Election Fraud Hearing Could Change Outcome Of North Carolina Vote
The Republican candidate leads his opponent by 905 votes.
Gary D. Robertson
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Although a mere 900 votes separated two North Carolina congressional candidates, the trailing Democrat conceded the race weeks ago. But as the Republican prepared to go to Capitol Hill, election investigators are worried something fishy went on with absentee ballots.
Now, North Carolina election officials have agreed to hold a public hearing into alleged “numerous irregularities” and “concerted fraudulent activities” involving traditional mail-in absentee ballots in the 9th Congressional District, apparently in two rural counties.
The state elections board voted 7-2 on Friday to hear evidence by Dec. 21 before deciding whether to certify the result. Republican Mark Harris leads Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes from nearly 283,000 cast in eight south-central counties reaching from Charlotte to near Fayetteville.
The hearing will ensure “the election is determined without taint of fraud or corruption and without irregularities that may have changed the result of an election,” board member Joshua Malcolm, a Democratic member, said in his motion.