New Hanover elections protest denied

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Things got heated at today’s New Hanover County Board of Elections meeting, when the board denied an Election Day protest.

Chris Anderson was quite upset about the denial of his protest about about sample ballots left in voting booths at a Wilmington polling place. The board decided Anderson did not have probable cause that election laws were broken.

The outcome of the protest could have impacted the race for New Hanover County Commissioner.

Commissioner-elect Rob Zapple says he’s glad to put it all behind him.

“I’m delighted to be your newest fully-elected county commissioner,” Zapple said. “I’m looking very much forward to being seated on Dec. 1 and to getting our county back to work.”

Zapple will have to wait for the results of a recount going on today. He leads Derrick Hickey for the second open seat by just a couple hundred votes after last week’s vote canvass. Final results are expected this afternoon.