Troubles in North Carolina

North Carolina has recently had allegations related to potential voter fraud. In particular, a Charlotte-area consulting firm, Red Dome, is under investigation. This was in recent news after hiring state political operative, McCrae Dowless, in a voting campaign for Republican Congressional candidate Mike Harris. The claims made by Dowless’s workers assert that the firm illegally collected absentee-ballots, possibly unsealed or unsigned, and transported them to local election officials. If true, these activities are not only illegal, but would have played a major role in the outcome of the election.

Furthermore, the voting pattern for the ninth district, where this election took place, was uniquely different in comparison to the rest of the country. For one, the district had the highest percentage of its overall vote as absentee voters in the country. At the same time, it was the only district where a Democrat didn’t win the absentee vote.

An absentee-ballot is a process of voting by mail, as opposed to voting in person. McCrae Dowless himself did not use an absentee-ballot to vote. Instead he went to a polling place.

Subpoenas for the Red Dome group and Harris have been issued by State officials. The firm is under incredible scrutiny by the investigators and as of yet, they have not commented on the subpoena.

Some people are worried about the potential damage that voter fraud may cause.

 “Wow, if this is true, then it is a national tragedy and I hope it never happens again,” said Dexter Douglas, 12.

Former Republican governor Pat Mccrory has made suggestions to mostly eliminate absentee voting because, “The rationale for absentee voting is very limited, and yet the opportunities for fraud are rampant,” he said to a New York Times reporter.

The allegations have moved beyond legality ramifications as well. Democrat Dan McCready has withdrawn his concession to his political opponent Harris. The democratic candidate from the 9th district tweeted, “I didn’t serve overseas in the Marines to come home to NC and watch a criminal, bankrolled by my opponent, take away people’s very right to vote.”

The possibility of voter fraud is especially infuriating for McCready, as the vote difference was only 905 in favor of Harris.

If these claims are proven true, then the election may have to be completely redone. Executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party Dallas Woodhouse is willing to completely have another election if the fraud is proven to have happened.