North Carolina elections officials call do-over election after local poll worker wrongly claimed a candidate had died
The North Carolina State Board of Elections unanimously ordered a new Dobson town commissioner race to be held in March.
Posted — Updated“It is unfortunate what had happened and is certainly through no malice or ill will of anybody at the county,” said Damon Circosta, chairman of the state elections board. “But I think it goes to show that when issues arise, there’s procedures we have in which to remedy them and that’s where we are now.”
The new Dobson town commissioner contest is scheduled to be held on March 7 between J. Wayne Atkins, Walter White and John Jonczak, who placed first, second and third respectively in the November election.
According to the state elections board, a poll worker had wrongly told one or more voters that Jonczak was dead when in fact another candidate — Sharon Gates-Hodges — had died. Regardless, poll workers sharing such information is prohibited. Gates-Hodges appeared on the November ballot, but received the fewest votes.
Atkins, White and Jonczak will appear on the March ballot. The two highest vote-getters would then serve in office. During the November election, 619 ballots were cast in the commissioner’s race. Atkins had bested White by 17 votes and White had topped Jonczak by eight votes.
Board requests more funding
Meanwhile, state elections officials are asking Congress for more money to help administer elections. In a letter to North Carolina congressional members, NCSBE Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell requested the federal lawmakers take action to provide the state board and others in the nation with more money.
Bell urged Congress to approve Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Election Security grant funds in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill to address the staffing shortages and increased demands, including a sizable uptick in public records act requests.
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