RALEIGH — The final outcome for a state Court of Appeals election using instant runoff voting will take a little longer.

A campaign spokesman for incumbent Cressie Thigpen said Wednesday that the judge would ask for a recount. The complete county canvass shows him trailing Doug McCullough by 6,000 votes. Thigpen could request the mandatory recount because the margin is less than 10,000 votes.

Spokesman Reid Overcash says Thigpen wants to make sure the count was performed properly because instructions may have been confusing to county officials. This was the first time instant runoff voting has been used statewide, and Overcash says there's nothing to suggest major problems.

State elections Director Gary Bartlett has said a recount would be performed next week.