NEW HANOVER COUNTY — As results roll in on Tuesday evening for area municipal races, including mayor and council, the New Hanover County Board of Elections will host a watch party.
It will take place beginning at 5 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the Government Center lobby in rooms 136 and 137. The public is invited to attend.
It’s not the first time the county board of elections has hosted the event. It last held one in 2018 — before that in 2016 and 2014.
The elections board agreed unanimously at its Oct. 28 meeting to host one this year after Special Assistant to the Board Lisa Wurtzbacher asked if they wanted to offer space to the public at the county’s government center to monitor election night results.
“It used to be done in the old government center,” she explained.
“Would there be any costs associated with that, as far as having security there or anything,” board member John Lyon asked. “I know how tight our budget is.”
He said he could go either way on it, seeing as Democrats and Republicans often host their own watch parties, adding he would be opposed if it would cost BOE or county staff: “It’s taxpayers’ money.”
Wurtzbacher confirmed it wouldn’t.
The Democratic Party is hosting its watch party at Tempo piano bar in downtown Wilmington, starting at 7:30 p.m. The Republican Party isn’t hosting a watch party, according to Chair John Hinnant, who said they would likely be at the government center event.
Results will be posted on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website here and will be livestreamed on TVs at the government center.
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