>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M KAREN BRINSON BELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND NORTH CAROLINA'S CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICIAL.

RIGHT NOW A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IS LEADING A GROUP OF FELLOW VOLUNTEERS IN SETTING UP A POLLING LOCATION AT MORE THAN 2600 SITES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

AND ALL 100 COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS OFFICES, CHAIN OF CUSTODY, DOCUMENTS ARE BEING REVIEWED WITH PRECINCT CHIEF JUDGES TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE ELECTION MATERIALS ARE AT ALL TIMES AND WHO HAS POSSESSION.

THE VOTING EQUIPMENT IS LOCKED, SEALED AND SECURED UNTIL BIPARTISAN OFFICIALS TURNED THE UNITS ON TOMORROW MORNING AND CONFIRM THE COUNT TO 0.

HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOMEONE ALSO BAKING CAKES AND CASSEROLES TO MAKE SURE ELECTION WORKERS GET FED TOMORROW SINCE FOLKS WHO WORK IN ELECTIONS ARRIVE AT 5.30 OR 06:00AM AND DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL VOTING IS DONE.

AND RESULTS ARE REPORTED.

EASILY A 15 HOUR DAY AND MAYBE LONGER.

THIS IS WHAT ELECTION EVE LOOKS LIKE.

OF COURSE VOTING HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR MANY WEEKS NOW THROUGH SUNDAY.

MORE THAN 143,000 VOTERS HAVE CAST THEIR BALLOT ABSENTEE BY MAIL.

WHILE MORE THAN 2 MILLION OPTED TO VOTE IN PERSON DURING THE ONE-STOP EARLY VOTING PERIOD.

THIS EXCEEDS THE 2018 TURNOUT AT THIS POINT BY 110,000 VOTES.

FOR THOSE NORTH CAROLINIANS WHO WISH TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

WE ARE READY TO SERVE YOU.

ALL ELECTION DAY PRECINCT POLLING PLACES WILL BE OPEN FROM 06:30AM TO 07:30PM AND STAFFED BY TRAINED BIPARTISAN MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

IF YOU'RE IN LINE AT 07:30PM YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE.

REMEMBER ELECTION DAY VOTERS MUST VOTE AT THEIR PRECINCT POLLING LOCATION.

THIS INFORMATION AS WELL AS VOTERS SAMPLE BALLOT CAN BE FOUND THROUGH THE VOTER SEARCH TOOL ON THE STATE BOARD WEBSITE INSEE SPE .GOV.

AT THE CLOSE OF POLLS TOMORROW NIGHT COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTION.

WELL UPLOAD THE ABSENTEE BY MAIL AND ONE-STOP EARLY VOTING RESULTS AT 07:30PM OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

ELECTION DAY RESULTS WILL BE REPORTED ON THE STATE BOARD WEBSITE.

AGAIN IN SEE SPE .GOV AS THE RESULTS AND OTHER ELECTION MATERIALS ARE DELIVERED TO THE COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS.

BECAUSE PRECINCT OFFICIALS MUST DRIVE FROM ELECTION DAY VOTING SITES TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE.

THE RELEASE OF RESULTS MAY BEGIN AS EARLY AS 08:30PM AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT.

ALL RESULTS RELEASED ON ELECTION NIGHT ARE UNOFFICIAL.

ANY CONTESTS THAT ARE DECLARED WILL BE DONE SO BY THE MEDIA CANDIDATES OR POLITICAL SCIENTIST.

THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS TO NOT DECLARE WINNERS ON ELECTION NIGHT.

AFTER ELECTION DAY.

ALL 100 COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS BEGIN THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY AND INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION.

BALLOTS AND POLL BOOKS ARE RECONCILED A SAMPLE HOT HAND I AUDIT OF AT LEAST 2 VOTING SITES IS IN IN EVERY COUNTY IS CONDUCTED.

PROVISIONAL BALLOTS ARE RESEARCHED AND CONSIDERED AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS PROPERLY POSTMARKED BY ELECTION DAY AND RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 14TH ARE PRESENTED TO THE BIPARTISAN BOARD.

THIS CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND THE FINAL RELEASE OF ELECT IN RESULTS.

COLEMAN WITH THE CANVAS MEETING OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS 10 DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION.

WHICH IS THIS YEAR IS NOVEMBER.

THE 18TH.

ADDITIONAL AUDITS AND VERIFICATION WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE BOARD WILL MEET NOVEMBER 29TH FOR THE FINAL CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTIONS SUBJECT TO ANY RECOUNTS OR PROTESTS.

WHAT'S CONTESTS ARE CERTIFIED.

THE COUNTY BOARD OR THE STATE BOARD ISSUES A CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION WHICH AUTHORIZES THE WINNING CANDIDATE TO BE SWORN INTO OFFICE.

I'LL NOW TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

AND I'M JOINED TODAY BY ARE GENERAL COUNSEL PAUL COX.

>> HAS WON IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION PRESS WANTED TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

>> SO DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY MAIL BALLOT ARE STILL OUTSTANDING.

>> I HAVE THAT NUMBER OFFHAND JOKE BUT YOU CAN CONTACT RPI AND WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU ANY INFORMATION ON THAT.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JUST TO BURY THE NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO GO AHEAD.

LET'S GO TO THE NEED TO AVOID FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GO AHEAD.

