>> BEFORE WE GET STARTED I DO WANT TO THANK OUR INTERPRETERS WHO ARE WITH US I'M FROM THE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND FROM OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE DAY BEFORE 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION DAY.

I'M KAREN BRINSON BELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

I'M HERE WITH PAUL COX GENERAL COUNSEL TO THE STATE BOARD.

I'M GOING TO GIVE SOME BRIEF INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND THEN WE WILL TAKE QUESTIONS BOTH REMOTELY AND HERE IN PERSON.

THE PAST 3 MONTHS HAVE GONE BY VERY QUICKLY AS WE HAVE HELD CANDIDATE FILING IN DECEMBER.

THEY MOVED RIGHT INTO ABSENTEE BY-MAIL VOTING IN JANUARY ALL LEADING US TO NORTH CAROLINA'S 2024 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY TOMORROW.

A VERY SUCCESSFUL IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING PERIOD ENDED THIS PAST SATURDAY.

STATEWIDE MORE THAN 670,000 VOTERS CAST BALLOTS DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD.

AND 19,449 VOTERS HAVE CAST BALLOTS BY MAIL.

SO BETWEEN IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING AND ABSENTEE VOTING COMBINED.

WE'RE BELOW TURN OUT FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IN 2020.

THAT ALL SAID I WANT TO PROVIDE A FEW REMINDERS ABOUT ELECTION DAY THAT I HOPE WILL YOU ALL SHARE WITH YOUR AUDIENCES.

FIRST REMEMBER THIS IS A PRIMARY ELECTION.

PRIMARIES ARE ELECTIONS USED TO DETERMINE EACH POLITICAL PARTY'S NOMINEES WHO WILL ADVANCE TO THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY VOTERS AFFILIATED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY MAY ONLY VOTE THEIR PARTY'S BALLOT AND MAY NOT VOTE IN ANOTHER PARTY'S PRIMARY.

UNAFFILIATED VOTERS MAY CHOOSE ANY ONE POLITICAL PARTY'S BALLOT OR A NON PARTISAN BALLOT IF AVAILABLE IN THEIR JURISDICTION.

THERE ARE A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN AND LIBERTARIAN PRIMARIES IN OUR STATE THIS YEAR.

AN UNAFFILIATED VOTER MAY CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THESE PARTY PRIMARIES WHILE A VOTER WHO IS REGISTERED AS A DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN OR LIBERTARIAN, WILL RECEIVE THE PARTY'S BALLOT WITH WHICH THEY ARE AFFILIATED.

YOU MUST GO TO YOUR ASSIGNED POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY.

NEARLY 2,600 POLLING PLACES WILL BE OPEN FROM 06:30AM TO 07:30PM ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

VOTERS SHOULD USE THE VOTER SEARCH TOOL ON THE STATE BOARD'S WEBSITE NC SPE .GOV TO FIND THEIR POLLING PLACE AND THEIR SAMPLE BALLOT OR BALLOTS.

BRING YOUR PHOTO ID.

YOU WILL BE ASKED TO SHOW PHOTO ID AT YOUR POLLING PLACE WHEN YOU CHECK IN TO VOTE.

MOST VOTERS WILL SIMPLY SHOW THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER ACCEPTABLE PHOTO ID'S FOR MORE INFORMATION INCLUDING THE FULL LIST OF ACCEPTABLE ID'S VISIT BRINGITNC.COM.

IF A VOTER CAN NOT SHOW A PHOTO ID THEY CAN STILL VOTE BY FILLING OUT AN ID EXCEPTION FORM AND VOTING A PROVISIONAL BALLOT.

IF YOU STILL PLAN TO VOTING ABSENTEE BALLOT TOMORROW IS THE DEADLINE TO GET THAT BALLOT INTO YOUR COUNTY BOARD OFFICE.

SO AT THIS POINT DO NOT PUT THAT BALLOT IN THE MAIL IT LIKELY WILL NOT ARRIVE BEFORE THE DEADLINE AT 07:30PM TOMORROW.

YOU CAN INSTEAD DROP IT OFF AT YOUR COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE WEATHER TODAY DURING BUSINESS HOURS OR TOMORROW BEFORE 07:30PM.

OR YOU CAN SIMPLY DISCARD HER ABSENTEE BALLOT AND VOTE IN PERSON AT YOUR ASSIGNED POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY TOMORROW.

