https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-carolina-officials-probe-alleged-b****t-fraud-u-144735225.htmlPolitics
North Carolina poll workers admit improperly running early results
By Marti Maguire,Reuters 20 hours ago
FILE PHOTO: Mark Harris waits to be introduced during a volunteer meeting and rally at the Ardmore Auditorium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, April 8, 2014. REUTERS/Chris Keane/File Photo
By Marti Maguire
RALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters) - North Carolina poll workers told e******n officials on Tuesday they illegally viewed early e******n results last year, the latest evidence in a probe of v****g irregularities in a still unsettled congressional race.
The investigation into the disputed Nov. 6 e******n for the state's 9th Congressional District seat also uncovered an unlawful absentee b****t scheme by an operative for Republican candidate Mark Harris, according to testimony at the hearing that could prompt a new v**e.
The seat has remained vacant since state officials refused to certify Harris' apparent victory over Democratic rival Dan McCready by 905 v**es out of 282,717 b****ts cast.
Poll worker Agnes Willis told the five-member State Board of E******ns in Raleigh on Tuesday that she and other poll workers viewed early results in the Bladen County sheriff's race before the general e******n.
North Carolina law prohibits running v****g results before the general e******n. Bladen County is one of two counties at the center of the probe involving the congressional race.
The board, which must decide if the evidence warrants a new e******n, heard on Monday that Republican operative Leslie McCrae Dowless hired workers to collect absentee b****t requests from v**ers and then return to retrieve the b****ts, in violation of state law.
In some instances, the paid workers falsely signed as witnesses and filled in v**es for contests left blank at Dowless' home or office, said Kim Strach, executive director of the e******ns board.
Andy Yates, founder and partner of consultants Red Dome Group, testified on Tuesday he paid Dowless more than $130,000 for his work for the Harris campaign.
Dowless hired workers to collect absentee b****t requests, among other duties, Yates said. But Yates said he never paid Dowless to collect actual b****ts, adding he would have reported such activity to the state.
“Mr. Dowless told me that he knew it was illegal to collect b****ts, and that he told all of his workers that it was illegal to collect b****ts,” Yates said.
Dowless' lawyer has said he did nothing wrong.
Dallas Woodhouse, director of the state Republican party, told reporters the testimony did not support calling for a new e******n, either due to affected b****ts or overall fairness concerns.
North Carolina Democrats want a new e******n, while Republicans have pushed for the board to certify Harris as the district's congress member. The U.S. House of Representatives would then determine whether to seat him.
If the Democrats pick up the seat, they would widen their 235-197 majority in the House after taking control of the chamber from President Donald Trump's Republicans in November.
(Reporting by Marti Maguire; Writing by Gabriella Borter; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, David Gregorio and James Dalgleish)