>> I WONDER IF YOU CAN GIVE ANY KIND OF AN ESTIMATE AS TO HOW MANY INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT OR INTIMIDATION.

THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT AT THE POLLS DURING EARLY VOTING AND OF THOSE HOW MANY ROSE TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY WERE REPORTED TO POLICE OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

>> I THINK THE BEST WAY I CAN EXPLAIN THAT AS WE HAVE ABOUT 15 SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED UP TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR INVESTIGATIVE INVESTIGATIONS UNIT TO PURSUE FATHER AND INVESTIGATE FATHER.

THERE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE DIST DE-ESCALATED AT THE VOTING SITES.

OR YOU KNOW JUST RESOLVED BY THE INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES.

BUT YOU KNOW WE WE HAVE ABOUT 15 SITUATIONS THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO FATHER.

AT THIS POINT AND WE WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THEY NEED TO BE ELEVATED BEYOND THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

>> AND WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP AFTER OF ELEVATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR.

>> COULD BE SITUATIONS WHERE YES THERE COULD BE SITUATIONS WHERE.

>> DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE IT COULD BE A VOTER INTIMIDATION OR SOMETHING THAT INTERFERES WITH THE VOTERS ABILITY TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.

THOSE COULD BE RAISED TO DOJ IS CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.

BUT WE'RE NOT THE PROSECUTOR'S WE'LL TURN THAT OVER TO DOJ OR POTENTIALLY IT COULD BE A SITUATION THAT WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO A DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

>> COULD YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT KINDS OF INCIDENTS, HE'S SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT SHOULD SAY.

>> FOR THE MOST PART ARE MOST EGREGIOUS SITUATIONS HAVE BEEN.

>> IN THE ELECTIONEERING AREA.

EITHER BETWEEN CAMPAIGNERS THEMSELVES OR I'M IN IN THAT YOU KNOW THEIR APPROACH TOWARDS VOTERS WE'VE HAD A FEW SITUATIONS INVOLVING INTERACTIONS WITH OUR ELECTION OFFICIALS.

WE HAD ONE CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE SOME INDIVIDUALS WERE OUTSIDE THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS.

MATERIALS WERE BEING BROUGHT IN BY ONE-STOP SITES AND SOME INDIVIDUALS BEGAN VIDEOING THE ONE-STOP WORKERS AND SOME INDIVIDUALS EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO VIDEO THEIR LICENSE PLATE.

WE DID HAVE A SITUATION IN ANOTHER COUNTY WHERE A ONE-STOP WORKER WAS FOLLOWED FROM THE VOTING SITE TO THE ELECTIONS OFFICE AND THEN FOLLOWED TO THEIR HOME.

THIS IS POSSIBLY THE MOST EGREGIOUS SITUATION THAT WE'VE HAD AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT NONE OF THIS IS OK. WE WANT STABILITY.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT WITHOUT FEAR OF INTIMIDATION OR INTERFERENCE.

WE ASKED THAT THE CAMPAIGNERS BE RESPECTFUL.

AND YOU KNOW GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT WITHOUT INTIMIDATING VOTERS OR INTIMIDATING OTHER CANDIDATES ARE CAMPAIGNERS.

WE ASK THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT THESE ARE BIPARTISAN OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO DO THE JOB OF A PRECINCT OFFICIAL AND THEY ARE GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE VOTERS ARE ABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

FORTUNATELY SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN MORE EGREGIOUS HAVE NOT COME TO NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVEN'T BEEN IMMUNE TO THIS.

WE ALSO ASK FOLKS TO RECOGNIZE THAT OBSERVERS ARE PROPERLY APPOINTED OBSERVERS COME THROUGH THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF WHAT OUR ELECTION LAW ALLOWS AND DOES NOT ALLOW IN TERMS OF OBSERVATION AND THAT YOU KNOW THEY ARE OBSERVING PEOPLE OF THIS VERY VERY COMMUNITIES.

THESE BIPARTISAN OFFICIALS COME FROM THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO SHOP IN THE SAME GROCERY STORES THAT COULD BE A FORMER BASKETBALL COACH THEY COULD BE SOMEONE WHO SINGS IN THE CHURCH CHOIR RIGHT NOW.

THESE FOLKS ARE GIVING OF THEIR TIME BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN ELECTIONS THEY BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY AND THEY ARE READY TO CARRY THAT OUT FOR OUR BOATERS.

>> IF YOU SAY WHERE THE MOST EGREGIOUS ONE WAS THE INCIDENT YOU TALKED ABOUT WHERE SOMEBODY WITH A 1 ONE CALL THAT PERSON A ONE-STOP POLL WORKER OR A QUITE HEAR WHAT YOU SAID.

>> AS WE CONSIDER OUR EARLY VOTING PERIOD.

WE CALL THAT ONE-STOP EARLY VOTING.

AND SO IT WAS A WORKER WHO WAS LEAVING ONE OF THE ONE-STOP EARLY VOTING SITES CAME BACK TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITH THERE DAILY MATERIALS AND THEY WERE FOLLOWED AND THEN THE INDIVIDUAL.

FOLLOWED THE WORKER TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THAT WOULD DO THE PERSON APPROACHED THE WORKER.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL.

>> THE MORE INFORMATION THAT.

WITH THAT IN WAKE COUNTY.

>> THAT INCIDENT HAPPENED IN COLUMBUS COUNTY.