AND FINALLY I WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE ELECTION WORKERS WHO WILL BE WAKING UP EARLY AND STAYING UP LATE TOMORROW.

THOUSANDS OF ELECTION WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE PREPARED AND TRAINED TO SERVE THE VOTERS.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS WHO HAVEN'T CAST A BALLOT TO SHOW UP TOMORROW AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT.

THANK YOUR LOCAL POLL WORKERS FOR THEIR SERVICE TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

WE ASK THAT ALL WHO PARTICIPATE TOMORROW.

VOTERS POLL WORKERS OBSERVERS AND CAMPAIGNERS.

TREAT EACH OTHER WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT WE KNOW THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IN OUR COUNTRY IS TENSE.

BUT LET'S MAKE NORTH CAROLINA A MODEL FOR ACCESSIBLE SAFE SECURE AND ACCURATE ELECTIONS.

AND WITH THAT WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS WILL START HERE IN THE ROOM AND THEN WE'LL GO TO ANYONE REMOTELY.

>> LAURA LESLIE WRAL >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN PLEASE WHAT CHANGES WERE MADE BY THE LAW THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THE VOTE COUNT COME OUT A LITTLE LATER TOMORROW NIGHT, YES.

SO.

>> LAURA'S QUESTION IS REFERENCING THAT THE LEGISLATURE IN SENATE BILL 7.47 WITH THE PASSAGE OF THAT BILL.

WHICH WAS ABOUT 65 PAGES LONG AND HAD MANY CHANGES TO NORTH CAROLINA'S ELECTIONS PROCESSES.

ONE OF THOSE IS THE RELEASE OF THE EARLY VOTING RESULTS.

FOR MANY YEARS WE HAVE RELEASED THOSE EARLY VOTING RESULTS WITH ABSENTEE BY-MAIL RESULTS AT THE CLOSE OF POLLS.

STARTING TOMORROW WE WILL RELEASE ABSENTEE BY-MAIL RESULTS.

WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE HOWEVER, THE CHANGE IN THE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE NOT TABULATE THE EARLY VOTING RESULTS UNTIL AFTER THE POLLS CLOSE.

SO WITH THAT ALL THE COUNTIES.

WE'LL TABULATE THE EARLY VOTING RESULTS AFTER 07:30PM AND THEN AGAIN THE UPLOAD PROCESS AS THEY ARE ABLE.

WHILE THEY ARE ALSO PROCESSING ELECTION DAY RESULTS.

SO THIS MAY MEAN A DELAY IN THOSE EARLY VOTING RESULTS THOUGH 670,000 BALLOTS THAT HAVE BEEN CAST THUS FAR WE WILL NOT SEE THOSE RESULTS POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE UNTIL AFTER 07:30PM SO FOR SOME IT MAY BE 30 MINUTES FOR OTHER COUNTIES THAT HAVE MULTIPLE EARLY VOTING SITES.

IT MAYBE AN HOUR TO 2 HOURS BEFORE WE SEE THOSE POSTED AND THEY'LL BE RELEASING THOSE RESULTS AS THEY ARE RELEASING ELECTION DAY RESULTS AS THOSE COME IN AS WELL.

>> HEY, MICHAEL HYLAND FROM CBS 17 ON BETTERING THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS YOU ALL GAVE US SOME DATA THAN ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CAST PROVISIONAL BALLOTS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T COMPLY WITH THE VOTER ID LAW IN THE SHOW UP IN PERSON TO HAVE ANY NUMBERS FOR WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR DURING EARLY VOTING IN THE PRIMARY ABOUT HOW PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THAT.

>> YEAH NEITHER PAUL OR I CAN HAVE SEEN THOSE NUMBERS AT THIS POINT.

THEY THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT CHANGE TO WHERE THE COUNTIES ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE NUMBER OF PROVISIONAL BALLOTS CAST ON WEDNESDAY RATHER THAN THURSDAY.

BUT THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY TO INCLUDE THE ELECTION DAY PROVISIONAL BALLOTS AS WELL.

THE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS THAT TALLY AS WELL AS ULTIMATELY THE ONES THAT WE COUNT IN THE RESULTS OF THOSE WILL BE PROVIDED AFTER THE ELECTION AS PART OF THE CONSERVATIVE JEAN PROCESS.

