BISMARCK (AP) — North Dakota Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rick Berg pulled fewer votes than other Republicans at the top of the state’s ticket.

A University of North Dakota political science professor said Democratic candidate Heidi Heitkamp did a better job getting supporters to the polls.

Mark Jendrysik said Heitkamp had a more charismatic campaign style and better television advertising than Berg.

He said Heitkamp appeared to enjoy campaigning more.

Heitkamp beat Berg by about 3,000 votes. Berg got about 30,000 fewer votes than Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Berg lost his home county, Cass County, by 10,000 votes.

Berg said he can’t speculate on why he didn’t do as well as other Republicans. He said former President Bill Clinton’s last-minute campaign visit to Fargo probably helped Heitkamp.

In Stutsman County 105 voting ballots were reviewed  during the November 6, 2012 election canvass.

33 absentee ballots were rejected, 72 ballots were added.

The absentee ballots were rejected because they were postmarked November 6th, the day of the election, or later. or with signature.

To be counted after the election date, the absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than the day before the elections, but they can be received after that date.

Some were rejected becuase they had signature irregularities, such as the signature on the voter affidavit on the envelope containing the ballot did not match the signature on the application for an absentee ballot.

Also, some voters printed on one form and signed the other, or, the signature on the voter affidavit was omitted

The official results did not affect the outcome of any of the races, or measures on the ballot.

The 2012 General Elections in Stutsman County have been declared official.

The results are forwarded to the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office.

The state canvassing board meets on November Tuesday November 13, 2012.