>> THE OKAY, THANKS VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KATE MARTIN WITH NBC NEWS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANKS FOR TAKING MY QUESTION.

I NOTICED THAT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS GOING TO BE MONITORING POLLS IN 24 STATES AND AMONG THOSE ARE 5 COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA.

YOU KNOW WHY THOSE 5 COUNTIES WERE SELECTED AND YOU KNOW IF THE BOARD OF ELECTION IN THOSE COUNTIES ARE HAVING TO FOLLOW DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES BECAUSE OF OBSERVATION.

>> IT IS VERY TYPICAL FOR US DOJ TO MONITOR IN STATES THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON.

WE'VE HAD THAT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA BEFORE SO THEY HAVE COMMUNICATED THAT TO US THE SELECTION PROCESS I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TURN TO THEM AND AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR SELECTION PROCESS BUT YEAH THESE I CAN SAY THAT YOU KNOW IN MANY OF THESE SITUATIONS, THOSE COUNTIES HAVE HAD.

YOU KNOW VOTER INTIMIDATION OR VOTER INTERFERENCE ISSUES BE BROUGHT UP BEFORE NOT NECESSARILY YOU HAVE CONFIRMED, BUT NESTOR THEY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP AND YOU KNOW WE'VE HAD A FEW SITUATION SOME OF THE 15 INCIDENTS THAT I MENTIONED ARE 15 OR SO HAVE OCCURRED IN SOME OF THESE COUNTIES SO WE SUSPECT THAT WOULD BE WHY.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH US DOJ ABOUT WHAT OUR OBSERVER STATUTES ARE AND WE HAVE A GOOD LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH THEM.

WE SEE THIS AS A POSITIVE IT'S ENSURING THAT THE VOTERS ARE ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE AND IT WILL NOT CHANGE HOW WE CONDUCT OURSELVES.

IF ANYTHING IT'S POTENTIALLY ANOTHER LEVEL OF SUPPORT.

I WILL ASK OUR GENERAL COUNSEL HE HAS ANYTHING TO ADD SINCE I KNOW HE'S BEEN IN COMMUNICATION.

HE DOES NOT >> AND YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW THOSE COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS ARE ALLOWING THE DOJ IN BECAUSE I KNOW THE COUNTIES HAVE THEIR OWN ON HOW MANY UP FOR ME AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO.

FOLLOW EVERY SINGLE THING TO SAY THAT I THINK.

>> YEAH I'M LIKE OUR GENERAL COUNSEL FOR WHAT WE KNOW YOU'RE FINE AND I COULD ANSWER, BUT I THINK IT BETTERS IS ANSWERED BY GENERAL COUNSEL.

>> SO ARE THE NORTH CAROLINA ELECTION LAWS APPLY IN ALL COUNTIES OF THE COUNTIES DON'T HAVE DISCRETION TO CHOOSE WHICH ONES THEY APPLY OR DON'T APPLY AT ALL POLLING PLACES ACROSS THE STATE ABIDE BY THE SAME RULES.

IN ALL THE INSTANCES INSTANCES WHEN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS GOING TO VISIT A POLLING PLACE OR VISITS AN ELECTIONS OFFICE, THEY'RE ABIDING BY THE SAME RULES WHETHER THEY'RE IN ONE COUNTY OR ANOTHER.

IN OUR RULES ALLOW FOR FEDERAL MONITORS TO MONITOR ELECTION FROM OUTSIDE THE VOTING LOCATION.

SPEAK TO VOTERS AS THEY'RE COMING AND GOING FROM OUTSIDE THE VOTING LOCATION SPEAK ELECTION NEARS CAMPAIGNERS AND THE LIKE AND ALSO TO ATTEND.

COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS MEETINGS AT THE COUNTY BOARD OFFICE.

THOSE ARE THE THOSE ARE THE GENERAL PARAMETERS THAT ARE ALLOWED IN OUR COUNTIES IN THE COUNTIES THAT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT OBSERVATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE KNOW ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

>> LET'S SHOW YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

NO NOT NOT AT ALL I APPRECIATE THE THOROUGH RESPONSE.

MIKE THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM DAN KNOW WHAT SHES LOW WITH THE WALL STREET JOURNAL THE NO.

>> YEAH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US.

I WONDERED IF YOU COULD COMPARE THE NUMBER OF IT AND THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED 15 2 PREVIOUS ELECTION AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION AFTER THAT.

>> I'M REALLY THESE ARE PRETTY WELL IN LINE.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT.

COMPARED TO OTHER PARTICULARLY LARGE ELECTIONS AND GIVEN THAT WE HAVE A 100 COUNTIES AND WE'VE HAD 17 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING.

YOU KNOW WE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 15 IS.

AS YOU KNOW NOT OVERLY CONCERNING THOUGH SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE OVERLY CONCERNING AND WE CERTAINLY WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW WE NEED A LEVEL OF CIVILITY.

TOO TO YOU.

TO TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT TO BE HOW WE BEHAVE AND THAT YOU KNOW EVERYBODY JUST BE COMMITTED TO ALLOWING VOTERS TO HAVE THEIR VOICE AND THE CAST THEIR BALLOT.

>> AND THEN COULD YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF EARLY VOTERS.

HOW MANY OF THEM ARE.

AND HOW MANY OF THEM ARE AFRICAN OF AIR.

HOW DOES THAT COMPARE IT TO YOU.

