Voting extended at two Hertford County precincts, delaying results

Two polling places in Hertford County remained open beyond the usual 7:30 p.m. closing time on Tuesday, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. This extension was approved to compensate for interruptions in voting during the day, according to Island Free Press.

The Como Fire and Rescue Building polling place stayed open until 7:55 p.m., a 25-minute extension, while the Murfreesboro 1 precinct remained open until 8 p.m., a 30-minute extension, Island Free Press detailed. Voters who arrived at these locations after 7:30 p.m. cast provisional ballots, according to the State Board of Elections.

These extensions are part of a wider delay affecting five precincts in four counties statewide, which has postponed the release of unofficial election results. The State Board of Elections said it will not publish results until all polls have closed, with the first totals expected around 8:15 p.m., Island Free Press reported.

State law allows such extensions to make up for disruptions like power outages or equipment issues. State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes said these interruptions are routine challenges during elections and are not indications of malicious activity.

Hertford County is one of ten counties in state Senate District 1, which also includes Dare and Currituck counties. Republican state Sen. Jerry Tillett and Democrat Melissa Zhener, both from Dare County, are vying for the seat.

Polls in other counties, including Dare and Currituck, closed on time at 7:30 p.m., according to the State Board of Elections. Voters already in line when their polling place closed were allowed to vote, and the extensions applied only to the designated precincts in Hertford County.