New title: One local race decided; three too close to call

MONROE, N.C. — The results that are posted after election night are always unofficial until canvass. Still, in a vast majority of races, you can confidently say who won. However, in at least four races in the Charlotte area, the race winner can’t be immediately determined.

Outstanding ballots:

In Mecklenburg County, all outstanding mail ballots will count if properly stamped by Election Day and received by the Board of Elections by Monday. There are also 362 provisional ballots countywide. The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections does not have a figure for each individual race. Provisional ballots are cast when more verification is necessary for the voter. If there is a question about an ID or if one is forgotten, a provisional ballot is cast. Board of Elections members must individually approve each provisional ballot.

All ballots received by Mecklenburg County Board of Elections will be counted on Nov. 16.

Pineville Town Council:

In the race for Pineville Town Council At-Large, both Eric Fransen and Danielle Moore received 624 votes, tying for the second At-Large spot. Four candidates ran for these two seats. Voters can select up to two people for the two At-Large seats.

According to the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, one additional mail ballot was received on Wednesday. An additional ballot was received on Thursday. There are 31 remaining outstanding mail votes and an unknown number of provisional ballots.

The race will likely be subject to a recount. If after the recount the two candidates remain tied, state law mandates the winner be chosen by chance. That could mean a coin flip or a name drawn out of a hat. According to the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, the last tie was in 2003 between Thom Tillis and John Bensman. The Board of Elections found the oldest living voter in Cornelius and had him pull a name out of a hat. Bensman’s name was picked. As a result, Bensman served a four-year term and Tillis served a two-year term.

VIDEO: Races too close to call in four local contests

In four local contests, the races are too close to call

Monroe Mayor:

In the race for Monroe mayor, former CMPD officer Bob Yanacsek leads Robert Burns by one vote.

“Whether I win or lose, I think the fact that people always say my vote doesn’t count, this is a perfect example of one vote does count,” Yanacsek told Channel 9′s Evan Donovan.

Burns also reiterated that point.

“It proves more than anything that your vote matters,” he said. “It’s shocking how many people don’t realize how much your voice matters. And that’s the beauty of our democracy is that it absolutely does.”

The Union County Board of Elections says there are 16 outstanding absentee ballots that could still count if they arrive by Monday and were postmarked by Election Day. There are also 300 provisional ballots that may or may not count. The Board of Elections received one mail vote on Thursday.

If the race ends in a tie, it will be decided by a coin flip.

Both candidates find the scenario amusing and say they trust the process.

Cornelius Mayor:

In the race for Cornelius mayor, Incumbent Mayor Woody Washam leads Denis Bilodeau by 13 votes. According to the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, 4 additional mail votes arrived Wednesday. An additional 4 mail votes arrived Thursday. There are 91 outstanding ballots remaining plus an unknown number of provisional ballots. The race is currently subject to a recount.

Smyrna Mayor:

In the race for the mayor of Smyrna in York County, Frances Faulkner ran unopposed. However, she only received 7 votes and 19 people got write-in votes.

On Thursday, the York County Board of Elections reviewed the 19 write-in votes. They were all cast for Robert Whitesides Faulkner, Jr, who is currently serving as mayor. He tells Channel 9 he missed the deadline to get on the ballot so he had to organize a write-in campaign.

VIDEO: Voters decide future for city council, mayoral seats, and school board

Voters decide future for city council, mayoral seats, and school board

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