Election Goes Into A Recount

A high-stakes Republican primary in North Carolina is now at the center of a growing recount battle, after one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers raised concerns about election accuracy.

State Senate leader Phil Berger (R) is officially requesting a hand recount after a machine recount showed him losing by just 23 votes in Senate District 26—one of the closest races in the state this year.

Berger Demands Hand Recount Over “Uncounted Ballots”

In a formal letter sent Friday to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, Berger called for a manual review of ballots, arguing that machines may have failed to properly read hundreds of votes.

Under North Carolina law, election officials can approve either a partial or full hand recount in extremely close races.

Berger made it clear he believes a deeper review is necessary:

“A hand review eliminates the risk of machine error and ensures every ballot is counted fairly and consistently.”

222 Ballots Raise Serious Questions

At the center of the controversy are 222 ballots that were not counted by voting machines after being flagged as overvotes or undervotes.

That number is nearly 10 times larger than the current margin of 23 votes—a detail that could prove decisive.

Berger warned that even a small number of misread ballots could flip the outcome:

“If machines misinterpreted even a fraction of these ballots, the results could be wrong.”

Originally, Berger trailed by just 2 votes on election night, showing how razor-thin this race has been from the start.

What Happens Next in the Recount Process?

State rules allow election officials to:

• Conduct a hand recount of 3% of precincts
• Expand to a full recount if discrepancies are found
• Review ballots flagged as unclear or unreadable

Berger is pushing at minimum for a manual inspection of disputed ballots, though he has stated a full recount would be the most reliable option.

Opponent Sam Page Says Results Will Hold

Berger’s challenger, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, says he is confident the outcome will not change.

In a public statement, Page said:

“The voters made their decision clear. I respect the recount process, but I’m confident the results will stand—we won.”

Election Officials Signal No Immediate Action

The North Carolina State Board of Elections is expected to meet Wednesday to certify results. However, officials have indicated that Berger’s request for a hand recount is not currently scheduled for discussion.

A board spokesperson stated the agency will continue to follow existing state law procedures when handling recount requests.

Why This Race Is Drawing National Attention

This election is becoming a flashpoint for broader concerns about election integrity, ballot accuracy, and transparency—issues that remain top priorities for many voters across the country.

For conservative voters especially, ensuring that **every legal vote is counted—and counted correctly—**is essential to maintaining trust in the system.

Bottom Line

With only 23 votes separating the candidates and hundreds of ballots still in question, this race is far from settled.

If a hand recount is approved, the final outcome could change—making this one of the most closely watched local elections in the country right now.