Event Recap
Board of Elections Canvass Meeting Recap: March 13, 2026
The Buncombe County Board of Elections held its Canvass Meeting on March 13, 2026, to officially review and certify the results of the March 3, 2026, Primary Election. The session focused on validating ballot counts, addressing formal challenges to specific ballots, and reviewing audit reports to ensure the accuracy and transparency of the election process.
Key Decisions The Board voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the agenda and to postpone the approval of the minutes to the next meeting. The Board also voted to sustain three formal ballot challenges, each by a 5-0 vote:
- Alex R. Hamrick: The challenge was sustained, and the ballot was removed.
- John G. Pierce: The challenge was sustained, and the ballot was removed.
- Velma J. Manning: The challenge was sustained, and the ballot was removed.
Following a recess, the Board resumed its session (5-0) and voted to accept the Election Abstract and Results (5-0). This action officially certified the election results.
Discussion Highlights Staff presented detailed audit reports indicating that all ballot totals balanced with no discrepancies between the number of ballots cast and those recorded in voter history. Key figures included:
- Absentee Voting: 831 ballots were accepted out of 1,609 issued.
- Early Voting: 30,772 ballots were processed.
- Provisional Voting: Of 304 applications, 151 were fully approved, 24 were partially approved, and 129 were not approved.
- Election Day: 23,267 ballots were cast.
- Total Turnout: Approximately 55,045 ballots were cast, representing a turnout of about 26% of registered voters.
During the challenge hearings, staff provided context for the sustained challenges. The challenge for John G. Pierce was sustained because he received the wrong ballot style during Early Voting but voted provisionally. The challenge for Velma J. Manning was sustained because the voter passed away after submitting an absentee ballot but before Election Day. The challenge for Alex R. Hamrick was sustained as no one was present to argue the case. Staff also noted that four voters inadvertently left their completed ballots inside polling enclosures; these ballots were not counted because they were not properly submitted through the voting machine process.
Follow-ups Staff outlined several administrative next steps to finalize the certification process. Staff will mail official abstracts to the State Board of Elections, the County Courthouse, and the City of Asheville. Additionally, staff will prepare certificates of nomination for the chair to sign and are finalizing voter history records, including the upload of early voting data.
Impact The Canvass Meeting serves as the final step in confirming the integrity of the election. By certifying the results, the Board has made the official outcomes of the March 3 Primary Election final. Residents should be aware of upcoming statutory deadlines: the deadline to request a recount is March 16, 2026, at 5:00 pm, and the deadline to submit a protest is March 17, 2026, at 5:00 pm. The next Board of Elections meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2026.