RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina elections officials say the country's last undecided congressional election was marred by falsified signatures, blank ballots that consultants could complete and disappearing documents.
The state elections board is in day two of a hearing investigating election fraud in the District 9 race. Officials could decide this week whether to order a new election.
>>We have a team of reporters in Raleigh monitoring the testimony. They'll break down what it could mean for your representation in Congress on Eyewitness News.
Investigators are expected to seek testimony from dozens of other voters in rural Bladen and Robeson counties and people who worked with political operative Leslie McCrae Dowless. The consultant, Andy Yates, hired by Republican Mark Harris' campaign was accused by the state elections director of running an illegal and well-funded ballot-harvesting operation for the GOP candidate.
Yates, who is the founder of Red Dome Group, on Tuesday discussed his work for Mark Harris at a state elections board hearing that is examining balloting in the 9th congressional district.
[CLICK: NCSBE's preview of evidence]
Yates testified that when he joined the campaign, Dowless was already working for Harris to boost mail-in ballots in rural Bladen and Robeson counties.
Harris narrowly leads Democrat Dan McCready, but the contest wasn't certified because of suspicions the result was tainted.
According to Yates, Dowless indicated he understood it was illegal for anyone besides a voter's guardian or close family to handle a mail-in ballot.
Tuesday morning’s testimony addressed whether early voting results were leaked. No one has admitted to doing that, but testimony revealed the former head of the elections board was worried it happened.
Three people testified that a tape showing the results was run after early voting finished. That’s not supposed to happen, because it poses the risk that the results will get out before they are supposed to.
Past coverage:
- McCready calls judge's decision not to certify Harris a 'win for democracy'
- Judge denies certifying Mark Harris winner of NC District 9 election
- NCSBE, Dan McCready respond to Mark Harris' petition for certification
- Channel 9 sits down with Mark Harris in one-on-one interview
- House Democrats to prepare own investigation into NC District 9 election fraud
There is only one early voting location in Bladen County. Its precinct chief judge said the elections director asked her how the results leaked out, and she said she didn’t know.
Agnes Willis, a precinct judge, testified that everyone except one person looked at the results early. Their interest was the sheriff’s race.
Willis said one man sat down at a table with his finger on the election results. She didn’t feel comfortable with what happened.
[SPECIAL SECTION: District 9 investigation]
“I said, ‘The tape was poured, and I don't think anyone should have been privy to those numbers'. I said, ‘It doesn't feel right to me,’" Willis said.
While there has been talk about the numbers potentially leaking, no one has said for sure it happened or who may have done it.
On Monday, Dowless worker Lisa Britt testified that Dowless was hired to produce votes for Harris and Bladen County Sheriff Jim McVicker, but his methods last year included paying people to visit potential voters who had received absentee ballots and getting them to hand over those ballots.
[RELATED: North Carolina elections board weighs re-doing marred District 9 election]
After being called as a witness, Dowless' attorney told the elections board he wouldn’t testify without legal protection against prosecution for events he describes. The board refused. The board added Dowless’ refusal to testify voluntarily will be interpreted as negative.
After these hearings, four of the five members on the elections board - composed of three Democrats and two Republicans - would need to agree a new election is necessary.
If that doesn't happen, McCready's lawyers said state officials should send their findings to the Democrat-dominated U.S. House and let it decide whether Harris should be seated - arguing that the U.S. Constitution gives the House authority over the elections and qualifications of its members
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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