 3% of its precincts, rounded up to the next whole number of precincts. Each early voting site is considered a precinct for the recount.“
“The sample recount is used to determine whether a full hand-to-eye recount of all ballots cast statewide is required. If the results of the hand-to-eye recount among the randomly selected voting sites differ from the machine recount, such that extrapolating the amount of the change to the entire state (based on the proportion of ballots recounted to the total votes cast for that office) would result in reversing the results, the State Board will order a statewide hand-to-eye recount of all ballots in that contest. The counties bear the costs of all recounts.”
On Tuesday morning, board members randomly selected the precincts that will conduct the hand recounts—and the counting will begin Wednesday.
More than 159,000 North Carolina voters who cast a vote for president left the supreme court race blank. Cooper said it’s a difficult race to run.
“They can’t actually say how they would vote or how they would decide on any case that might ever come before them. So they are in a really tough position for how to communicate, how to articulate their vision. And for the voters, I think there’s just a lot who just kind of shrug their shoulders and move on,” he said.
In 2020, another race for the NC Supreme Court between Democratic incumbent Cheri Beasley and Paul Newby also ended up with a hand recount. That race came to an end with Paul Newby, a Republican, winning the Chief Justice seat by 401 votes.
“This appears to be the new normal in North Carolina politics. So, what’s going to happen in two years and four years? I don’t know exactly, but I sure bet it’s going to be close, and I doubt it’s going to be decided on election night,” said Cooper.
