NC-Gov: State BOE Meets to Determine Next Steps in Close Contest

By Susan Wright | 4:45 PM on November 21, 2016

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FILE - In this June 24, 2016 file photo, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory speaks during a candidate forum in Charlotte, N.C. North Carolina’s Republican lawmakers have legalized needle and syringe exchange programs across the state to combat a heroin epidemic law enforcement officials say is reaching critical levels. McCrory on Monday, July 11 approved the law despite objections from some conservative representatives who say such exchange programs only facilitate addictions. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Sunday evening I listened in on a conference call with North Carolina’s State Board of Elections.

At issue to be discussed were the election protests that have been filed in 54 out of the state’s 100 counties, and the recanvassing of votes that was called for from county to county.

The McCrory campaign has filed to have the state board take over the canvassing, due to what appears to be either confusion or apathy, on the part of some counties.

The meeting ended with the state board rejecting the call to take over the canvassing of provisional ballots – for now.

With reports putting McCrory’s challenger, Attorney General Roy Cooper ahead by somewhere between 6,000 to 7,000 votes, at this time, Cooper and his camp have once again rushed to declare victory.

McCrory has planted his feet, unwilling to concede a loss when there are still so many unaddressed reports of fraud.

This is, indeed, the most corrupt and contentious state election in quite some time. Perhaps, because the stakes are so high.

The McCrory campaign released a statement today, based on Sunday’s BoE meeting.

“Why is Roy Cooper so insistent on circumventing the electoral process and counting the votes of dead people and felons? It may be because he needs those fraudulent votes to count in order to win. Instead of insulting North Carolina voters, we intend to let the process work as it should to ensure that every legal vote is counted properly.” – Ricky Diaz, Governor McCrory’s campaign spokesman

Fact: The State Board of Elections discovered over 339 convicted felons who voted early or absentee. This total does not include numbers from Election Day. (News & Observer on Twitter, 11/20/2016)

Fact: Over 90 counties have yet to complete their county canvases and finalize their vote totals.

Fact: Protests are being filed in over 50 counties to challenge fraudulent absentee ballots and votes by felons, double and dead voters.(Charlotte Observer, 11/17/2016)

Fact: The State Board of Elections agreed to take up the Bladen County protest involving hundreds of potentially fraudulent absentee ballots – all apparently including votes for Cooper. (The Associated Press, 11/21/2016)