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The NC State Board of Elections voted 7-2 on Friday to hold a public evidentiary hearing into the voter irregularity and fraud claims raised by the NC Democratic Party. The claims are related to the possible mishandling of absentee ballots collected in Bladen County for the 9th District race.
Congressman-Elect Mark Harris released the following statement Friday afternoon regarding the accusations and decision by the Board of Elections:
“Today, after meeting behind closed doors for almost three hours, the State Board of Elections not only refused to certify our election results, but again refused to provide any details to the public as to what exactly is being investigated. They also chose to move forward with a hearing on a locally-certified election result that is almost a month old, despite there being no statutorily-required formal protest in either my race or the local race. Make no mistake, I support any efforts to investigate allegations of irregularities and/or voter fraud, as long as it is fair and focuses on all political parties. But to date, there is absolutely no public evidence that there are enough ballots in question to affect the outcome of this race. Accordingly, the Board should act immediately to certify the race while continuing to conduct their investigation. Anything else is a disservice to the people of the Ninth District.
This afternoon, we have filed an intervening motion in state court to request an extension of the stay that would change the current State Board. They should be required to stay in existence and certify this election so as not to disenfranchise the voters of the Ninth District.”
Early Friday, Board Vice Chair Joshua Malcolm put forth the following motion, which was approved 7-2 in a bipartisan vote:
“I move that, in light of claims of numerous irregularities and concerted fraudulent activities related to absentee by-mail ballots and potentially other matters in Congressional District 9, the State Board hold, as then constituted, an evidentiary hearing on or before December 21 pursuant to its authority under G.S. §§ 163A-1180 and 163A-1181 to assure that the election is determined without taint of fraud or corruption and without irregularities that may have changed the result of an election; and that the Bladen County Board of Elections is hereby directed to withhold issuance of certificates of election in the following contests: Bladen County Commissioner District 3 and Bladen Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor.”
Following the decision, the NC Democratic Party released a statement saying, “We applaud the board’s bipartisan decision to delay certification and fully investigate the concerning allegations in the Ninth Congressional District. North Carolina voters deserve to know the truth and their voices deserve to be heard.”
The hearing is scheduled to take place on or before December 21.
Related Story: Accusations of Absentee Ballot Tampering Raising Concerns in NC District 9 Results
Original Story (Nov. 29, 2018):
CHARLOTTE, NC — After announcing earlier this week it was delaying certification of the 9th Congressional District race results, the NC Board of Elections is being asked to investigate allegations regarding the possible illegal handling of absentee ballots in Bladen County.
The request is coming from the North Carolina Democratic Party whose attorney says sworn affidavits from multiple witnesses show suspected Republican agents went to the homes of absentee voters and may have tampered with their ballots.
In those affidavits, several voters in Bladen County describe instances of workers coming to collect their absentee ballots, but not sealing the envelopes or asking for a signature from the voter before leaving. One voter even alleges that a young female worker said she would “finish it herself” after learning the voter had not filled in all of her race selections.
All of the suspected workers are alleged to have been working for or affiliated with the Mark Harris campaign.
When asked if he had ever heard of voter irregularities in his district, current 9th District Congressman Robert Pittenger said, “It’s been out there. We were fully aware of it. There are some pretty unsavory people out, particularly in Bladen County. And I didn’t have anything to do with them. Let me just leave it at that.”
(D) Dan McCready posted a statement to Twitter Thursday night saying he was shocked when the State Elections Board voted unanimously to delay certification of the race results, but that he “supports the bipartisan board’s decision and its efforts to ensure our elections are fair and every voice is heard.”
McCready also called the allegations in Bladen County “troubling,” and says he stands with voters in “wanting to make sure any wrongdoing is investigated and prosecuted regardless of the outcome of the election.”
In a Twitter post on Wednesday, Harris said he was also “surprised” by the actions of the State Elections Board, but said he and his legal team are “fully engaged” and have “trust in the process.”
So far, Congressman-Elect Mark Harris has yet to issue a comment since the allegations were made. The NCGOP however, issued the following statement Thursday night:
“The North Carolina State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement has a legal and moral duty to certify Congressman-Elect Mark Harris’ winning bid for Congress on Friday. If not, immediate court action will follow.
There are simply not enough absentee ballots in question to change the result. Mark Harris was elected to Congress. Mark Harris is going to Congress. Democrats don’t get a do-over based on unverified rumors that were not even put in an official election protest as required by law.
We encourage all allegations of voter fraud to be investigated and prosecuted, and perpetrators should go to prison. However, Democrats are throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, at the wall to try and steal an election. This madness must end tomorrow.”
The race between Republican Mark Harris and Democrat Dan McCready was very tight all the way to the end, and one of the most closely watched in the country. President Trump even held a campaign rally in Charlotte to support Harris less than a week before the midterm election.
Harris won the election by only 905 votes.
This is a developing story. We will have much more detail and a full report coming up tonight on WCCB NEWS @ TEN.
