WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – More than 12,000 voters have cast early ballots in New Hanover County, an increase of over 50% from the last municipal elections in 2023.

Despite issues that plagued the 2024 election when nearly 2,000 ballots were left uncounted for over a week after the election, and a turbulent 12 months since, the New Hanover County Board of Elections said they are prepared to handle the turnout.

“We’re 100% equipped to get this done,” said Interim Deputy Director Jessica O’Neill.

O’Neill said this year’s Election Night will not repeat last year’s problems, when elections staff left at midnight with thousands of ballots still uncounted and races still in flux. That decision prompted criticism from the state elections board and top county officials, with some believing the board broke state law, and eventually led to a county-paid external review of the board (that the BOE didn’t participate in), which recommended several changes.

“It can’t happen. We have a hard deadline to get everything counted tomorrow night, and it will be,” O’Neill said.

The ballot-counting delay last year triggered 12 months of turmoil within the elections board, culminating in Elections Director Rae Hunter-Havens stepping down weeks ago, citing health concerns. Two other top board officials, including Hunter-Havens’ deputy director, have also departed in recent months.

O’Neill, though, said the team they have in place is fully capable of executing on their biggest night of the year, and will “knock it out of the park.”

Local party chairs agreed this election should be smooth, especially with fewer contested races and votes than in past election years.

“They are woefully understaffed and they need help (at the Board of Elections), but who is still there are amazing people,” New Hanover County Democratic Party Chair Jill Hopman said.

“I’m confident it’s gonna move nice and smooth,” said county Republican Chair John Hinnant. “This shouldn’t be that difficult. I don’t anticipate knowing who won until probably 11:15-11:30 at night, but that’s not unusual.”

O’Neill said the board cannot count early votes until Election Day, which she said will extend the counting process but not complicate it.

The higher turnout could be a result of more people moving to New Hanover County and voting early, or just lower turnout this cycle, Hopman said. Hinnant believes more energy from Republicans, especially with a GOP candidate in the race for mayor, is leading to higher numbers. Both party leaders said early voting is critical, and helps keep their focus on other voters in the final few days of the race.

While party officials are hopeful results will be in by 10-11 p.m. Tuesday night, O’Neill said it’s difficult to know exactly when they’ll finish.

“Those ballots will be counted. If we have to stay until 1 in the morning, everything will get uploaded just as it should,” O’Neill said.

Ultimately, the board’s goal, O’Neill said, is accuracy over speed. That could be especially critical with a tight race for Wilmington City Council, and potentially others, expected.

“The goal of elections is 100% accuracy,” O’Neill said. “There’s no special cookies at the finish line for the first one across.”

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