Union County Lawmakers Question 9th District Election Fraud Allegations

MONROE, N.C.  – Some Union County lawmakers are questioning allegations of election fraud in the 9th District.

Monday night, Commissioners passed a resolution 3-1 asking the State Board of Elections to certify Mark Harris as the winner.

“They’re dragging this out. If there’s evidence, produce. If there’s anything there, produce it,” said Union Co. Commissioner Stony Rushing.

A majority of commissioners say they don’t see any “smoking gun” evidence of election fraud.

“This man is a good man. And what I see is just the media trying to destroy him,” said Union Co. Commissioner Dennis Rape.

Harris won nearly 60 percent of the vote in Union County. But overall, he leads Democrat Dan McCready by just 905 votes.

The State Board of Elections has refused to certify the results because of alleged election fraud in Bladen and Robeson Counties.

McCrae Dowless is accused of paying people to collect absentee ballots, which is illegal.

“It is nothing but political grandstanding, it is a show of support for Mr. Harris in the county, which I don’t think is necessary,” says Union Co. resident Steven Davis.

Davis spoke out against the resolution before the vote.

“We need to allow the facts to bear out, we need to give the process, a chance to, the opportunity to complete itself,” he says.