>> I KNOW YOU MENTIONED T BEEN TREATING EVERYONE WITH RESPECT HOW YOU GUYS WORKING TO HANDLE ANY VOTER HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION AT THOSE POLLING LOCATIONS WE KNOW WE'VE SEEN THIS IN THE PAST.

>> WE'RE ALWAYS MINDFUL THAT ARE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ANY ELIGIBLE VOTER IS ABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE AND SO IN DOING SO WE HAVE.

PROVIDED INFORMATION TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES TO OUR ELECTION WORKERS TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH ARE NUMBERED MEMO ABOUT THE OBSERVER RULES ABOUT CONDUCT AT THE POLLS.

SO HOW CAMPAIGNERS ARE WHAT THEY'RE SUBJECT TO.

THE BUFFER ZONE WHERE NO ONE CAN ENTER THAT SPACE OTHER THAN SOMEONE COMING INTO THE VOTING ENCLOSURE I'M THE ONLY FOLKS ALLOWED IN THE VOTING, THE CLOSURE THOSE WHO ARE ELECTION OFFICIALS.

THE VOTERS AND THEN OF COURSE THE MEDIA CAN BE INVITED IN AND IN A FEW OTHERS.

BUT WE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RULES AND THE PROCEDURES ARE.

WE IN NORTH CAROLINA DO NOT ALLOW FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE STATIONED AT POLLING PLACES BECAUSE THAT COULD BE INTIMIDATING TO A VOTER.

AND THEY PARTNER WITH US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ELECTION LAWS ALLOW FOR AND HOW THEY CAN IF NEED BE BE CALLED IN AS PEACEKEEPERS TO HELP US MITIGATE THE SITUATION HOPEFULLY IT DOES NOT COME TO THAT WE'VE REALLY HAD PRETTY CALM EARLY VOTING.

AND WHAT FEW INSTANCES HAVE HAPPENED HAVE BEEN VERY ONE-OFF SITUATIONS.

AND SO HOPEFULLY TOMORROW WILL BE NO DIFFERENT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO JUST BE MINDFUL OF THAT FINE LINE BETWEEN FREE SPEECH AND AND VOTER INTIMIDATION.

AND KEEPING PEACE AT THE POLLS.

WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE PRODUCED THE A GUIDE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAID THAT THEY UNDERSTAND ELECTION LULL.

SO IF THEY ARE CALLED TO A POLLING PLACE THEY CAN HELP US IN ENFORCING THOSE THOSE RULES AND LAWS THAT MAY ACTUALLY BE A MISDEMEANOR OR A FELONY TO DISRUPT A POLLING PLACE OR CREATE AN ISSUE AT A POLLING PLACE WE HAVE MAINTAINED THAT MATERIAL FOR THEM THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC ON OUR WEBSITE NCSPE.GOV AS WELL A POLICY OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD.

>> THIS IMPORTANT QUESTION AT THE STATE BOARD WE'VE REALLY WORKS HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS KNOW AND THAT THEIR POLL WORKERS ARE THERE TRAINING KNOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD AND ONE OF THE IMPORTANT RULES OF THE ROAD IS THAT THE CHIEF JUDGE WHO WAS THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR VOTING AT EACH VOTING SITE HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND ORDER AND IF ANY VOTER IS BEING INTERFERE WITH BEING INTIMIDATED.

THE VOTERS TO CONTACT THAT YOU JUST LET THE CHIEF JUDGE OR ANY OTHER POLL WORKER KNOW HEY SOMETHING'S GOING ON AND THEY THEY CAN TRY TO REMEDY THAT SITUATION.

IF IT COMES TO OF COURSE THE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEN OF COURSE WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SITUATIONS LIKE THAT WHO WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH OUR COUNTIES AND WITH ADVOCATES WHO ARE OUT THERE TO HELP PROTECT THE VOTE.

IF THERE ARE SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.

>> ABOUT POLL OBSERVERS CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE RULES HAVE CHANGED THIS YEAR AND WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE A PARTISAN POLL OBSERVER DO OR NOT DO THAT IS LEGAL FOR THEM TO DO AS YOU'RE IN THERE AND THE VOTING CLOSURE.

>> I'LL START AND THEN I'LL LET PAUL ANSWER THAT QUESTION AS WELL.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES TO THE POLL OBSERVER LAWS.