>> I'D ASK THAT YOU GO ON OUR STATE BOARD WEBSITE.

WE HAVE A DETAILED DOCUMENT THAT WE PUBLISH EACH DAY.

WITH THAT INFORMATION AND AN EVEN MORE DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWNS.

SO NC SPE .GOV OR YOU CAN REACH OUT TO RPI.

>> I CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT I JUST DIDN'T SEE THE BREAKDOWN FOR 20.

>> IDA'S WE CAN STILL GET YOU THAT THEM.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TRAVIS FAIN WRAL KIND OF THAT.

>> YEAH THANKS FOR THE QUESTION THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS YOU ARE TRACKING GIVEN SOME OF THE RHETORIC LEADING INTO THE ELECTION AND THE CONCERN THAT ELECTION THAN AYERS AND THEIR EFFORTS TO TRAIN POLL WORKERS WOULD REALLY CAUSE SOME PROBLEMS.

IT SEEMS LIKE AN ENCOURAGING NUMBER BUT I'D RATHER HEAR YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THAT THAN MINE.

>> YEAH WE HAVE ONE MORE BIG DAY OF VOTING TO STILL OVERSEE AND A CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THE 15 FOR WHAT THEY ARE AND SEE IT AS A GOOD SIGN, BUT I'M NOT LETTING MY GUARD DOWN.

WE CERTAINLY SEE THESE AS.

YOU KNOW MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN ACTS OF INTIMIDATION AND INTERFERENCE AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE FROM THAT AS GUIDANCE OF HOW WE SHOULD CONDUCT OURSELVES TOMORROW AND AND SEE HOW THAT ALL PANS OUT BUT YOU KNOW IT WE HAVE CERTAINLY PREPARE OURSELVES FOR.

SOME AREAS THAT WE HAVE NEVER FACED IN ELECTIONS AND YOU KNOW WE ARE READY.

WE HAVE.

>> PARTNERED WITH OUR STATE OFFICIALS AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE NORTH COUNTY SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION AND THE CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION BECAUSE IF WE RAN ABLE TO DE-ESCALATE A SITUATION WE WILL CALL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THAT IF A VOTER WISHES TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.

THEY CAN DO SO WITHOUT INTERFERENCE OR WITHOUT HAVING.

YOU KNOW ANY IMPEDIMENT TO DOING SO.

>> WHEN YOU COMPARE.

THE THE TENOR OF THIS ELECTION BASED ON THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WE'VE SEEN ANYTHING OUT.

BUT THE APPROPRIATE AT THE POLLING CUT TOO.

THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS, SO THAT WE HAD.

SPRING.

>> WE HAD A SIMILAR NUMBER OF INCIDENTS REPORTED TO US IN THE SPRING.

YOU KNOW SO I I IT SEEMS THAT MAYBE THE TEMPERATURES ABOUT THE SAME.

BUT I CAN SAY TO HAVE WORKED IN ELECTION SINCE 2006.

THIS PERSONALLY MY OBSERVATION IS THAT THE TEMPERATURES HIGHER THIS YEAR.

THEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN YEARS PAST.

WE ARE PREPARED IN A WAY PERSON AREAS THAT YOU KNOW WE WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF YEARS AGO WE HAVE NOT BEEN IMMUNE TO THREATS AND HARASSMENT AND HOSTILE.

HOSTILITY TOWARDS ELECTION OFFICIALS.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST TOWARDS ME THAT'S TOWARDS.

YOU KNOW WORKERS AND COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS AND IT'S NOT OK.

BUT YOU KNOW WE ARE ASKING THAT PEOPLE RESPECT THAT THESE ARE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY THESE ARE ELECTION PROFESSIONALS.

WE HAVE TAKEN OWES FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO AND OUR PASSION AND OUR COMMITMENT AS AN ELECTION PROFESSIONAL IS TO SEE THAT THIS YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CONDUCT SAFE SECURE.

FAIR AND FREE ELECTIONS AND THAT IS OUR OUR OBJECTIVE.

YOU KNOW IT AND NOT GONE ONE, THAT'S HOW TOMORROW WILL GO AS WELL.

>> AND THE FINAL QUESTION FOR ME TO JUST KIND OF 30,000 FOOT VIEW.

HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WAY THE GENERAL ELECTION HAS GONE SO FAR.

>> I AM YOU KNOW I DON'T WANT TO JINX US THINGS HAVE GONE VERY WELL AND YOU WERE JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GOOD DAY TOMORROW, THE METEOROLOGISTS HAVE WAIVED THEIR MAGIC WAND AND WE'RE LOOKING AT GOOD WEATHER ACROSS THE STATE.

OUR FOLKS ARE READY.

THEY'VE HAD ADDITIONAL TRAINING WE'VE HAD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

PUT FORWARD WERE NOT IN THE SAME PANDEMIC SITUATION SO WE'RE READY TO GO AND WE'RE OPTIMISTIC AND WE HOPE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT WE'LL SEE TOMORROW IS CIVILITY.

MOST OF THE TEMPERATURE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ELEVATED IN THE ELECTIONEERING AND CAMPAIGNING AREA AND WE HOPE THAT YOU KNOW THOSE FOLKS CAN FIND IT THAT IT THEY CAN JUST BE GOOD STEWARDS OF DEMOCRACY TOO.

AND REPRESENT THEIR CANDIDATES.

