A glitch in tabulating vote totals on Tuesday night has made the race even closer for the District 3 County Commissioners Seat.
Incumbent County Commissioner Chad Stewart of Four Oaks initially held a 28 vote lead over challenger Richard “Dickie” Braswell of Princeton. Board of Elections officials later confirmed Stewart’s lead was only 18 votes out of 8,684 cast for the two candidates.
Stewart received 4,351 votes in the countywide race to 4,333 for Braswell.
Johnston County Board of Elections Director Leigh Anne Price said approximately 141 provisional and absentee ballots will be reviewed by the Elections Board during a meeting at 5:00pm next Thursday, May 17th.
Once the ballots are certified the votes can be added into the count. Whether or not it will change the outcome of the election is the big question.
WTSB News reached out Mr. Braswell for a comment about the close vote count. We did not have a response from him before our news deadline.
Commissioner Stewart released a statement saying, “I would like to thank my supporters, volunteers and everyone who took the time to vote. I have a worthy opponent who ran a strong campaign. I am fortunate to be carrying the lead and optimistic of a favorable outcome. I support the election process and have full confidence in the board of elections.”
According to the NC Board of Elections in Raleigh, if the margin of victory is less than one percent, the loser of the District 3 race has one business day after the results are certified to demand a recount in writing. If approved by the local board of elections, it could be a machine or hand recount.
