NC election finally done

The State Board of Elections on Thursday finalized the last two races in North Carolina's 2016 elections.

The five-member board unanimously certified incumbent Democrat Beth Wood as the winner of the state auditor's race over Republican challenger Chuck Stuber.

Rep. Susan Martin, R-Wilson, was also certified as the winner of the House District 8 contest over Democratic challenger Charlie Pat Farris.

After a two-hour meeting, the board unanimously voted to dismiss the last three challenges in the election.

At the end of the meeting, Republican Chairman Grant Whitney noted that a bill under consideration by state lawmakers "could affect whether this is our last meeting, at least in the form that we sit now," and he thanked the members and the staff for their work.

Senate Bill 4 would effectively dismiss the current State Board of Elections, replacing it with the state Ethics Commission, which would take over responsibility for overseeing the state's elections.