New Hanover County election results: Ballot count complete ahead of canvassing Friday

New Hanover County (WWAY) — New Hanover County Board of Elections officials were busy late into the night Thursday, counting outstanding ballots more than a week after the general election.

Unofficial results show Bill Rivenbark, Stephanie Walker and Dane Scalise projected to win the open County Commission seats, and Judy Justice, Tim Merrick, and David Perry being elected to the Board of Education.

With the addition of absentee and provisional ballots counted Thursday, Walker took over second place from Scalise.

During the meeting, the board approved 748 provisional ballots and 1,755 absentee ballots, including some that came in after the Oct. 31st deadline the county had put in place.

County elections officials have ten days from election day to complete their count, but state election counsel Paul Cox says some of those ballots should have already been counted.

“I do think there were some misunderstandings that led to certain ballots that should have been counted by Election Night,” Cox said. “At the end of the day, anyone who cast one of these absentee ballots that arrived before election day or by election day — their ballot will be counted.”

The board will meet Friday at 11 a.m. to canvass and certify the results. Before doing so, the board must address a complaint filed by attorneys for Commissioner Dane Scalise. He claims the board broke state rules by not immediately counting absentee ballots received by the Oct. 31st deadline.

See the unofficial election results below.

NHC Commissioners Race

Bill Rivenbark – 62,852 votes (61,916 from election night + 664 absentee +272 provisional)

Stephanie Walker – 61,539 votes (60,306 + 987 absentee +246 provisional)

Dane Scalise – 61,469 votes (60,559 + 668 absentee +242 provisional)

Jonathan Barfield – 61,238 votes (60,057 + 945 absentee +236 provisional)

John Hinnant – 59,316 votes (58,445 + 619 absentee +252 votes)

Cassidy Santaguida – 58,884 votes (57,652 + 981 absentee +251 provisional)

NHC Board of Education

Judy Justice – 63,920 votes (62,631 + 1028 absentee +261 provisional)

Tim Merrick – 62,080 (60,830 + 999 absentee +251 provisional)

David Perry – 60,982 (60,069 + 638 absentee +275 provisional)

Jerry Jones Jr. – 60,680 (59,447 + 993 absentee +240 provisional)

Nikki Bascome – 59,939 (59,058 + 625 absentee +256 provisional)

Natosha Tew – 58,355 (57,517 + 590 absentee +248 provisional)