Dec 03 2008
Fayetteville GOP Takes Election to Court
Ralph Reagan, chairman of the county GOP, said Wednesday that members of his party would file an appeal with the State Board of Elections on Monday, the last day to do so. Their protest is over allegations that about 5,000 people with incorrect or outdated addresses cast ballots during early voting.
All three Democrats in that race won seats Nov. 4. Three Republicans lost. One of the surprise losers was incumbent Diane Wheatley, who was leading with votes on election night until the early voting results were released. She lost by 4,909 votes, finishing fourth.
Bob White, one of the Republican candidates who lost, said he would appeal.
“I was convinced, based on evidence I saw, there might have been some impropriety,” he said. “I’m not sure there was a lot, but we are a nation of laws.”
The gist of Reagan’s complaint is that thousands of voters who cast ballots had questionable addresses as part of their registrations. Some may have moved. Others live at addresses that don’t exist or are duplicated by other registrations, he said.
