Under state law, election officials must release the number of provisional ballots cast by voting method in each county in North Carolina by noon two days after each election. [Provisional voting requirements (N.C.G.S. § 163-166.11(5))]

The PDF at the following link shows the number of provisional ballots cast in each county by voting method during the October 7 municipal elections.

Read: Number of Provisional Ballots Cast by County and Voting Method for the October 7, 2025, Municipal Elections (PDF).

A voter may cast a provisional ballot when their name does not appear on the voter registration rolls for the voting location or other questions arise about their eligibility to vote or to vote a particular ballot. The provisional voter fills out a form called a provisional application, which includes information that the county board of elections can use to research the voter's eligibility.

An in-person voter will also cast a provisional ballot if they are unable to show an acceptable form of photo identification when voting.

Finally, voters who are part of the Registration Repair Project because election officials do not have a driver's license number or last four digits of a Social Security number on file for them will cast provisional ballots.

After Election Day, each county board of elections meets before certifying the results to make decisions on the approval or disapproval of provisional ballots. If the board determines that the voter is eligible, the provisional ballot is counted. If the voter is eligible for some contests on the ballot but not others, only the eligible contests will be counted for that voter. County boards are required to count provisional ballots by 5 p.m. on the Friday after Election Day, and the ballots that are counted will be added to the results.

Unofficial results for the October 2025 municipal primary elections are available on the Election Results Dashboard. County canvass will take place at the county boards of elections at 11 a.m. October 14.

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