The North Carolina State Board of Elections is scheduled to hold a hearing on Saturday, December 3, regarding a protest filed by Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr. He filed a protest before the November election with the Bladen County Board of Elections alleging voter fraud.
The NC State Board of Elections met earlier in November and took over jurisdiction of the protest. Dowless is alleging in his protest that voter fraud ocurred in the Soil and Water District race. Dowless alleges that about 150 absentee ballots were filled out and signed by a small number of individuals.
The complaint alleges a ballot mill scheme was conducted in the county and also alleges irregularities or misconduct with regards to some of the absentee ballots. According to Dowless’ protest, numerous absentee ballots contain the same or similar handwriting. Read the entire protest here.
Bladen County Board of Elections Chairman Bobby Ludlum said that the local Board of Elections has been advised by the NC State Board of Elections in Raleigh not to discuss anything regarding the absentee ballots in question. The NC State Board of Elections sent a team of investigators to Bladen County and reviewed numerous absentee ballots. The investigation into the matter is continuing.
The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the NC State Board of Elections office located at 441 North Harrington Street, Raleigh.
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