Official North Carolina governor results may take more time

By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Democrat Roy Cooper’s lead over Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has increased further as more counties complete counting, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a final official result is imminent.

A series of electoral obstacles and litigation means the state board won’t certify Election Day winners on Tuesday as state law directs.

More than a dozen counties have yet to finish counting their ballots, although a few others performed their canvasses Monday, extending Cooper’s advantage to well over 9,000 ballots. Formal election protests are still pending. The State Board of Elections will hear one Wednesday over tabulations of early votes in Durham County.

There’s also a court hearing Friday on whether the state should be prevented from certifying winners until the addresses of all same-day registrants during early voting should be verified.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)