EVEN THOUGH OBSERVERS HAVE BEEN PART OF OUR POLITICAL PROCESS IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR DECADES.

IN MANY WAYS WE SEE THIS AS CLARIFICATION TO WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS.

THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES IN WHEN THE POLITICAL PARTIES CAN NOTIFY US OF THESE OBSERVERS.

THEY ALSO WILL BE WEARING AN ID A BADGE THAT WILL IDENTIFY THEM AS AN OBSERVER.

SO THAT IT'S CLEAR TO THE VOTER THAT THAT PERSON IS THERE AN OBSERVER CAPACITY AND IF THEY NEED ASSISTANCE THEY SHOULD BE WORKING WITH THEIR PRECINCT OFFICIALS TO TO HAVE ASSISTANCE IN THE POLLING PLACE.

IT DOES THE OBSERVER LAWS HAVE ALLOWED FOR THE OBSERVERS TO MOVE ABOUT THE POLLING PLACE MORE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IN THE PAST THOUGH WE STILL HAVE SOME PERIMETERS AROUND THAT BECAUSE IF MOVING ABOUT MEANS THAT THEY COULD THE YOU HOW A VOTER HAS CAST THEIR BALLOT.

THEN OR IS MARKING THEIR BALLOT THEN THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO IT THAT CLOSE A PROXIMITY.

THE THE SECRECY OF THE BALLOT WILL STILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US IN THE POLLING PLACES BE THAT WHILE THEY'RE IN THEIR VOTING BOOTH OR BE THAT WHILE THEY'RE PUTTING THAT BALLOT INTO THE TABULATOR I'M PAUL ARE THERE OTHER ASPECTS WANT TO TOUCH ON.

>> THERE WERE SOME INSTANCES DURING EARLY VOTING MAYBE SOMEONE OFFICE WHAT WERE THOSE EXAMPLES AND WHAT LOCATIONS.

>> I DON'T KNOW THEM ALL WEEK YOU WE DO GATHER INCIDENT REPORTS FROM THE COUNTY'S WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING I'M THE ONE THAT BECAME FAMILIAR WITH AT THE END OF LAST WEEK THERE WAS A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN 2 CAMPAIGNERS AT OF EARLY VOTING SITE I BELIEVE IT WAS IN MOUNT HOLLY I KNOWS IN GASTON COUNTY.

BUT NOTHING NOTHING SIGNIFICANT THEY WERE ABLE TO TO MITIGATE THE SITUATION BEFORE WE YOU KNOW WE EVEN KNEW ABOUT THE INCIDENT.

>> HI, KYLE INGRAM WITH THE NEWS AND OBSERVER COULD YOU GO OVER OR UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES THE DEADLINE COULD BE EXTENDED TO SOME POLLING PLACES AND WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR DOING THAT.

>> YES IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

SO THERE ARE TIMES WHEN VOTING MAY BE DELAYED OR A DISRUPTION IN VOTING OCCURS SUCH THAT IF THAT GOES BEYOND 15 MINUTES.

THEN THE STATE BOARD MAY CONVENE AND THEY CAN VOTE TO EXTEND VOTING.

FOR THE FOR THOSE THAT TIME PERIOD THAT IT WAS DISRUPTED.

A DISRUPTION MAY BE SOMETHING I'M RELATIVELY SIMPLE.

PERHAPS THE CUSTODIAN DIDN'T BEAT THE WORKERS AT THE POLLING SITE ON TIME IN ORDER TO GET THE VOTING SITE OPEN.

AND KNOCK ON WOOD THAT WON'T BE ANYTHING THAT KEEPS US FROM OPENING THE POLLS THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN HAVE SOMEONE EVEN THOUGH FROM THE HOOD OF THEIR CAR NECESSARY.

BUT THAT COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT WOULD DELAY THINGS THE OTHER COULD BE IF SOMETHING OCCURS DURING ELECTION DAY WHERE PERHAPS YOU KNOW THERE'S.

YOU KNOW POSSIBLE, I MEAN THESE ARE BUILDINGS THERE COULD BE THE SMELL OF GAS AND THEY MIGHT HAVE TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE'S AN ACTUAL GAS LEAK OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE WE'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE SO WILL TAKE YOU KNOW ALL THE CONSIDERATIONS OF YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IN LINE HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS MAY HAVE LEFT BECAUSE OF THE DELAY THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE USUALLY THE QUESTIONS THAT THE STATE BOARD ASKS IN HELPING THEM ALSO TO DETERMINE.

