Burke Board of Elections Director Kenny Rhyne (right) gives instructions to poll workers Judy Wishert (left) and Gaynell Donnelly prior to Friday’s hand-to-eye recount. The state-mandated audit is part of the vote certification process.
The 2024 general election had been over for more than 60 hours, but there was still work to do at the Burke County Board of Elections Friday morning.
Elections personnel, including a four-person team of experienced poll workers — two from each of the major parties — conducted a hand-to-eye recount for two of the county’s 31 precincts.
The state mandates the audit as part of the vote certification process, and randomly selects the two precincts for each county, in this case, Drexel No. 1 and Icard No. 2.
Paper ballots are collected from the polling place and must match the numbers recorded by the computerized voting machine into which they’re placed.
Friday’s count was all business.
“Quiet please, counting is in progress,” admonished Republican Howard Westmoreland as the count began just after 9.
A stack of ballots a good 2 inches high sat in front of Republican Bob Vess. One by one, Vess, taking care to see they weren’t stuck to one another, passed each ballot to Westmoreland, who read the name of the candidate the voter had marked.
The group started at the top, with the presidential election: “Donald J. Trump,” Westmoreland announced. “Donald J. Trump … Donald J. Trump … Donald J. Trump,” and so on, the steady drone of Trumps punctuated only occasionally by a “Kamala D. Harris,” and once — out of left field — a “Chase Oliver” (the Libertarian candidate).
Every five votes, the two Democratic participants, Judy Wishert and Gaynell Donnelly, who recorded each vote, responded as a chorus: “Tally,” they announced.
Meanwhile, observers from both parties, including Burke Republican Chairman Tim Buff, watched the proceedings.
The two precincts echoed the county’s overall results. Burke voted more than 70% in favor of Trump. Harris garnered almost 29%. Oliver received 134 votes.
Roughly two hours later, the count was complete, and the hand-counted votes matched the computer results perfectly. “It went well,” said Elections Specialist III Trent Price.
Next up is vote canvassing, which is set to take place Nov. 15. A canvass, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, is “a post-election process that aggregates and confirms that all valid ballots cast in the election are accurately counted and included in the final election results.”
The N.C. Board of Elections will then meet Nov. 26 to complete statewide canvassing. Six days later, the board will certify the election, and Gov. Roy Cooper will immediately issue a proclamation setting forth the names of the winners.
Marty Queen may be reached at 828-445-8595 or marty@thepaper.media.
