Provisional Ballots Keep NC-03, House Race Close
Pending provisional ballot reviews leave two North Carolina races within recount range as county canvass nears.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Elections
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Greg Murphy and Raymond Smith Jr. are separated by just over 200 votes in North Carolina's Third Congressional District, while Tim Reeder and Claire Kempner are in a close contest in House District 9. More than 1,100 provisional ballots in Pitt County and over 2,000 votes in eight other counties remain under review.
Why it matters
The outcome of these narrow contests will depend on how each provisional ballot is judged eligible or ineligible before results are finalized. Under state rules, a candidate may request a recount if the margin remains within 1 percent after canvass.
Pending provisional ballot counts show more than 1,100 ballots in Pitt County and over 2,000 votes across eight other NC-03 counties under review, against a 1 percent recount threshold. Final eligibility determinations for these ballots have not yet been made.
The players
Greg Murphy
Greg Murphy is a North Carolina Republican politician and candidate in the state's Third Congressional District race.
Raymond Smith Jr.
Raymond Smith Jr. is a candidate trailing Greg Murphy by just over 200 votes in the Third Congressional District race.
The details
Provisional ballots are cast when a voter's eligibility cannot be confirmed at the polls, and each is reviewed individually to decide whether it is counted or removed. Each of North Carolina's 100 county boards handles this review and removes ballots of ineligible voters where applicable before canvass.
Timeline
November 9, 2026: Reporting on the ongoing provisional ballot review status.
November 13, 2026: County boards certify results during canvass.
Political Context
North Carolina's 1 percent post-canvass recount threshold determines whether a close race can be formally re-examined after county certification. Races like NC-03 and House District 9, with margins near that line, test how the rule applies once provisional ballots are resolved.
Voters in the Third Congressional District and House District 9 will not know final representation until provisional ballots are resolved and canvass is complete. Any recount would extend the timeline before results are official.
The takeaway
Close races are often decided by a small number of individually reviewed ballots, so the final count may differ from unofficial totals. Following the November 13 canvass is the clearest way to track which result becomes official.
What happens next
County boards will certify results during canvass on November 13, 2026, after which a candidate may request a recount if the margin remains within 1 percent.
Further reading
For more on how close contests are decided, see Elections coverage across North Carolina.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCTI.
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