Harris' father casts vote before passing away

The Rev. Mark Harris is one of eight Republican candidates running for U.S. Senate. His father died this week, but not before casting an absentee ballot.

Posted 6:34 p.m. Apr 19, 2014 — Updated 1:45 p.m. Apr 20, 2014

Mark Binker

GREENSBORO, N.C. — When the Rev. Mark Harris spoke to a crowd of supporters in Greensboro Saturday morning, he recalled his father, Everette, as a powerful influence on his life.

Everette Harris died this week at age 89.

"We are in the process over these next several days of not only remembering his life but so much of what he taught me. But to be honest, it's not going to be a great deal different from what we've been sharing all across North Carolina for the past several months," Harris told the room. "Because you see – and those of your in this room know me – what you see is what you get with Mark Harris."

Harris is among eight Republicans running in the May 6 primary for the chance to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan.

Early in-person voting begins this coming Thursday, but absentee by-mail period began on March 17.

"I'm going to tell you, a couple weeks ago, my dad cast his absentee ballot," Harris said to cheers from the crowd of roughly 75 supporters.

"And I'm going to tell you, because we understand that being absent from the body is being present with the lord, we see absentee ballots in a whole new way," Harris continued, getting appreciative laughs from the crowd.

State Board of Elections data confirms it has received a by-mail absentee ballot from Everett G. Harris of Winston-Salem.

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