NC-9: Another Election Likely

​With the North Carolina Board of Elections showing no signs of changing their decision to deny certification of Republican Mark Harris’ 905 vote lead over Democrat Dan McCready due to election irregularities, we now see both parties calling for a new election.  Mr. Harris, himself, said over the weekend that if actual malfeasance is uncovered a new election should be called.
 
At the heart of the matter is a Harris consulting firm being accused of engaging in “ballot harvesting,” where individuals collect absentee ballots from individuals and bundle them into the county elections’ office in lieu of the voter directly mailing their document.  This procedure is not allowed under North Carolina law.  Ironically, California changed its law before this last election to allow ballot harvesting and it proved to be a factor in the Democrats’ many Golden State wins.
 
Mr. Harris, a retired Baptist pastor, defeated Rep. Bob Pittenger (R-Charlotte) in the May Republican primary.  If the US House orders a new election by declaring the seat vacant, the decision could result in former Rep. Pittenger having an opportunity to make a political comeback in the ensuing special election.  If the Board of Elections orders a new vote before the House acts, then the participants would likely be limited only those who appeared on the 2018 general election ballot: Harris, McCready, and Libertarian candidate Jeff Scott.