WHETHER TO CHANGE THE OR EXTEND THE VOTING TIME.

POLICY.

ARE THERE ANY REMOTE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED?

I'M GIVING IT JUST A MINUTE BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A FEW TECHNICAL GLITCHES THIS MORNING SO.

PAT'S GOING TO DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

IS THAT BRIAN?

>> YES, IF ANY REPORTERS ARE ON THE LINE THEN PRESS ONE TO ASK A QUESTION.

WE HAVE GARY ROBERTSON WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

PLEASE GO AHEAD SIR.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> YES GARY, HI HI KAREN.

I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT KYLE ASKED DID ANYTHING IN SENATE BILL 7.47 CHANGE THAT PROCESS TO DELAY THE END OF VOTING BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS SOME COMP THERE WAS SOME PROVISION THAT WAS RELATED TO THAT IS.

IF IT WAS SHUT DOWN AND ONE IT WAS DELAYED AND ONE PRE SAYING THEN ALL PRECINCTS WOULD REMAIN OPEN OR AM I MAKING THAT UP?

>> YEAH I WAS JUST CONFIRMING WITH PAUL THAT WAS THERE WERE SOME CHANGES IN EARLY DRAFTS OF THE BILL THAT ULTIMATELY NOT IN THE FINAL DRAFT THAT WAS PASSED.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ANNIE DANCE, ANNIE PLEASE ANNOUNCE WHO YOU ARE WITH.

I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IF YOU'RE ON THE LIST.

>> THIS IS ANNIE DANCE.

I HAVE A SELF STAFFED NEWSLETTER CALLED COPS AND CONGRESS, ANNIE DANCE SUBSTACK.COM CAN YOU CLARIFY WHEN VOTERS ARE ALLOWED TO USE PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO AT THE POLLS IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

BALLOT SELFIES ARE NOT ALLOWED BUT WHEN CAN THEY ACTUALLY TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS, THANKS.

>> ANNIE I WANT TO LET PAUL ANSWER THAT QUESTION SINCE THERE ARE SOME A POSSIBLE CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT >> YEAH SO, THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT WHETHER WHEN AND WHETHER VOTERS CAN USE THEIR PHONE HAS A CAMERA IN THE VOTING PLACE AS A GENERAL MATTER VOTERS SHOULD NEVER BE TAKING OUT THEIR PHONES AND TAKING PICTURES TAKING VIDEOS OR EVEN AUDIO RECORDING IN THE VOTING PLACE.

IF YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR VOTED BALLOT.

IT ACTUALLY IS A CRIME IN NORTH UNDER NORTH CAROLINA LAW.

SO WAS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED VOTERS FROM DOING THAT THIS INCLUDES ABSENTEE VOTERS.

SO IF YOU'RE AT YOUR HOME AND YOU'RE CASTING YOUR BALLOT ABOUT THIS IN THE MAIL YOU SHOULD NOT BE TAKING A SELFIE WITH YOUR VOTED BALLOT IN THAT REGARD, EITHER.

YOU KNOW IT THE THERE IS AN EXCEPTION IF THE VOTER AND THE CHIEF JUDGE AGREE THAT THE VOTER CAN HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKEN AND THE VOTING PLACE HAS TO BE NOWHERE NEAR ANY VOTED BALLOTS.

THAT'S A VERY MINOR EXCEPTION AND IT'S ONE THAT IT WOULD THE MEDIA USE SOMETIMES WHEN THEY NEED TO GET FOOTAGE OF INSIDE THE VOTING PLACE BUT AS A GENERAL MATTER.

VOTERS SHOULD NOT BE USING THEIR PHONE OR ANY OTHER DEVICE TO TAKE PICTURES OR VIDEO AND THE VOTING SITE.

>> AND JUST YOU ALONG THOSE LINES WE DO HOWEVER ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO AND DO THOSE SELFIES OUTSIDE OF THE VOTING SITE A LOT OF THE COUNTIES HAVE ESTABLISHED BACKDROPS OR SIGNS THAT PEOPLE CAN USE FOR SELFIE PURPOSES BECAUSE IT IS ENCOURAGING TO OTHERS WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS HAVE VOTED AND HOPEFULLY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS AS WELL.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM ONLINE?

