North Carolina Certifies 2025 Election Results; Harrellsville Races Await Review

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has officially certified the results of the 2025 municipal elections, as announced on the board’s official website. This decision, reached unanimously yesterday, confirms the outcomes of most elections across the state. However, two contentious races in Harrellsville remain under review, delaying their certification.

In the lead-up to the municipal elections, three counties conducted partisan primaries on September 9, 2025, attracting more than 42,000 voters from an eligible pool of 530,000, resulting in an 8% turnout. Subsequently, on October 7, 2025, eighteen counties held municipal elections and nonpartisan primaries, where approximately 78,000 voters participated, representing about 12% of the 650,000 eligible voters. The most significant electoral activity occurred on November 4, when municipal elections took place across 447 municipalities in 88 counties, leading to over 701,258 ballots being cast. This marked a turnout of nearly 19.8% of the roughly 3.5 million eligible voters in North Carolina.

Following established protocols, county boards of elections first certified the local results before the State Board undertook statewide authentication. The recent certification by the State Board was facilitated by a series of comprehensive post-election audits. These audits supported the accuracy of the machine-tabulated results.

Sam Hayes, Executive Director of the State Board of Elections, expressed confidence in the election process. “These municipal elections were carried out smoothly and successfully across North Carolina,” he stated in a press release. Hayes commended the efforts of county boards, precinct officials, and State Board staff, emphasizing their role in ensuring a secure and reliable voting experience. Their commitment is vital in maintaining the integrity of the election process.

The post-election review included audits aimed at confirming the election outcomes and identifying any potential fraud or irregularities. The recent audit report validated the performance of the voting machines used during the elections. “The results of these audits reaffirm what we see year after year: North Carolina’s certified voting systems count ballots with a high level of accuracy,” Hayes asserted. He reassured voters that the machines functioned correctly and that the certified results reflect the will of the people.

While the broad certification of results represents a significant step towards finalizing the 2025 municipal elections, the inquiry into the Harrellsville mayoral and town council races persists. The Hertford County Board of Elections has been requested to provide additional information regarding its findings before those specific contests can be certified.

As the board continues its review of the Harrellsville races, the overall successful certification of the elections in North Carolina underscores the state’s commitment to transparent and accurate electoral processes.