CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Political observers are accustomed to watching election results come in at the close of polls at 7:30 p.m. but things will be different on Tuesday for North Carolina's Primary.
While the results of absentee-by-mail ballots will be swiftly released, in-person early voting results may be delayed. It's all because a new state law prohibits election boards from tabulating early voting ballots until after polls close at 7:30 p.m.
"It may be an hour or more, maybe even two hours before we see those results posted for those particular counties, including our largest; Mecklenburg and Wake," Karen Brinson Bell, NC State Board of Elections director, said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
Brinson Bell said smaller counties with fewer precincts might be able to tabulate early voting results faster, possibly within 30 minutes of polls closing.
"We're really not certain. This is new for us," she said.
Brinson Bell refuted claims on social media suggesting her office was somehow creating the delays.
"We weren't part of writing this legislation. This wasn't an ask by the State Board of Elections or the county boards of elections. So, I can't give you the insight of why the legislature chose to insert this," she said.
"We'll give it a shot on March 5 and see how it goes," she added.
Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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