Stacie McGinn, Candidate for N.C. Senate District 42, requests recount in razor-thin race.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 18, 2024— Stacie McGinn has officially requested a recount from the Mecklenburg Board of Elections in her exceptionally close race for North Carolina Senate District 42. On Election Night, only 27 votes separated McGinn from her opponent, Woodson Bradley. After the Board of Elections completed its canvass on Friday, additional absentee and provisional ballots widened the margin to 204 votes. Out of 124,334 votes cast, that difference represents just 0.16%—the narrowest

margin any Republican has achieved in this seat in years.

“With such a small margin and so much at stake, it’s reasonable to ensure nothing was missed in the ballot-counting process,” McGinn said.

McGinn performed strongly with in-person voters, receiving 1,714 more votes than Bradley among ballots cast at polling places, which accounted for 91% of the total votes. However, Bradley held a significant lead in absentee and provisional ballots, which made up 9% of the total. Historically, absentee voting has consisted largely of military personnel and elderly voters unable to make it to the polls, representing a small proportion of total votes. Since COVID-19, however, the proportion of absentee votes cast in District 42—including non-military personnel living overseas—has increased dramatically, raising concerns for McGinn.

“The fact that the choice of 91% of voters—people who stood in line for hours to cast their votes—can be overturned by a minority of absentee voters doesn’t seem right,” she said. “Many absentee voters don’t live in our area and may be unfamiliar with the local candidates and their positions.”

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file election protests.

“I can assure you we are prepared to accept the final result,” McGinn said. “Our goal, however, is to ensure that every legitimate vote is included in the final tally.”