Thio, how long is it going to take for ballot?

Um, that we're receiving over the next few days to start being included into the count.

So we have to keep in mind that we have noticed, uh, requirements.

Buyer state laws in regards to win absentee board meetings may be held.

Uh, those were announced prior to the election.

What we have found with most counties is that they will be conducting that meeting on November the 12th.

That is also traditionally, when many of the county boards would hold their provisional ballot counting meetings, which is the day before county canvas.

Uh, at this point time, we have very few exceptions.

Uh, in terms of counties that would be holding meetings outside of November the 12th, or possibly just limiting it to November the 13th.

We have a follow up from Grace Holland WfM wants.

Is it possible that North Carolina races, particularly the presidential race, which we are still waiting to be called?

Do you think that could be called before November the 12th?

With all these absentee ballots still out?

Well, as our chairman said, we are in the practice of calling winners of elections.

We count the ballots and certify the results, and that will determine the winners.

Our next question is from Joe Bruno, WSOC TV Charlotte Hey, thanks for taking my question.

Do you have a master list of when all the counties are conducting that absentee ballot review meeting that you could provide a release?

We surveyed them this morning to confirm those dates and times.

So once we have that, you could reach out to R.

P I O Joe and and get that information.

Next question is from McRae, Mitchell with CBS News.

Um, that government 18,000 does that.

That does not others who may have applied for ballot, but then decided person, Right?

I believe your question was just the 117.

Approximate ballots include those who went and voted in person.

It does not.

We have, uh, Well, let me say this.

It does not include anyone who voted in person during the one stop early voting period.

Uh, it may include individuals who voted yesterday in person during election day, and until we complete the voter history process where we upload the poll book data, which in some counties is a manual process.

We will not be able Thio reconcile.

Uh, those absentee ballot request numbers against those who voted on election day.

We have a follow up from the crime Mitchell, CBS News.

The am I clear is that we will not.

The 117,000 will not be able to start being counted until those county board take place.

No sooner, Right?

Uh, they would be counted during an absentee board meeting.

That is correct.

So, you know, if a county holds one prior to November the 12th, they could consider those absentee ballots.

But in most cases, the county's they're going to be meeting November the 12th, or perhaps November the 13th.

The next question is from Diane Gallagher with CNN German.

Yeah, I'm not able to hear the question.

Sorry.

Hopefully you can hear me now.

Is there any as faras provisional ballots?

Those will also be announced.

I know that you post an amount of them, but results for those will not be fed.

And until the 12th.

Correct.

Or until the 13 from the canvas.

Uh, yes, that is correct.

The county boards will meet uh, in order to consider provisional ballots.

And in most cases, that will either be the 12th or perhaps the 13th.

We have a follow up from Diane Gallagher, so it is safe to say that North Carolina's numbers are not going to move until November 13th.

Very few exceptions would North Carolina's numbers move before the 12th or the 13th.

That's correct.

The next question is from Kim King with wlos TV Asheville.

I'm not able to hear you, Tim Kaine.

Thank you.

Hey, hopefully you can hear me treatable with W I 10 in Greenville, North Carolina.

Um, can you talk about this process versus other processes in the past?

Has it been slower?

Um, due to the pandemic, Um, you know, is this process going to take longer because of more absentee ballots?

What's the process been like, Frida?

My 14 years of election administration, this is is pretty step for step What we have done in North Carolina for some time now, the next question is from Paul Wolverton with the U.

S.

A.

Today network.

Yeah.

Yes.

Hello.

Um, regarding the outstanding absentee by mail ballots.

Um, do you guys have some data or history?

on, Like what percentage at this point would typically be returned because it seems unlikely all of them will be coming back.

Uh, we don't have a good comparison when it comes to absentee by mail ballots.

Just because, uh, this is such an unusual year.

Typically, we only see 3 to 5% of our ballots cast absentee by mail, and obviously we far exceeded that with this election.

So I think a comparison would be difficult to make in terms of our provisional ballots.

We do know that in 2000 and 16, we had approximately 61,000 provisional ballots and approximately 27,000 of those were counted.

You have a follow up from Paul Woolverton?

Yes.

Also, can you Is there any litigation or other challenges pending now regarding this election from any of the campaigns or other organizations regarding how you guys are operating Now I'll ask our general counsel to speak to that.

We haven't had any new litigation filed in the last few days.

Um, the State Board of Elections does have existing some existing litigation against it, but again, nothing new has been filed in the last few days.

The next question is from Brian Murphy with the News and Observer.

I hope you can hear me.

Um, my question is about 117,000.

Will that number decreased?

Will you publicize that number?

Um, update.

Will you update that number as balance to come in?

And will you update that number as you find people who did vote on Election day?

Yes.

We actually can continue to update that number.

Just recognize that you'll need to be patient.

Um, voter history process.

Obviously a zai mentioned previously.

It's a manual process for many counties, as they don't use Elektronik poll books, Eh?

So they have to scan each poll book form, and then in terms of the ballots, we certainly have to just monitor the, You know, if they were postmarked yesterday, it's obviously gonna be 2 to 3 days in the mail.

Most likely before we'll see our first returned ballots.

If they were postmarked yesterday.

The next question is from Colleen.

Harry with W f a radio Ali and I'm not able to hear you.

Can you hear me now?

Yeah.

Okay.

Sorry about that.

Could you clarify forming in the beginning, you mentioned 74% which is a record for voter participation in the election.

Can you clarify?

Um, waas act in person?

Early voting.

Also, record setting and absentee ballots mailed.

Was that also representing?

I can I can say that?

Yes, it it was record setting for sure.

With our absentee by mail ballots that 977,000.

Uh, in 2000 and 16, we did not even have 200,000 absentee by mail ballots cast.

So, uh, historically, that is not a voting method that most North Carolinians have chosen.

We were just shy of matching the 2000 and 16 numbers for one stop early voting up.

Actually, that's not correct.

We did break a record.

Um, I was remembering that our ballots cast almost broke North Korea, the whole entire 2000 and 16 election.

So let me go back to just the one stop part.

We did break a record with one stop.

Early voting turnout.

This election.

We have a follow up from Colleen.

Harry with W s A.

Can you tell me how many North Carolinians requested?

Um, absentee by mail about six.

And also, while I have you, can you also Was there a problem with Union County last night in getting their results?

It seems to come in later than usual.

I believe we can double check with R P i O Pat Gannon.

Hey.

Can confirm for you the number of absentee by mail requests.

I believe we ended at approximately 1.4 million requests, but I will let him confirm that for you, Uh, in terms of Union County, I don't wanna go into, you know, play by plays on each county, But I can say that Union County.