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<p><img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="/common/_RTE/Image/GenElectionNov22.jpg" /></p> <p><strong>Update: 7:43 p.m.</strong></p> <p><a href="https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2022&county_id=11&office=ALL&contest=0" target="_blank"><strong>Click here for unofficial results from NC State Board of Elections</strong></a></p> <p>Buncombe County precincts saw high voter turnout for the 2022 General Election. As of 4 p.m., more than 101,000 people voted, with more than 31,000 of those in-person on Election Day. So far 6,474 absentee ballots have been processed, with hundreds more expected from in-person and mail-in returns. For comparison, 119,798 people voted in the 2018 General Election. <a href="https://www.buncombecounty.org/common/election/reports/2022/general/election-day/10-2-4.pdf?v=638035323189512019" target="_blank">Click here</a> to see the 10, 2, 4 numbers. </p> <p>“We’re so proud of how we were able to serve our Buncombe County voters and thankful for the support we get from our community,” says Election Services Director Corinne Duncan. “We have 500 poll workers who work tirelessly to prepare, and we are excited to see so many people in Buncombe County exercising their right to vote.” </p> <p>As they come in across the state, preliminary results will be <a href="https://er.ncsbe.gov/" target="_blank">posted here</a>. The earliest results include those who voted early or submitted absentee ballots, and as results come in from the County’s 80 precincts, the results will be updated. The last results are expected to be received by 11 p.m. Election night results are unofficial. For results about individual races, visit the <a href="https://er.ncsbe.gov/" target="_blank">North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) Results Dashboard</a>. </p> <p>Election night marks the beginning of the statutorily required vote-counting and auditing processes after every election called “canvass.” Canvass is the entire process of ensuring votes have been counted correctly and required audits have been completed, culminating in the certification of results during meetings of every county board of elections. By law, these canvass meetings will be held by each county board of elections at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022.</p> <p>All eligible ballots will be counted. County boards of elections must count absentee-by-mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day that arrive in the mail by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14. Ballots from military and overseas voters received by 5 p.m. November 26 will also be counted, as required by state law. <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=17152163&msgid=97075&act=JSJC&c=1863564&pid=570156&destination=https*3A*2F*2Fwww.ncleg.gov*2FEnactedLegislation*2FStatutes*2FHTML*2FBySection*2FChapter_163*2FGS_163-258.12.html&cf=623&v=4b4a7eb29849f7952f1b82f1013a52b997dea23b81320daa7216553e3c2b6cea__;JSUlJSUlJSUl!!HYmSToo!fVKWdqJaJMhJgrazET3Cqy40Jc31UuOIOFEPS-5RJ1Te7I_VNapq6s-QHbhVVsarH7koJFH-yID-xkzjy9ddYp5B_wY$" target="_blank">N.C.G.S. § 163-258.12</a>.</p> <p>Provisional ballots cast during the election must be researched to determine voter eligibility. Ballots determined to be cast by eligible voters will be added to the results during the canvass period.<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=17152163&msgid=97075&act=JSJC&c=1863564&pid=570156&destination=https*3A*2F*2Fwww.ncleg.gov*2FEnactedLegislation*2FStatutes*2FHTML*2FBySection*2FChapter_163*2FGS_163-182.2.html&cf=623&v=5340974d74cbaf33532aac10447e607ac1c5080156a75149532b7845e1e6c0dd__;JSUlJSUlJSUl!!HYmSToo!fVKWdqJaJMhJgrazET3Cqy40Jc31UuOIOFEPS-5RJ1Te7I_VNapq6s-QHbhVVsarH7koJFH-yID-xkzjy9ddiYMHbJE$" target="_blank">N.C.G.S. § 163-182.2.</a></p> <p>Under North Carolina law, all ballots are counted by certified and tested machines.?The sample audit count, also required by state law, helps ensure the reliability of the machine-tabulated results. Bipartisan teams in each county conduct hand-to-eye counts of all ballots in the randomly selected precincts and compare the results with the results of the machine counts. The sample audit will be open to the public and takes place Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 at 10 a.m.</p> <p>At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, State Board staff will randomly select two precincts in every county to be audited. For the purpose of this random selection, one-stop early voting locations and the entire collection of absentee-by-mail ballots received by a county are considered “precincts.” For information, see <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=17152163&msgid=97075&act=JSJC&c=1863564&pid=570156&destination=https*3A*2F*2Fwww.ncsbe.gov*2Fnews*2Fpress-releases*2F2022*2F05*2F13*2Fstate-board-randomly-select-precincts-post-election-audits&cf=623&v=e19501f037fa1a449e8bfd8f40dbefe20eab19092cb33203ca1f73a5fddec42d__;JSUlJSUlJSUl!!HYmSToo!fVKWdqJaJMhJgrazET3Cqy40Jc31UuOIOFEPS-5RJ1Te7I_VNapq6s-QHbhVVsarH7koJFH-yID-xkzjy9dd84IFlT0$" target="_blank">State Board to Randomly Select Precincts for Post-Election Audits</a>. </p> <p>The State Board of Elections conducts additional audits to verify the accuracy of the count. The results of all audits will be submitted to the State Board as part of the final certification of the election. For more information, see the <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=17152163&msgid=97075&act=JSJC&c=1863564&pid=570156&destination=https*3A*2F*2Fwww.ncsbe.gov*2Fabout-elections*2Felection-security*2Fpost-election-procedures-and-audits&cf=623&v=b8ff8fbbc5519ba111307c3013773b3e0df61da36a06b9ab672b588ac132e613__;JSUlJSUl!!HYmSToo!fVKWdqJaJMhJgrazET3Cqy40Jc31UuOIOFEPS-5RJ1Te7I_VNapq6s-QHbhVVsarH7koJFH-yID-xkzjy9ddV6f-RCU$" target="_blank">NCSBE Post-Election Procedures and Audits webpage</a>. </p> <p><strong>Updated at 5:06 p.m.