Buncombe County elections board enters three ballot challenges and completes provisional review; 151 approved, 24 partially counted, 129 disapproved

The Buncombe County Board of Elections on March 6 entered three ballot challenges and completed its provisional-ballot review for the March 3 primary, approving 151 provisional ballots for full count, partially counting 24, and disapproving 129, staff told the board.

Devin, an elections staff member who presented the challenges, said, "this afternoon I have three challenges to present," and explained that challenges arise for reasons including death, duplicate registrations, felon-list matches or incorrect ballot styles. The board voted to enter each challenge and will address final outcomes during the official canvass next week.

Why it matters: provisional ballots and late-arriving absentee ballots can change close results and must be researched and resolved within statutory deadlines. Director Duncan told the board the new research deadline for provisionals is three days after Election Day — 5 p.m. on March 6 — and staff organized a larger, temporary team to meet that deadline.

Staff said they reviewed provisionals using a multi-step research workflow (local voter database, scanned documents, statewide voter search, and a DMV report that highlights timely registration attempts). Nate, who led the research teams, told the board the county processed the workload by pairing experienced processors with newer staff, using two team leaders and 14 processors and recording results in a digital checklist so the work could be audited.

Nate reported the provisional total for the election was "we are right at 304 this time." After staff presented recommendations, the board took the following formal actions:

- Entered three ballot challenges (motions seconded and entered by voice vote) to be resolved at canvass: a same-day registrant whose party registration produced no available primary ballot style; an early-voting voter who was inadvertently given the wrong ballot style and later voted provisionally; and an absentee-by-mail ballot challenged after the voter was found deceased following the ballot scan. Staff said all affected voters had been notified and could appear at canvass if they wished to contest the challenges.

- Approved the supplemental absentee (civilian) list (a "zero" abstract where applicable) and Chair Dr. Glenda Winer read the certification oath referencing General Statute 163-231B.

- Approved three previously-missing photo-ID exemption forms that staff found in a blue "VIP" poly bag rather than the provisional bag; the board opened and reviewed the forms and voted to accept them.

- Resolved a disputed pending provisional in which a voter repeatedly requested Republican ballot styles despite appearing in the voter file as registered Democratic. After reviewing historical forms (including a 2016 provisional that indicated the voter wanted Republican ballots), the board moved — and approved by voice vote — to place that ballot in the approved category based on the board’s conclusion of consistent voter intent and directed staff to follow up to update the voter registration for future elections.

- Approved the provisional recommendations by category: 24 partially approved (to be duplicated only for contests the voter was eligible for), 151 fully approved and counted, and 129 disapproved. Staff scanned and prepared the final reports for public posting; the board noted the totals remain unofficial until the canvass.

Operational notes: Director Duncan reported that the county received 143 absentee ballots after the deadline; staff will review those at a pre-canvas meeting. To meet the provisional research deadline, staff hired additional temporary processors and set up a paired-review workflow. Bria scanned partials and approved ballots and prepared reports to post publicly after the canvass.

What’s next: the board scheduled a public sample audit for Monday at 10:00 a.m., a possible pre-canvass meeting on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., and the official canvass on Friday at 11:00 a.m. The challenges entered March 6 will be resolved at the canvass and final results will be posted after certification.

Short direct quotes from the meeting: "this afternoon I have three challenges to present," (Devin); "we are right at 304 this time," (Nate); and Chair Dr. Glenda Winer's certification: "I, Dr. Glenda Winer, chair of the Buncombe County Board of Elections, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a list of all executed absentee ballots..."