Buncombe County Board of Elections members voted to certify the results of the Nov. 4, 2025 municipal election after reviewing audits for absentee, provisional, early-voting and election-day ballots.

Executive Director (name not specified) opened the county canvass by explaining the process: “This is the county canvas for the municipal elections, and this is when the board reviews audits and, and asks questions about how the election went and then certifies the election.” Staff presented reconciliations and results tapes and answered board questions before the formal vote.

Staff presentations showed the audits balanced across voting methods. Bria, who presented the absentee and election-day summaries, told the board the audit found 30 absentee-by-mail ballots accepted by the board, six provisional ballots approved, 951 early-voting ballots and 1,721 election-day ballots, yielding a total of 2,708 votes after reconciliation. Bria also noted one instance where a voter placed a ballot in the wrong tabulator; staff moved that ballot back to the correct precinct and made a manual edit on the tally.

Bria described two ballots where a voter had filled a write-in line but also marked a listed candidate; under the board’s voter-intent procedure staff removed the write-in entry and counted the vote for the listed candidate, which altered one contest by one vote. Board members discussed a prior tie resolved by a single voter-intent adjustment and said that example illustrated the canvass’s importance.

After board members finished their review and spot checks of results tapes and reports, Board member Jake moved that the board accept the municipal election results as presented by staff; another member seconded. The board voted by voice and the chair declared the election certified. The board then completed and notarized the abstract and staff will submit certified results to the state for official recording.

The board also asked staff to follow up with the county attorney about a pending memorandum of understanding (MOU) related to facilities; that attorney update is expected to be shared with the board by early next week.

The board adjourned after completing the canvass.