Finally

#426 at Carrboro Town Hall just now. Saw Dan Coleman there.

At 6:35 I was the 3rd voter at Chapel Hill Bible Church. Two other voters came in behind me. Someone was setting up a chair and a sign for Matt Czajkowski but there were no other candidate supporters working this site at this early hour. Also, Kevin Wolfe had one of his color photo signs at the bottom of the drive.

I voted at Scroggs at about 8:45 and was 97th on that counting machine. Only one person in front, giving out Go Green flyers.

I was #53 at Carrboro Elementary just before 9:00. There were six or seven campaign workers outside, which is admirable seeing as how it's too late to influence many voters' decisions.

I was the 65th voter at Town Hall around 9:30.

105th Voter at 12:15pm at Carrboro

At 9:45am at McDougle Middle School, spouse and I were 39th and 40th voters....

I just voted at the Patterson precinct location (12:30 p.m.), which is the fire station on Whitfield Road. I was #126 and my husband #127. Patterson precinct is the second largest precinct in Orange County. One or two other people showed up while we voted. Not sure about that 35% turnout that someone was quoting in the news. I'd be very surprised.

I was voter 201 at Durham County Precinct 27, Creekside School around 11 a.m. It is one of the most interesting precincts: they have voters for three different jurisdictions. One is for CH Town/Durham County, one for Durham City/Durham County and the third for folks who just live in unincorporated Durham County. No way to tell how many from each area had voted, but the poll workers, a number of them BOE veterans, were amazed at the turn-out, way higher than they would have predicted.
Linda C.

I walked my son to school at Carrboro Elem at 7:45 and passed the gauntlet of Chilton and Cook, along with a Lavelle campaigner. I made it through relatively unscathed though dissapointed to not see any free coffee. I always like Carrboro Elem b/c it gives the illusion of more people voting (though most are like me - just taking their kids to school...). I went and voted at Lions Club at 9 am and steered clear of the gauntlet again not citing any coffee or cookies... Say whatever you want about "issues" and "policy", but I did enjoy Katrina's coffee last time around. :)

I just voted at Homestead - when I walked in the counting machine was beeping an alarm. The worker checked the ballot sticking out, someone had over-voted. The worker decided to go find the person (not thinking there was no way to verify whose ballot it actually was). The search was fruitless so a couple workers decided to invalidate the ballot - to do so the ballot must be stuck in the machine and then the worker tells the machine to invalidate it. When the worker stuck it in the machine, the machine counted it! The worker scratched his head and said "oh well".

This did not inspire confidence - as the woman behind me said, "Its like a shredder".

Good thing there were no party lines on this one.

My wife and I were voters 255 and 256 at Ephesus Elementary. We got there a little after 7pm and wondered if the polling station was still open -- NO lights were on AT ALL. We wandered to the front and found three campaigners who thoughtfully directed us around the side to the new voting area (not the main entrance as in previous years). Had the three not been there, we would not have had a clue and may not have voted! Of course, this wasn't the fault of the polling volunteers, but let's hope we can round up some tiki torches or candle bags next time!

The tally page now has Cam Hill down by 27 votes. Wow. I am surprised.

The gap between Czajkowski and Hill is now up to 61 votes.

From the NC General Statutes:

§ 163‑182.7. Ordering recounts.

(a) Discretionary Recounts. – The county board of elections or the State Board of Elections may order a recount when necessary to complete the canvass in an election. The county board may not order a recount where the State Board of Elections has already denied a recount to the petitioner.

(b) Mandatory Recounts for Ballot Items Within the Jurisdiction of the County Board of Elections. – In a ballot item within the jurisdiction of the county board of elections, a candidate shall have the right to demand a recount of the votes if the difference between the votes for that candidate and the votes for a prevailing candidate is not more than one percent (1%) of the total votes cast in the ballot item, or in the case of a multiseat ballot item not more than one percent (1%) of the votes cast for those two candidates. The demand for a recount must be made in writing and must be received by the county board of elections by 5:00 P.M. on the first business day after the canvass. The recount shall be conducted under the supervision of the county board of elections.

(c) Mandatory Recounts for Ballot Items Within the Jurisdiction of the State Board of Elections. – In a ballot item within the jurisdiction of the State Board of Elections, a candidate shall have the right to demand a recount of the votes if the difference between the votes for that candidate and the votes for a prevailing candidate are not more than the following:

(1) For a nonstatewide ballot item, one percent (1%) of the total votes cast in the ballot item, or in the case of a multiseat ballot item, one percent (1%) of the votes cast for those two candidates.

(2) For a statewide ballot item, one‑half of one percent (0.5%) of the votes cast in the ballot item, or 10,000 votes, whichever is less.

The demand for a recount must be in writing and must be received by the State Board of Elections by noon on the second business day after the county canvass. If at that time the available returns show a candidate not entitled to a mandatory recount, but the Executive Director determines subsequently that the margin is within the threshold set out in this subsection, the Executive Director shall notify the eligible candidate immediately and that candidate shall be entitled to a recount if that candidate so demands within 48 hours of notice. The recount shall be conducted under the supervision of the State Board of Elections.

(d) Rules for Conducting Recounts. – The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules for conducting recounts. Those rules shall be subject to the following guidelines:

(1) The rules shall specify, with respect to each type of voting system, when and to what extent the recount shall consist of machine recounts and hand‑to‑eye recounts. Hand‑to‑eye recounts shall also be ordered as provided by G.S. 163‑182.7A.

(2) The rules shall provide guidance in interpretation of the voter's choice.

(3) The rules shall specify how the goals of multipartisan participation, opportunity for public observation, and good order shall be balanced. (2001‑398, s. 3; 2003‑278, ss. 10(b), 10(c); 2005‑323, s. 6(a); 2005‑428, s. 11(b).)

someone should try to attend the random "post election audits" and see if a discrepancy comes up in the audited precincts.

Also, see what "trouble reports" there are.

The issues with this election sound really odd - was the problem with the central tabulator or with individual voting machines.

The good thing is that you have a real paper ballot that can be recounted.

Please let us know what happens.

BTW, I voted at Scroggs at 7:55 and there were a number of people there for various candidates. I had both kids in tow so I just kept my head down and went inside without chatting. Bora says above that by 8:45 there was only Sally Greene supporters. I imagine that means they came to catch people at drop-off and left afterwards.