WELL.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MICHAEL PRATT WITH WCPO TELEVISION MICHAEL.

>> HEY THANK YOU ACTUALLY I THINK WE HIT ALL OF THE TALKING POINTS HERE THAT I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW I AM ALL SET.

>> THANKS MICHAEL.

>> LET'S GO TO JIM MILLER OVER WITH WRAL'S HE BEAT YOU KNOW.

HEAR NOTHING FROM JAIL.

>> WE HAVE BEEN IN THE ROOM.

>> THE HIGHLAND HE'S BEEN STANDING HERE FOR A WHILE.

>> THANK YOU OUT WE HAD SEVERAL TOP SO WHEN ASKED ABOUT THAT THE ONLY THING I HAD LEFT IS WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO ANY CANDIDATES ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO MAY ALREADY BE TRYING TO SOW ANY DOUBT AND MISTRUST ABOUT THE ELECTION RESULTS IN THE EVENT THAT THERE ARE SIMPLY JUST DOESN'T GO THEIR WAY.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION MICHAEL I THINK WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND CANDIDATES.

THE VOTERS IS THAT THESE ARE TRIED AND TRUE PROCESSES.

HOW WE CONDUCT THIS ELECTION IS JUST AS WE CONDUCTED PREVIOUS ELECTIONS.

WE ARE THOROUGH IN OUR TESTING IN OUR CHAIN OF CUSTODY IN THE WAY THAT WE SECURE THE ELECTIONS IN OUR TRAINING OF THESE BIPARTISAN OFFICIALS AND IN ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO AS WE HAVE COVERED YOU KNOW OUR PROCESSES FOR ELECTION NIGHT.

THESE ARE THE SAME PROCESS IS THAT WE HAVE FOLLOWED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

WE WILL NOT HAVE OFFICIAL RESULTS TONIGHT THAT WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL WE HAVE CERTIFIED THIS ELECTION.

WE WILL BE RELEASING OUR ABSENTEE BY MAIL AND OUR EARLY VOTING RESULTS.

YOU KNOW AS SOON AS THE POLLS CLOSE AND THEN WE'LL WAIT FOR THOSE PRECINCT RESULTS TO BE DRIVEN TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND TO BE RELEASED.

THIS IS OUR NORMAL PROCESS.

IF WE'RE LATE INTO THE NIGHT.

THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON EITHER AND WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THE JOB DONE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO A CERTIFICATION PERIOD.

AND THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON.

WE HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS UPON YEARS.

WE HAVE A CERTIFICATION PERIOD IN THE COUNTIES THAT LAST FOR 10 DAYS AND THEN WE FOLLOW IT UP WITH THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND A NUMBER OF AUDITS.

WE CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK AND TRIPLE CHECK THE WORK THAT WE DO BUT BIPARTISAN OFFICIALS WHO HAVE TAKEN US TO CONDUCT THIS ELECTION TO DENY THAT IS TO DENY HOW WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING ELECTIONS FOR DECADES.

AND YOU KNOW I HOPE THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THESE ARE TRUSTED ELECTION OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO WHAT THEY DO.

WE'VE EVEN SEEN A OF FOCUS ON ONE WORKER WHO HAS WORKED FOR 50 YEARS AND ANOTHER WHOSE WORK FOR 46 YEARS.

THESE PEOPLE DO NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY AND IF THEY DON'T TRUST THE PROCESS THAN ASKED THAT THEY FOLLOW THE OTHER PROCESSES THAT ARE IN PLACE AND PRESENT US WITH A PROTESTER, A CHALLENGE THAT PROVIDES EVIDENCE AS TO WHY THESE WOULD NOT BE FAIR AND SECURE ELECTIONS BUT THAT IS OUR JOB AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL DO.

AND >> NEXT WE HAVE VERY ROBERTSON ON THE PHONE FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

THERE.

>> I CARE AND I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN PREVIOUS ELECTION CYCLES WHERE INVARIABLY A POLL WORKER OVER SLEEPS OR THE POWER GOES OUT OF THE PRECINCTS THAT ARE IN THE SHEENS ARE PER UNIT OF BREAKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OR MAYBE PAUL CAN ABOUT.

HOW IT'S DETERMINED THAT POTENTIALLY.

POLLS WILL CONTINUE PAST 7.30.

AND DOES SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN ONE CAN AND ONE PRECINCT DOES THAT EFFECT THE RELEASE OF RESULTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

>> SCARY AND THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION YOU PHRASED IT VERY WELL.

INEVITABLY WE DO TEND TO HAVE THINGS HAPPEN.

AS YOU SAID POLL WORKER MAY OVER SLEEP.

WE MIGHT HAVE AN ACCIDENT TAKE PLACE THAT BLOCKS THE ACCESS TO GET TO THE POLLING PLACE IN THE MORNING.

THINGS HAPPEN BUT WE'RE PREPARED TO ADDRESS THOSE OUR LAW SAYS THAT IF WE HAVE A DISRUPTION IN VOTING WEATHER AT THE START OR SOMETIME DURING THE DAY THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THAT 15 MINUTES OR MORE.

THEN WE CAN COME TO THE STATE BOARD AND HAVE AN EMERGENCY MEETING WHERE THE STATE BOARD CAN CONSIDER EXTENDING THE POLLING THE OPENING OF THAT POLLING LOCATION BY THE NUMBER OF MINUTES OF THE DISRUPTION.

