Buncombe County elections board approves bulk of provisional, absentee, military and overseas ballots; disapproves a handful and rejects one absentee ballot for

The Buncombe County Board of Elections reviewed and approved the bulk of ballots presented at a meeting that reviewed provisional and absentee paperwork, supplemental ballots, and military and overseas submissions while also resolving a number of challenges and a high-profile rejected absentee ballot.

At the meeting, staff walked the board through weeks of post-election processing and contingency plans for a likely recount in one close statewide race and a close Black Mountain City Council contest. "I think that we're likely to have one," Director Duncan said when describing the close statewide margin and the board set an "if-needed" recount session to start at 8 a.m. on Tuesday if a recount request is filed.

Why it matters: the session moved hundreds of ballots closer to final tabulation. After staff presentations and case-by-case reviews, the board approved nearly all of the provisional and absentee ballots brought before it that night, accepted 39 military ballots and 148 overseas civilian ballots presented by staff, and approved a large tranche of photo ID exception forms for provisional ballots. Board members also entered challenges on 57 ballots — most commonly for incorrect ballot style caused by printer/ExpressLink/ExpressVote header queuing or insertion errors — and removed or disapproved a handful of ballots that failed legal requirements.

Votes and formal actions at a glance

- Approved four provisional ballots whose photo ID exception forms were properly executed (motion carried 5-0). - Returned…