A razor-thin margin in the Republican primary contest between Senate leader Phil Berger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page has led to scrutiny over provisional ballots and the state's budget impasse. The North Carolina State Board of Elections is reviewing 189 provisional ballots, which could potentially change the outcome of the election. Meanwhile, the state's budget remains unresolved, with the General Assembly yet to pass a new budget. The lack of a budget is affecting various agencies, including the Secretary of State's office, which is struggling to fund investigations and staff. The Governor has announced plans to propose critical needs that cannot wait for next year's budget, including Medicaid funding. [... more]