SO IT WILL BE DECIDED BY THE STATE BOARD THROUGH AN EMERGENCY MEETING.

IF THAT TAKES PLACE TRADITIONALLY WHAT WE HAVE INSTEAD HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO IS TO HOLD THE RESULTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND TOLD THE THAT POLLING LOCATION OR LOCATIONS HAVE COMPLETED THEIR EXTENDED PERIOD OF VOTING AND THEN WE WILL BEGIN RELEASING THE RESULTS.

OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT THE RESULTS TO IMPACT ANYONE'S.

DESIRE TO VOTE OR HOW THEY YOU KNOW WHICH USED TO VOTE SAID THAT'S WHY WE HOLD THAT RESULTS TYPICALLY.

>> OK THANK YOU ONE MORE QUICK THING I THINK WILL BE A SHORT ANSWER CAN YOU REMIND ME WHEN BY STATE LAW YOU'RE REQUIRED TO TELL THE PUBLIC HOW MANY OUTSTANDING.

MAIL-IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS COULD POTENTIALLY COME IN BEFORE THE 14TH.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT I DON'T RECALL A LOT ABOUT THE ABSENTEE BY MAIL BALLOTS NOW OF YEAH, ITS PROVISIONAL BALLOTS WHERE WE RELEASE A REPORT THAT THIS THURSDAY NEW.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE IT THAT WHEN DO YOU TELL US THAT.

WE PROVIDE THE PROVISIONAL LIST 48 HOURS AFTER THE ELECTION.

SO THAT WILL BE RELEASED ON THURSDAY.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF THE SCIENTISTS FOCUSED 100 TELEPHONE HE DOES.

LET'S GO TO JORDAN WILL BE CERTAIN GET THIS DONE.

>> I DO HAVE A COUPLE JUST PROCESS QUESTIONS I HOPE THEY'RE QUICK AND THEY'RE WITH ME CAN YOU JUST PROVIDE QUICK TIMELINE ON THE INVESTIGATION THAT YOU HAVE THE 15 OUTSTANDING INCIDENTS.

I KNOW YOU'LL HAVE SMALL INVESTIGATIONS TEAM.

SO JUST SET MY EXPECTATIONS FOR HOW LONG THAT TAKES WHAT INFORMATION OUT OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS BECOME PUBLIC RECORD.

>> YOU KNOW WE WILL JUST HANDLE EACH ONE OF THEM AS THEY COME ABOUT.

AND EACH ONE IS GOING TO HAVE ITS OWN UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS.

AND YOU KNOW I THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE THAT IT CAN'T NECESSARILY COMMENT ON ANY GREAT DETAIL THAT WE CAN PROVIDE YOU A LIMITED ABOUT OF OF INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE THROUGH RPI HAVE IF YOU NEED.

>> ALL RIGHT AND THEN ON THOSE INVESTIGATIONS I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY OF AND COLUMBUS COUNTY WHERE A PORK WAS FOLLOWED HOME DOES THE FDA HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ARE INVESTIGATING THAT OR TO THE DOJ SAFE THEY THINK YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS MAY THINK THIS COULD BE A CRIME THEY CAN BEGIN THEIR INVESTIGATION BEFORE THE S P REFER SENSITIVE.

>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO PAUL COX.

>> JORDAN YEAH, SO IF YOU'RE FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OF COURSE THEY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY FEDERAL CRIMES AND IF THEY WANTED TO INVESTIGATE AND INCIDENTS THEY COULD DO SO THEY WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE STATE BOARD BY ANY MEANS.

SAME WITH ANY CRIME THAT WOULD BE PUNISHABLE UNDER OUR STATE LAWS.

A LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTION, WHETHER IT'S POLICE DEPARTMENT OR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT COULD INVESTIGATE THAT AND TURN IT OVER TO A LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY AS WELL SO YOU KNOW ALL THIS HAPPENED SORT OF A COORDINATED AND CONCURRENT FASHION.

SO THERE COULD BE AN INCIDENT THAT'S BEING INVESTIGATED BOTH OF THE LOCAL LEVEL AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THE SAME TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT THANKS FOR THAT.

AND I'M PULLING UP ON THE DAY SITTING THERE DO PUBLIC OBSERVATION I'M ALL FOR FOR ALL AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE OBSERVATION TEAM TO BE THE SAME AS JUST GENERAL PUBLIC OBSERVATIONS AND OUT OF THE BUFFER ZONE FOR GETTING PEOPLE TO COME AND GO.

AND ATTENDING BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND MEETINGS IS THERE ANY SPECIAL ACCEPT THAT, BUT DID YOU EVER HAVE OR IS IT JUST US AND THE PUBLIC.

>> THE ACCESS PROVISIONS ARE THE SAME THAT THAT ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHICH ARE PRETTY EXTENSIVE SINCE YOU KNOW ALL OF OUR MEETINGS WERE COUNTING BALLOTS ALL THE MEETINGS WHERE THEY ARE ADJUDICATED PROVISIONAL BALLOTS AND THAT'S WHERE THING ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

IN ADDITION TO THE POLLING PLACE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING HAVE A SPEAKING TO VOTERS SPEAKING TO CANDIDATES OBSERVERS TO COME OUT CAN SPEAK TO THEM AS WELL, BUT YEAH, THERE'S NO PROVISION IN STATE LAW THAT WOULD ALLOW FEDERAL OBSERVER OF THAT A SPECIAL ACCESS.