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM BRYAN ANDERSON WITH ANDERSON ALERTS.

BRYAN ARE YOU THERE?

>> HEAR ME, OKAY.

>> I CAN HEAR YOU BRYAN.

>> PERFECT THANK YOU GUYS.

I HAD A QUESTION ON JUST THE PROCESS OF REPORTING THESE THESE EARLY VOTES, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE SAID THAT IT WOULD TAKE 30 TO 60 MINUTES BUT THIS CAN POSSIBLY BE LONGER AND SOME COUNTIES CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHAT THOSE SOME COUNTIES MIGHT BE AND I ASSUME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS.

>> ACTUALLY WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT EXACTLY AND IT MAY NOT BE THAT THE EARLY VOTING.

RESULTS ARE DELAYED IN LARGER COUNTIES VERSUS SMALLER COUNTIES.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IS HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.

IN ELECTION OFFICES.

A SMALL COUNTY FOR EXAMPLE IS HAS VERY LITTLE STAFF AND SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE WEARING MULTIPLE HATS, THEY ARE TAKING THE CALLS FROM THE PUBLIC.

THEY ARE TAKING THE CALLS FROM THE POLLING PLACES THAT MAY BE YOU KNOW LOOKING FOR THAT CLOSE OUT CHECKLIST OR HAVE SOME PROCEDURE THAT THEY NEED CLARIFICATION ON WHILE THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO WORK WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS TO GET THOSE EARLY VOTING RESULTS TABULATED SO EVEN A SMALL COUNTY MAY BE DELAYED BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO YOU KEEP ALL THE PLATES SPINNING AT THE SAME TIME.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO ASK FOR PATIENCE WITH THEM.

THE LARGER COUNTIES WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT IT MAY TAKE THEM A LITTLE LONGER SIMPLY BECAUSE THE LARGE COUNTIES HAVE 10, 15 EARLY VOTING SITES AND JUST THE TIME THAT IT TAKES.

TO CLOSE DOWN THE TO TABULATE AND CLOSE DOWN THOSE MACHINES TO EXPORT.

THE RESULTS AND UPLOAD THOSE INTO OUR SYSTEM AND TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THOSE BEFORE THEY ARE PUBLISHED TO THE PUBLIC.

YOU KNOW THOSE ARE OR IF THOSE ARE STEPS THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN AND AND THEY MAKE THEY JUST MAY TAKE SOME TIME.

YOU KNOW WITH ELECTION DAY RESULTS WHETHER THEY'RE EARLY VOTING RESULTS ABSENTEE RESULTS OR ELECTION DAY OR EVEN THE RESULTS THAT WE WORK THROUGH DURING THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD.

OUR GOAL IS TO BE AS EXPEDIENT AS POSSIBLE.

BUT THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO BE ACCURATE AND SO YOU KNOW FOLKS NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT EVEN WITHOUT THIS CHANGE YOUR ELECTION DAY RESULTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE POSTED UNTIL PROBABLY 8:30 MAY BE THE EARLIEST PUSHING 9 O'CLOCK FOR MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE ALL OF OUR ELECTION RESULTS ARE BROUGHT IN FROM THE POLLING PLACES INTO THE ELECTION OFFICE.

THE ELECTION HEADQUARTERS AND THEN THEY'RE UPLOADED SO WE HAVE TO ALLOW FOR DRAFT TIME WE HAVE TO ALLOW FOR THE SHUTDOWN TIME AND THOSE THINGS TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE WERE EVER EVEN ABLE TO POST ELECTION DAY RESULTS.

OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> DO WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION IN THE ROOM?

KYLE DO YOU WANT TO GET TO THE MIC?

YES, WHO'S ONLINE?

>> THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS ONLINE.

OKAY THANKS BRIAN.

>> KYLE DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION.

YES WHEN ASKED ANOTHER SOME CROWDED PRIMARIES LIKE THE REPUBLICAN WON FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN BRIEFLY HOW THE RUNOFF PROCESS WOULD WORK.

>> YES IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE WE COULD HAVE A SECOND PRIMARY OR A RUN OFF TO OUR PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

AND IF A CANDIDATE.

