Democracy NC Demands Provisional Recount in Forsyth

Democracy North Carolina has found big problems with the handling of more than 100 provisional ballots in Forsyth County’s March Primary. The organization is demanding 130 ballots be counted.

WHAT HAPPENED: Forsyth County Board of Elections’ staff director Tim Tsujii says that the coverslip for provisional ballots lacked a designated area for a voter’s signature and many voters were not instructed by poll workers to add a signature somewhere on the form. Despite this combination of technical and poll worker error, the three-member Board of Elections decided in March 2016 to throw out approximately 130 provisional ballots, coding them “no signature.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The State Board of Election is ordering some counties to “re-canvass” or reevaluate their rejection of some ballots. Democracy North Carolina says that should happen in Forsyth County. “The voters did everything they were told to do. Their voice is being silenced through no fault of their own,” said Bob Hall, executive director of Democracy NC.

“Forsyth County has serious problems with insufficient and poorly-trained poll workers, inadequate equipment, and poor planning that reflects a lack of respect for voters.” Hall pointed out that Forsyth was the only large county that refused to open polling locations on the first Saturday of the Early Voting period, creating even more stress on Election Day. Broken machines and inadequate intake stations caused long lines; and poor training and preparation led to voters getting the wrong ballots in some precincts and having their ballots denied due to “no signature.”

“We hope the new elections director can turn things around, but he needs help from all three members of the county board of elections,” said Hall.

READ MORE about Democracy NC’s April 2016 meeting with Forsyth election officials and media coverage relating to state of the provisional recount.

WHO IS AFFECTED: Hall said all voters are affected by inadequate planning, staffing and equipment. But the impact hits some voters hard.

• African-American and Latino voters are 30% of the county’s registered voters, but they make up 61% of the 130 ballots rejected because of “no signature.”
• Statewide, about 40,000 provisional ballots were cast and nearly 60% counted. However, only 33% of the 962 provisional ballots in Forsyth County were counted.