THAT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.

>> AND ON ACCESS.

ON ELECTION NIGHT TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS OF THE CLOSE OF POLLS AND ELECTION I RESULTS AND EQUIPMENT HAS RETURNED TO THE CENTRAL US.

>> SURE SO OUR LAW ALLOWS THAT ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS INTERESTED IN WITNESSING.

THE COUNTING OF THE BALLOTS CAN DO SO AT THE PRECINCT POLLING LOCATION.

ON ELECTION DAY WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE AT 7.30 OR THEREABOUTS THAT MEANS THAT THE POLLING LOCATIONS CAN OPEN UP IN A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS THERE CAN COME INSIDE AND WATCH.

THE PRECINCT OFFICIALS THE BIPARTISAN PRECINCT OFFICIALS TABULATE THE FINAL RESULTS FROM THE TABULATORS IN THAT VOTING LOCATION.

SIGN OFF ON THE FINAL RESULTS AND THOSE GET POSTED AND THE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY SEE A COPY OF THE PUT THE TABULATE RESULTS FROM THAT.

INDIVIDUAL PRECINCT VOTING LOCATION.

WHEN THEY'RE FINISHED TABULATING RESULTS AT THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE.

THEY'RE ALSO COUNTING BALLOTS.

THEY'RE COUNTING THE BALLOTS FROM THE ONE-STOP EARLY VOTING SITES BECAUSE THOSE CANNOT BE COUNTED BY LAW UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

AND THEY CANNOT BE REAL RESULTS CANNOT BE RELEASED UNTIL AFTER THE POLLS CLOSE ON ELECTION DAY AS WELL SO THE COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS.

THE FIVE-MEMBER BIPARTISAN BOARDS WE'LL BE MEETING ON ELECTION DAY TO COUNT THOSE ABSENTEE ONE STOP ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN ANY OTHER ABSENTEE BY MAIL BALLOTS THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED SO FAR AND THE TALLY OF THOSE WILL BE RELEASED.

BY THE BOARD AT THAT PUBLIC MEETING AS LONG AS IT'S YOU KNOW AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE POLLS.

>> AND ON THAT NOTE THERE'S A A PROVISION THAT SAYS COUNTIES CAN ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO BEGIN COUNTY EARLY VOTES EARLIER IN THE DAY ON ELECTION DAY.

YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON HOW MANY COUNTIES OR MAYBE EVERY COUNTY.

IS THE CANS COUNTING ABSENTEE VOTES.

AND PREPARES THEM FOR POSTING 7.30 OR POLLS CLOSE IN THEIR COUNTY.

>> THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES PROVIDE NOTICE OF WHEN THEIR ABSENTEE BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD.

THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOLD THOSE AT 2 O'CLOCK OR 5 O'CLOCK ON ELECTION DAY.

I KNOW MOST DO TEND TO OPT FOR 2 O'CLOCK JUST THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO PROCESS ALL OF THOSE BALLOTS THAT HAVE CUT.

YEAH IT HAPPENED DURING THE ONE-STOP EARLY VOTING PERIOD AND FOR THE ABSENTEE BY MAIL.

>> AND.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THE LAW BUT THERE'S A.

>> THE MASTER CALENDAR.

THEY'LL PUT THAT IN THE CASE THAT THE NOTIFICATION ABSENTEE BALLOT COUNTING DEADLINES.

IS ON ELECTION DAY AS ARE ANY VOTER CHALLENGES.

THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN ON ELECTION DAY THEY NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE BALLOTS SUBMITTED.

IS THAT ACCURATE.

BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ALRIGHT ON THE QUESTION.

>> I THINK THE QUESTIONS ABOUT CHALLENGING ABSENTEE BALLOT.

THE THE ABSENTEE BALLOT CHALLENGE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT A CHALLENGE BE BROUGHT BETWEEN NOON AND 05:00PM ON ELECTION DAY UNLESS THE BALLOT AS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AFTER THAT TIME WHICH CASE THERE'S A THERE'S A GRACE PERIOD AFTER ELECTION DAY.

I BELIEVE IT'S 2 DAYS IN THE STATUTE AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THAT BALLOT FOR A CHALLENGE.

>> SO THAT BEING THE CASE SORT OF BASED ON MY PREVIOUS REPORTING I KNOW SOME GROUPS IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT AT LEAST SPOKEN OF HAVING LISTS OF THEY WHAT THEY CALL SUSPICIOUS OWNERS THAT THEY WOULD SHUN CHALLENGES FOR SOME SORT OF A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO FOR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION YOU ALL COULD HAVE OF A BUNCH OF CHALLENGES COME IN BETWEEN NOON AND 05:00PM TOMORROW AS YOU HEARD ANY INDICATION OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING OR IF YOU HAVE ANY SORT OF RESPONSE I'M PREPARED TO ACCEPT US.

>> THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE ABSENTEE CHALLENGE PROCESS.

CERTAINLY IF IT WERE SOME SORT OF IN MASS CHALLENGE PROCESS THAT WILL BE VERY DIFFERENT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING THAT IS INDICATING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT OF COURSE WILL BE PREPARED FOR WHATEVER MAY COME.

OUR LAWS ARE PRETTY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN CHALLENGE A VOTER.

THE GROUNDS THAT YOU CAN USE TO CHALLENGE TO ABSENTEE VOTER.

