Thursday's recount for the District One School Board race confirmed Ophelia Munn-Goins' victory over incumbent Esther McNeill in the July 20 primary election.

Munn-Goins, 46, gathered 694 votes, and McNeill, 81, 683 ballots in that election. Under state law, McNeill could ask for a recount since the difference was less than one percent of the votes cast, according to Bladen County Election Supervisor Larry Hammond.

The results, however, were the same.

"The count was unchanged," he said. McNeill had an observer at the Board of Elections for the recount, but Munn-Goins did not. State law allows candidates to have an observer present during recounts.

The recount was held under strict adherence to state elections law and the N.C. Administrative Code, Hamm-ond said.

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