Over 1,000 Absentee Ballots Potentially Destroyed In North Carolina House Race

More than 1,000 absentee ballots may have been destroyed in a race for North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in November, according to a new report.

The report from CNN said many of the allegedly destroyed ballots likely belong to Democratic-leaning voters, in the latest case of possible fraud in a midterm election brought forth by Republicans.

“You’re looking at several thousand, possibly 2,000 absentee ballot requests from this most recent election,” Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told CNN.

The race in North Carolina’s 9th District is between GOP candidate Mark Harris, a Baptist pastor, and Democratic challenger Dan McCready. Recent polls showed Harris ahead by an incredibly narrow margin of 905 votes, which means the allegedly destroyed ballots could potentially change the outcome of the election if they are recovered.

North Carolina’s State Board of Elections has refused to certify the race’s results because of the fraud accusations. McCready conceded to Harris nonetheless, and added he did not believe a recount was necessary despite him trailing by around 700 votes last month.

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Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly, the vice ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, reportedly demanded an emergency hearing on the voter fraud claims in North Carolina’s House race. Similarly, Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer — who is set to become the next House majority leader — insisted that Democrats would not grant Harris the victory until the hearing on the allegations was completed.

“The allegation is of serious fraudulent activity on behalf of the Republican administrator — one or more — dealing with primarily absentee ballots. … So there’s a very substantial question,” Hoyer told reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill. “If there is what appears to be a very substantial question on the integrity of the election, clearly we would oppose Mr. Harris’s being seated until that is resolved,” he added.

Several liberal figures this week, including California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu said all signs point to Republican officials perpetuating voter suppression and fraud in North Carolina.