News coverage of polls leading up to Tuesday’s election made the presidential race seem like a neck-and-neck battle – a nail-biter whichever side you were on. But poll-watcher Josh Putnam has known how it would turn out for months. And he was singled out this week by Slate.com as one of three nationally known prognosticators to nail the Electoral College numbers. See an interview and find out how he did it on our Election 2012 page.

Voters handed the Democrats a 6-3 majority on the Mecklenburg County Commission Tuesday, including a sweep of a three vacant at-large seats. District 1 Commissioner Karen Bentley, a Republican who represents north Mecklenburg, easily won re-election. And Republican Robert Pittenger scored a victory over Democrat Jennifer Roberts for the newly reconfigured 9th Congressional District, which includes much of Mecklenburg and part of Iredell County.

Mecklenburg County favored Barack Obama for re-election over challenger Mitt Romney, 61 percent to 38 percent, though Mr. Romney held the edge statewide, winning North Carolina 50.45 to 48.29 percent.

The county also narrowly favored former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory for governor, giving him a 49.41 percent to 48.83 percent margin over Democrat Walter Dalton. Mr. McCrory won statewide with 54.68 percent to Mr. Dalton’s 43.16 percent.

The area’s two statehouse representatives, both Republicans, were unopposed for election. House Speaker and state Rep. Thom Tillis returns in the 98th House district, while Jeff Tarte, who won a Republican primary, was elected to the newly configured 41st state Senate District seat. He’ll be stepping down as Cornelius Mayor in January and heading to Raleigh.

In other area races, Republican Charles Jeter, currently a Huntersville commissioner, beat Democrat Robin Bradford for the new 92nd House District seat, 51.36 percent to 48.64 percent, according to unofficial returns.

Turnout in Mecklenburg County was 66.5 percent, a fairly high number typical of presidential election years.

VOTER TURNOUT BY PRECINCT DAVIDSON/CORNELIUS

127 – Hopewell Baptist Church – 2,841 ballots, 3,929 registered voters, 72.31%
206 – Davidson Town Hall – 3,564 ballots, 5,903 registered voters, 60.38%
202 – Cornelius Town Hall – 4,595 ballots, 7,255 registered voters, 63.34%
208 – Bethel Presbyterian Church – 3,172 ballots, 4,770 registered voters, 66.50%
240 – Community in Christ Lutheran Church – 3,481 ballots, 5,593 registered voters, 62.24%
242 – Jetton Park – 2,021 ballots, 2,964 registered voters, 68.18%

RELATED COVERAGE

See more on our Election 2012 page.

Nov. 7, 2012, WFAE.org, “McCrory elected NC governor”

Nov. 7, 2012, WFAE.org, “Obama loss in NC a blow to local Democrats.” – WFAE’s Julie Rose reports on the close race.

Boone Michael, 7, (left) gets help in the Davidson Town Hall Kids Vote booth from Hough High School volunteer Andrew Petry. At right, Della Scott Michael casts her Kids Vote ballot along with dad, Jeff, and sister, Sarah Frances.  (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Voters wait for voting machines at Davidson Town Hall just before 8am Tuesday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

A line of voters snaked out the door and around Town Hall as voting began in the darkness at Davidson Town Hall Tuesday morning. By 7:45am, the queue had thinned to just a couple of dozen as citizens cast their votes for president, governor, county commissioners and other candidates.

Voting also was going on Tuesday at the town’s other precinct, at Hopewell Baptist Church on Davidson-Concord Road. Read the full story

A large crowd gathered Saturday afternoon on the law at Davidson College for a tradition nearly as old as the school itself: The quadrennial presidential election debate from the balconies of historic Philanthropic and Eumenean literary halls. See ELECTION 2012»

Democrat Walter Dalton and Republican Pat McCrory faced off in their final TV debate in the race for N.C. governor on Wednesday, answering questions on everything from abortion to immigration to unions to fracking. We link you to coverage and info about the candidates. ELECTION 2012»

A line stretched out the door at Cornelius Town Hall Thursday as early voting began in Mecklenburg County. About 130 had voted in the first 90 minutes and another 25 people were queued up around the back of the building. Read more on our ELECTION 2012 page

Ninth Congressional district candidates Democrat Jennifer Roberts and Libertarian Curtis Campbell offered diverging views of government in an election forum Thursday night at Davidson College. The forum also included candidates for Mecklenburg County Commission. Listen to audio replays of the three sessions on our ELECTION2012 page»

Also on our Election 2012 page today:

• Voter registration ends Friday; early voting begins Oct. 18 – information for voters about the upcoming election.
• Mooresville commissioner proposes switching to partisan elections

Two of the three candidates for the 9th Congressional District seat – Jennifer Roberts and Curtis Campbell – will answer voters’ questions during an election forum Thursday night, Oct. 11, at Davidson College. Former Republican state Sen. Robert Pittenger has opted out, saying he plans to campaign elsewhere in the district that night. The forum also includes candidates for Mecklenburg County Commission at-large and District 1. Read the full story on our ELECTION 2012 page.