</strong></p> <p>The Midterm General Election is today, and the polls have been open since 6:30 a.m. As of 4 p.m., 30,762 voters turned out, bringing the in-person voter total to 101,133. During early voting, 70,371 voters cast their ballots. At this time, 6,474 absentee-by-mail ballots have been processed, and they will continue to be processed through the canvass period. Voting has gone smoothly at the County’s 80 precincts.</p> <p>You can see a breakdown of how many people have voted today at each <a href="https://www.buncombecounty.org/common/election/reports/2022/general/election-day/10-2-4.pdf?v=638035265056969800" target="_blank">precinct here</a>. There are 210,146 registered voters in Buncombe County.</p> <p>So far, Pisgah Elementary School has experienced the highest voter turnout with 766 people followed by Pole Creek Baptist Church with 754 voters. Those who haven’t voted yet can check the <a href="https://www.buncombecounty.org/common/election/reports/2022/general/election-day/10-2-4.pdf?v=638035265056969800" target="_blank">wait counts here</a>.</p> <p>At 7:30 p.m., results will begin posting <a href="https://er.ncsbe.gov/" target="_blank">here</a>. The earliest results will include those who voted early or submitted absentee ballots that have been processed, and as preliminary results come in from the County’s 80 precincts, the numbers will be updated.</p> <p>The polls in Buncombe County are open until 7:30 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7:30 p.m., you will have the chance to vote. You must vote at the polling place in your assigned precinct. If you need help finding your voting location, enter your name at the Voter Search Tool. No ID is needed to vote.</p> <p><strong>Curbside voting</strong><br /> Another feature Buncombe County Election Services offers is curbside voting for those who are unable to go inside the precinct due to age or disability. Just pull up to the curbside voting sign, and an election worker will come out and help you.</p> <p><strong>Absentee Ballots</strong><br /> The deadline to return the completed absentee ballot was Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at 5 p.m. Absentee ballots must have been postmarked on or before Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, and need to be received by Monday, Nov. 14, 2022.</p> <p><strong>Updated at 3:23 p.m. to reflect a correction: Due to an error by communications staff, the total in-person number is incorrect below. The correct number for in-person voters thus far is 94,914.</strong></p> <p>Midterm General Election is today, and the polls have been open since 6:30 a.m. As of 2 p.m., 24,543 voters have turned out, bringing the total to more than 106,250 people who have now cast their votes in person in Buncombe County. During early voting, 70,371 voters cast their ballots. At this time, 6,287 absentee-by-mail ballots have been processed. Voting has gone smoothly at the County’s 80 precincts, with no reports of significant incidents.</p> <p>You can see a breakdown of how many people have voted today at each <a href="https://www.buncombecounty.org/common/election/reports/2022/general/election-day/10-2-4.pdf?v=638035140499488776" target="_blank">precinct here</a>. There are 210,146 registered voters in Buncombe County.</p> <p>So far, Pisgah Elementary School has experienced the highest voter turnout with 660 people followed by Pole Creek Baptist Church with 626 voters. Those who haven’t voted yet can check the <a href="https://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/election/election-day.aspx#spa-election-day-wait-count" target="_blank">wait counts here</a>.</p> <p>Buncombe County will also release voter count numbers at 4 p.m.</p> <p>Polls in Buncombe County are open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7:30 p.m., you will have the chance to vote. You must vote at the polling place in your assigned precinct. If you need help finding your voting location, enter your name at the <a href="https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/" target="_blank">Voter Search Tool</a>, no ID is needed.</p> <p><strong>Curbside voting</strong><br /> Another feature Buncombe County Election Services offers is curbside voting for those who are unable to go inside the precinct due to age or disability. Just pull up to the curbside voting sign, and an election worker will come out and help you.</p> <p><strong>Need to turn in an Absentee Ballot?</strong><br /> The deadline to return the completed Absentee Ballot is Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at 5 p.m. Absentee ballots cannot be returned at polling precincts. Absentee ballots cannot be emailed or faxed. Request forms that are hand delivered to the office at 59 Woodfin Place must be returned only by the voter or the voter’s near relative. Absentee ballots also may be mailed to P.O. Box 7468 Asheville, NC 28802. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, and received by Monday, Nov. 14.</p>