**Joe Cobb Edges Out David Bowers in Tight Roanoke Mayoral Race**

With the final absentee and provisional ballots counted in Roanoke, Vice Mayor Joe Cobb secured a narrow victory in the city's mayoral election. In a close contest, Cobb triumphed over former Mayor David Bowers by a slim margin of 59 votes, with the final tally showing Cobb at 15,221 votes and Bowers at 15,162, according to the city registrar's office.

Initially, Bowers held a slight lead on election night. However, the completion of the absentee and provisional ballot count shifted the outcome in Cobb's favor. Challenger Stephanie Moon ended her campaign with a total of 10,271 votes.

Registrar Nicholas Ocampo confirmed the thorough counting process: "Every eligible and legal vote cast in Roanoke City has been counted and reported." He also noted that Virginia does not automatically trigger recounts. Instead, candidates must petition the local circuit court within ten days of the electoral board's certification, which has a deadline of Friday, November 15, as per the Code of Virginia § 24.2-801.

In response to the close results, Bowers expressed concerns about the prolonged vote-counting process. He stated, "Election Day should be Election Day! The current process, taking a week to figure out, does nothing but instill suspicion and doubt among voters in the integrity and surety of our elections." Bowers plans to consult with his legal team, consisting of Mel Williams, Aaron Houchens, and Charlie Nave, before making further comments.

Cobb, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of counting every vote. In his statement, he acknowledged the diligent work of Registrar Nicholas Ocampo and his team. "This small margin of victory proves that in an election every single vote matters, and every single valid vote must be counted," Cobb affirmed. He also urged patience and understanding as the final certification process continues and potential recounts are considered.

The race concluded eight days after the general election, with the final results being influenced by the counting of absentee and provisional ballots. The city registrar explained that provisional ballots are used when additional verification of voter eligibility is necessary, particularly for those who registered to vote on the same day as the election, under the Same Day Registration process enacted in 2022. This process entails extra steps to confirm the eligibility of each voter at their respective polling locations.