CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eyewitness News confirmed that former Mayor Patrick Cannon voted in this election despite his felony conviction. Officials with the Board of Elections said Cannon cast his early vote at the Elon Park Recreation Center on Oct. 30. Now his ballot may be challenged.
The U.S. Probation Office will be in touch with the Board of Elections Wednesday.
Channel 9 was told if they verify that Cannon voted, they will write up a violation of his release. He will then likely face a judge.
Cannon's attorney James Ferguson told Channel 9 that Cannon made an honest mistake, that he always votes and that it didn't occur to him that he couldn't or shouldn't vote this time.
Ferguson said it never should have happened, and he said they don't know what will happen next. They plan to be in touch with the U.S. Probation Office.
Officials with the Board of Elections said they never received any paperwork showing Cannon was a convicted felon even though he was sentenced to 44 months in prison in mid-October.
"I know it was all over the news media that he has been convicted and sentenced, but unfortunately our policies and procedures are that we have to receive that from the courts," Kristin Mavromatis with the Board of Elections said. "And we have not received any documentation that he is a convicted felon."
Cannon's ballot will likely be removed before the final results are in from this election. Officials with the Board of Elections said they will confirm with the court system that he is not an eligible voter.