Graham confirms Newby

Robbinsville – Following a request by Democratic State Supreme Court Chief Justice candidate Cheri Beasley, the Graham County Board of Elections spent 5 ½ hours Monday re-certifying its numbers reported Nov. 3.

Beasley’s request was filed Friday, when she trailed Republican Paul Newby by a mere 400 votes. 

Over 5.4 million were cast statewide in the race, meaning a recount was allowed under the 10,000-vote threshold in which a trailing candidate can request counties to re-examine the ballots.

The Graham County Board of Elections confirmed that none of the reported numbers changed after the recount, with the votes breaking down as follows:

* East Ward Precinct: 359 ballots on election day, 359 during recount. Newby: 270; Beasley, 62.

* Stecoah Precinct: 295 ballots on election day, 295 during recount. Newby: 235; Beasley, 47.

* Tapoco Precinct: 119 ballots on election day, 119 during recount. Newby: 103; Beasley, 11.

* West Ward Precinct: 382 ballots on election day, 382 during recount. Newby: 257; Beasley, 93.

* Absentee Mail-In: 385 ballots on election day, 385 during recount. Newby: 203; Beasley, 161.

* One-Stop: 3,130 ballots on election day, 3,130 during recount. Newby: 2,248; Beasley, 682.

* Provisional: 39 ballots on election day, 39 during recount. Newby: 31; Beasley, 7.