Buncombe County Board of Elections Certifies Results of March 5 Primary Election

In accordance with NCGS § 163-182.5, the Buncombe County Board of Elections met on March 15 to complete the certification of votes cast in the March 5, 2024 Primary Election. Canvass is the official process of determining whether the votes have been counted and tabulated correctly, resulting in the authentication of the official election results. 

For close elections, the canvass period is especially important. During this time, elections officials count absentee ballots that came in before the deadline and research provisional ballots. These votes are added to the unofficial results that were released on Election night. 

A sample audit was completed on Monday, March 11 for two randomly selected voting groups. No differences were found between the hand and machine count. The North Carolina State Board of Elections selects one early voting location and one election day location. Required by state law, the sample audit count helps ensure the reliability of election results tabulated by machine.

A review of provisional ballots was completed during the March 14 meeting.

The County Board of Elections examined the returns from Election Day precincts, early voting, absentee by mail, and provisional voting to conduct the canvass. The sample hand-to-eye audit was also presented. The Board voted to certify the election results at 1:04 p.m., March 15. Find the official results at buncombecounty.org/vote.

Second Primary Set for May 14

Following candidate requests, a second primary will be held for the Republican nominations for the offices of Lieutenant Governor and State Auditor, where no candidate received the 30 percent of votes required to avoid the possibility of a runoff. The second primary will take place on May 14, 2024.

Who is Eligible to Vote in a Second Primary?

All voters who live in the district for which a second primary is conducted and are registered with the political party of the candidates are eligible to vote in the second primary. For example, if a second primary is held for the Republican primary in a congressional district, then all registered Republicans who live in that congressional district would be eligible.

Unaffiliated voters who live in that district and either didn’t vote in the primary, or who voted the ballot of the party for which the second primary is being held, would also be eligible. For the example above, unaffiliated voters who voted a nonpartisan, Democratic, or Libertarian ballot in the first primary would not be eligible to vote in a second primary for Republican Party candidates.

In counties where second primaries are held, new registration of voters is not permitted between the first and second primaries. This means same-day registration is not available during early voting for the second primary. However, individuals who become eligible to vote between the primary and second primary and who are otherwise eligible to vote in the second primary may register and vote in the second primary.

Dates and Deadlines

Here are voter dates and deadlines for the 2024 second primary election in North Carolina:

• April 2, 2024: Absentee ballots in the mail
• April 25, 2024: In-person early voting begins
• May 7, 2024: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.)
• May 11, 2024: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.)
• May 14, 2024: Election Day
• May 14, 2024: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.)

In a separate action, the Board of Elections approved the second primary early voting plan for Buncombe County. You can find that plan attached.

The next meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Elections will take place on Tuesday, April 9 at 3:30 p.m. at the Election Services office, 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville. Follow the Board of Elections and their meetings at https://engage.buncombecounty.org/boardofelections.