As North Carolinians navigate the post-Election Day landscape, the laborious task of ensuring a fair count unfolds. With nearly 5.7 million votes cast as reported by unofficial election night results, the State Board and county officials are delving into the procedural aftermath that follows every election. This meticulous effort is not merely bureaucratic ritual, but a safeguard of democracy – a testament to due process in an era where trust in electoral integrity is sometimes as fragile as a leaf clinging to a late autumn tree.