More ballots to be counted in mayoral race

There are 77 ballots left to be sorted in the Chapel HIll mayoral race that left Mark Kleinschmidt and Matt Czajkowski 99 votes apart, said Tracy Reams, director of the Orange County Board of Elections.

Kleinschmidt was declared mayor-elect Tuesday night and Czajkowski conceded.

But depending on which candidate gets the remaining votes, the count of provisional ballots could bring Czajkowski and Kleinschmidt within 1 percent of each other — close enough that Czajkowski could ask for a recount, Reams said.

A committee will meet Thursday at 2 p.m. to decide whether to count the provisional ballots, Reams said.

If they choose to count the provisional ballots, vote tallies will be final by Tuesday. If the difference is within 1 percent, Czajkowski would have to send in a written request for a recount by 5 p.m. Nov. 11.

Reams said Czajkowski called her today to talk about the election. He did not return calls for an interview.

There hasn’t been a recount in a local mayoral race for at least two decades, Reams said.

Many of the provisional ballots left to be counted are from an on-campus precinct site, Reams said.

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