AND THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS UNDER FEDERAL LAW ABOUT THE GROUNDS FOR CHALLENGING ABSENTEE VOTER.

THOSE A VERY CLEAR IN A COURT CASE A FEW YEARS AGO.

FEDERAL FEDERAL COURT CASE WHERE THE JUDGE SAYS THAT YOU CAN ONLY CHALLENGE A BALLOT BASED UPON SOME MOVING OUT THE JURISDICTION FOR SPECIFIC REASONS IN A SPECIFIC PROCESS.

SO YOU KNOW OUR OUR RULES ARE CLEAR ON THIS OUR COUNTY BOARDS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS AND WE'LL WE'LL TAKE WHATEVER COMES BUT BUT YOU KNOW ANYBODY WAS CONSIDERING THIS NEEDS TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS AND WHAT THE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW.

AND ALSO TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT OUR CHALLENGE STATUTES REQUIRE YOU TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT YOU BELIEVE THIS INFORMATION IS TRUE.

SO IF ANYONE IS GOING TO FILE FRIVOLOUS CHALLENGES FOR EXAMPLE THAT WOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW.

>> THAT'S ALL MY MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS YOU KNOW YET MORE BUT I WANT A COUPLE AND I APPRECIATE YOU INTERNAL US.

IF YOU JORDAN.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MATT BARNETT WITH THE NEWS AND OBSERVER.

I'M NOT GOING.

>> THANKS FOR THANKS TO DO.

YOU SAY WHETHER THERE'S ANY INCREASE NUMBER YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT HAVE BEEN FILED GOING EARLY VOTING.

>> I DON'T HAVE IT OFF HAND.

WEEK DO YOU HAVE A REPORT.

YEAH RPO CAN GET YOU SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.

>> AND THE SAME FOR CHALLENGES TO VOTERS HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE ACTIVITY.

>> NOW WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN IN A PARTICULAR INCREASING CHALLENGES TO VOTERS THROUGH THIS ELECTION.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SIGNATURE MATCHES ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

HOW THAT WORKS.

BUT PROBLEMS LIKE I'M UP THERE.

>> I CAN GIVE YOU A NON ATTORNEY'S ANSWER AND THEN OUR GENERAL COUNSEL CAN ANSWER FURTHER IF NEED BE THAT OUR STATE HAS A PROCESS WHERE OUR BALLOTS ARE TESTED ARE ABSENTEE BY MAIL BALLOTS.

THE VOTER SIGNS AND IT'S A TESTED BY 2 WITNESSES THAT THOSE THAT INDIVIDUAL IS THE PERSON WHO MARCHED THAT BALLOT AND IS THE VOTER.

ALTERNATIVELY THEY COULD HAVE A NOTARY TO DO THE SAME THING AND THAT'S OUR VERIFICATION PROCESS.

THE LAW IS SILENT THERE IS NO INSTRUCTION TO ELECTION WORKERS IN NORTH CAROLINA TO DO A SIGNATURE COMPARISON.

ARE AT STATION PROCESS IS THE WITNESS PROCESS FOR OUR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

OTHER STATES DO NOT HAVE THAT CRITERIA.

THEY HAVE SEPARATE CRITERIA, BUT THE CRITERIA, NORTH CAROLINA IS THAT THE VOTER SIGN AND THE 2 WITNESSES SIDE ATTESTING THAT THAT IS THE VOTER IN MARCH THAT BALLOT AND OR THAT COULD BE A NOTARY.

WELL VERY WELL.

>> VERY WELL.

YOU SHOULD BE.

BUT THE STATUS OF THE SELLING NOTING SITUATION IS THAT STILL IN THE ANSWER IS THAT.

>> I KNOW THE ANSWER BUT I'M GOING TO LET PAUL SPEAK TO THAT.

>> YET DUE TO A COURT DECISION.

LAST YEAR.

IN THIS ELECTION.

IF YOU ARE SERVING A FELONY SENTENCE.

AND YOU ARE NOT IN JAIL OR PRISON.

YOU HAVE YOUR VOTING RIGHTS.

SO YOU KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE TO RE-REGISTER SO HOPEFULLY IF ANYONE'S IN THAT SITUATION THEY'VE READ REGISTERED MET THERE.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE WHICH IS 25 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION OR THEY REGISTERED AT A ONE STOP EARLY VOTING SITE.

BUT THE RULES NOW ARE THAT IF IF YOU'RE NOT IN JAIL OR PRISON FOR A FELONY CONVICTION YOU MAY REGISTER AND VOTE.

THAT IS A COURT CASE THAT'S GONE UP ON APPEAL TO THE NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT.

SO THAT COURT WILL HEAR THE THE CASE NEXT YEAR I BELIEVE SO YOU KNOW, WE'LL WE'LL BE WAITING FOR AN ULTIMATE DETERMINATION ON THAT, BUT THOSE ARE THE RULES CURRENTLY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS VERY MUCH.

NOT THE FUN DIRECTOR.

>> AND SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANYONE AT THE MIKES IN THE ROOM, I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU.

IT IS NOT IT IS THE ELECTION HERO DAY SO HAPPY ELECTION HERO DAY AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR ELECTION HEROES WHO HAVE MADE THIS VOTING POSSIBLE THUS FAR AND WILL MAKE TOMORROW POSSIBLE AS WELL.

GO GO VOTE AND THANK YOU EVERYONE, BUT I.