Robbinsville – Friday's unsealing of the 2025 municipal election provisional ballots resulted in candidates for Robbinsville's board of aldermen and mayor races all receiving additional nods of approval from constituents, but not enough to change the outcome of Nov. 4's unofficial results.
Shaun Adams earned three more votes in his successful re-election bid for mayor, while challenger Kenneth Hyde received one additional vote to bring the tally to 86-38. There was also an unidentified write-in candidate.
The crowded race for aldermen led to Johnnie Williams, Jacky Ayers and Brenda Norville each being voted to serve the town. After provisionals, Williams picked up four more votes, to finish with 59 overall; Ayers collected two more, to top out at 54; and Norville remained idle, at 38 votes. Incumbent Debbie Beasley received one more provisional vote, but finished with 37.
Other provisional changes went to Blake Orr (30, an increase of two); and Lana Trull (20, which is also an increase of two). Jacob Bridgers (23) and Hubert Merchant (20) saw no change to their vote totals.
Three write-in votes were submitted from the West Ward on Election Day.
Provisionals made no change to totals in the towns of Fontana Dam and Lake Santeetlah. Incumbents Amanda Ryan and Andrew Stanfield (three votes each) were re-elected to the Fontana Dam Council, but incumbent Joshua Grant received zero votes; instead, a pair of write-in votes will need to be identified.
Thomas Byrd received three votes for the Fontana Dam Mayor seat, in an uncontested race.
Incumbent Kevin Haag finished with 24 votes to lead the polls at Lake Santeetlah, while fellow council members Jim Hager, Keith Predmore, Diana Simon and Ralph Strunk each had 21 votes. Challenger Alan Davidson won 10 nods of approval, while five write-in votes were also submitted.
Provisional ballots are processed after Election Day, which gives local boards of elections the opportunity to determine if they are eligible ballot. Voters may cast a provisional ballot when there are questions about qualifications pertaining to the voter (such as precinct, a change of address or voter registration), or if the individual wishing to vote cannot produce a photo ID.
Results will be "canvassed" (finalized) at 11 a.m., today. Candidates will be sworn into office by Graham County Clerk of Court Tammy Holloway next month.