In three local counties, the provisional ballots could be a factor indeciding the outcome of a State House race. With Republicans holding on toa slim majority in the North Carolina house, those outstanding votes couldtip the legislature's balance of power.
In House District 19, for instance, Republican Bobby Hall leadsDemocrat Leslie cox by only 97 votes, but election workers are stillcounting provisional ballots. George Whitaker of the Lee County Board ofElections says legitimate voters are understandably upset.
Election officials say most of these questionable ballots come from newvoters who registered at the DMV through the Motor Voter law. The namessimply didn't show up on County records soon enough.
District 19's provisional ballots span three counties. There are 123in Harnett, 153 in Lee and less than 10 in Sampson.
Together, according to Cox, they will decidethe outcome.
Hall is confident the outcome will turn out to be in his favor.
All three counties' boards of election hope to have results by earlyFriday afternoon.
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