Stan White Seeks a Second Recount | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Kellie Hopkins, Director of Elections for Beaufort County, issued two press releases: One from the Beaufort County Board of Elections and one from the North Carolina Board of Elections below the first.

    The sample hand eye recount for Beafuort County of the Senate District 1 Contest will be held at our office on Monday, December 3rd, 2012 at 8:00 am.

    The sample will be drawn immediately prior to the hand count. There is a possibility that our one-stop ballots could be recounted after the random draw. With this in mind, we have decided to start early so that if we must hand count the one stop ballots, we have ample time to complete the recount on Monday.

    Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions concerning the matter. I have also attached the memorandum issued by the State Board concerning the recount and information on standards on what constitutes a vote. Again, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Beaufort County Board of Elections Director Kellie Hopkins on election night: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage
   Kellie Harris Hopkins, Director

     Beaufort County Board of Elections

     PO Box 1016 / 1308 Highland Drive, Suite 104
      Washington, NC 27889

     Telephone: (252) 946-2321



    TO: County Boards of Elections

    FROM: Gary O. Bartlett

    SUBJECT: Second Recount, Hand-to-Eye in Sample Precincts

    A timely, formal request for a hand-to-eye recount in State Senate District One has been received. Pursuant to GS 163-182.7A (a) "if the initial recount is not hand-to-eye, and if the recount does not reverse the results, the candidate who had originally been entitled to a recount may...demand a second recount on a hand-to-eye basis in a sample of precincts. ...That sample shall be all the ballots in three percent (3%) of the precincts casting ballots in each county in the jurisdiction of the office, rounded up to the next whole number of precincts....[E]ach one-stop (early) voting site shall be considered to be a precinct. The precincts to be recounted...shall be chosen at random within each county."

    The dates for the second recount, hand-to-eye will be Monday, December 3 and Tuesday, December 4, 2012. If requested for cause, approval will be considered for the date to be Friday, November 30, 2012. The official results should be immediately transmitted to this office in accordance with procedures for reporting results. After receipt of official hand-to-eye recount totals, the State Board will meet to determine whether a complete hand-to-eye recount should be ordered or to certify the election.

    The directors of the county boards of elections in State Senate District One shall provide notice of the date, time and location for the random selection of precinct(s) to be manually recounted and the conduct of the recount. Contact information for those to whom notice must be given in addition to your normal meeting notices is as follows:

    Counsel for Candidate Cook: Michael.McKnight@ogletreedeakins.com or

    fax (919) 783-9412, telephone (919) 789-3159

    Counsel for Candidate White: JRWallace@WallaceNordan.com or

    fax (919) 782-8113, telephone (919) 782-9322

    State Board of Elections: sherwood.brantley@ncsbe.gov

    Both the selection of the precincts at random and the hand-to-eye recount should occur on the same date. At the beginning of the meeting, provide evidence of the inclusion of slips for each precinct and one-stop absentee voting site in the county in an appropriate container (box, hat, jar, etc.), mix the contents of the container, and have someone in attendance (other than the director of elections or someone affiliated with either candidate) randomly select the required number of precincts to be manually recounted.

    Each county listed below must submit to this office the number of precinct(s), including one-stop voting sites, to be recounted: Beaufort, Gates, Camden, Hyde, Currituck, Pasquotank, Dare and Perquimans.

    Directors of elections should not be part of the recounting process, but should manage the process. See 8 NCAC Chapter 9.0106 (e) and (f) for guidelines for manual recounts using teams of four, with two representatives from each party. If the counting teams are unable to agree on the counting of a particular ballot due to irregular markings, the ballot shall be examined by the county board of elections for determination of voter intent. What Constitutes a Vote will control and a copy is attached for your convenience.