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Democracy NC Deploys Hundreds of Volunteers to Monitor Final County Vote Counts

MORRISVILLE, NC (11/10/2020) — This week, voting rights group Democracy North Carolina will deploy hundreds of canvass monitors to over 70 N.C. counties to observe final vote counts and assist voters during local boards of elections’ “Day of Canvass” and pre-canvass meetings. During the meetings, local elections boards will take a final look at all properly cast ballots to certify election results on Nov. 13 for each county ahead of a state canvass meeting to certify statewide results later this month.

Democracy North Carolina, in coordination with Southern Coalition for Social Justice and other groups, has hosted a canvass monitoring program since 2016, but this year’s program will be the organization’s largest, with over 230 volunteers assigned to counties where absentee and provisional ballots are highest. 

Of the 2020 canvass monitoring effort, Democracy North Carolina Executive Director Tomas Lopez said, “For the hundreds of volunteer canvass monitors recruited, trained, and deployed to these meetings by organizations like Democracy North Carolina and others, it’s not simply about making sure counties count votes, but that every eligible vote is counted. At week’s end, these volunteers will be attending canvass in most N.C. counties to observe these events, document all that happens, help restore trust in the process, and assist voters along the way.” 

 

“For the hundreds of volunteer canvass monitors recruited, trained, and deployed to these meetings...it’s not simply about making sure counties count votes, but that every eligible vote is counted.” –Tomas Lopez, Democracy North Carolina

In 2020, all eyes could be on these typically unceremonious county canvass meetings, including final counts of potentially over 100,000 outstanding absentee and provisional ballots. Due to this year’s record turnout, including voting-by-mail driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Day of Canvass could be more contentious than in prior years, deciding close North Carolina races such as the Chief Judge to the N.C. Supreme Court as well as legislative and local contests.

While absentee ballot processing began on Sept. 29, record absentee voting and an extended nine-day grace period that ends on Nov. 12 to cure and count absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day means this year’s formal canvass proceedings could also be lengthier than normal.

Lopez added, “With their work this week, our canvass monitors will join the thousands of other volunteers that stood at polls to assist voters during the 2020 cycle, as well as the tens of thousands of hardworking N.C. poll workers and election staffers, to turn historic turnout into transparent election results that voters can trust.” 

By law, in even-numbered years like 2020, county boards meet at 11 a.m. on the 10th day after Election Day (Nov. 13). Boards will participate in pre-canvass meetings in the days leading up to Canvass, and the Day of Canvass itself can run multiple days, depending on the volume of ballots being considered. Following the county canvass, the state board approves the official election results. 

To conduct the canvass, the county’s five-member board of elections and staff examines returns from county precincts, including outstanding military or overseas, absentee, and provisional ballots.

All 100 county pre-canvass and canvass meetings are open to the public; however due to the pandemic, more than a dozen counties have opted to host virtual meetings this year. 

For more information about the Day of Canvass and Democracy North Carolina’s canvass monitoring program, please visit demnc.co/canvass. 

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Democracy North Carolina is a statewide nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to increase civic participation, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and remove systemic barriers to voting and serving in elected office. Learn more at democracync.org.