DOES NOT RECEIVE 30% PLUS ONE OF THE VOTE.

THEN THE SECOND PLACE FINISHER CAN CALL FOR A SECOND PRIMARY OR RUNOFF TO THE PRIMARY.

AND YOU KNOW, YES AND WE HAVE SEVERAL CONTESTS ACROSS THE STATE SOME OF THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT YOU KNOW WE WON'T GET INTO INDIVIDUALLY.

BUT MORE PROMINENT ARE.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF CANDIDATES AND SEVERAL OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IN PARTICULAR WITH THE REPUBLICAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RACE.

SO WE WILL ALL BE WATCHING TO SEE IF THESE CANDIDATES ARE ABLE TO CROSS THAT THRESHOLD OF 30% PLUS ONE.

IF WE DO HAVE A SECOND PRIMARY I WILL JUST NOTE IF SORRY WE DO HAVE A SECOND PRIMARY I WILL NOTE THAT THAT DATE WOULD BE MAY THE 14TH.

THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME WHEN WE HAD 2 POSSIBLE DATES IN NORTH CAROLINA.

CHANGES IN ELECTION LAW HAVE REMEDIED THAT AND IT WILL BE HELD NO MATTER WHAT CONTEST.

IF WE HAVE A SECOND PRIMARY IT WOULD BE 10 WEEKS AFTER ELECTION DAY SAID THAT WOULD BE TUESDAY MAY THE 14TH.

SO THERE WAS A FOLLOW UP ONLINE.

>> READY FOR THAT READY FOR THAT.

>> BRYAN ANDERSON HERE TO CONFIRM YOU CAN YOU HEAR ME OK THERE.

>> YEAH I CAN.

>> PERFECT I JUST HAD A CAMPAIGN FINANCE QUESTION, I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE FILES IN THE SCENE TRANSACTIONS TO CANDIDATE THAT EXCEED THE $6400 LIMIT.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IS THERE A WAY CANDIDATES CAN DISTINGUISH A CONTRIBUTION.

IF.

SOMEONE IS CLAIMING THE CONTRIBUTION CAME FROM A COUPLE.

IN OTHER WORDS I'VE SEEN SOME LINE ITEMS OF $12,800.

IS THAT LEGAN IF IT COMES FROM A COUPLE AND WHAT WHAT WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION THE CANDIDATES, IF THEY GET A DONATION THAT EXCEEDS THAT $6400 LIMIT.

>> WE DON'T GET MANY CAMPAIGN FINANCE QUESTIONS DURING THESE PRESS AVAILABILITIES SO.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT THE THERE ARE REPORTING DEADLINES AND SO THE CANDIDATES AND THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR REPORT OUR AUDIT OR REVIEW FOR COMPLIANCE ON THOSE TAKES A PERIOD OF TIME SO WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANY.

YOU KNOW VIOLATIONS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONTRIBUTION LEVELS.

WE WILL WORK WITH THE COMMITTEES.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN EVEN FIND FURTHER DOWN INTO THOSE REPORTS WHERE THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED AND WHERE THERE'S BEEN A SOMEONE WHO'S EXCEEDED THE THRESHOLD OR THE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS OR PERHAPS MADE A CASH CONTRIBUTION OVER THE AMOUNT THAT'S PERMITTED SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES AND THEY WILL SELF CORRECT AND SHOW THAT FURTHER INTO THE REPORT.

WE ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH COMMITTEES IN THEIR REPORTING WHEN IT'S COUPLES AND IT BUT IT IS STILL INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND SO WE WORK THROUGH THAT AS WELL WITH THOSE COMMITTEE SO WITHOUT KNOWING THE EXACT SITUATION HAVING THAT IN FRONT OF ME I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST I CAN DESCRIBE.

HOW THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING PROCESS WORKS.

>> THERE ARE NO MORE CALLS ONLINE >> WELL I HOPE ALL OF YOU GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP JUST LIKE OUR WORKERS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DAY FOR YOU TOMORROW TO THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY AND WE WILL BE WITH YOU BELIEVE TOMORROW WE ANTICIPATE DOING ANOTHER MEDIA AVAILABILITY JUST TO LET YOU KNOW HOW THE OPENING OF POLLS GO AND AND BE READY FOR ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT COME WITH THIS 2024 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY SO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HAVE A GREAT DAY.