HALIFAX — Three protests to the Scotland Neck town election results offer multiple options — throw out the provisional ballots, hold a recount or start fresh with a new election. The objections to Nov. 3 elections were filed Friday afternoon with the Halifax County Board of Elections.

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The protests came as the deadline for filing neared.

With only 15 minutes remaining to file, the three men walked into the office. Mayoral candidates Raymond Watson and John Mills filed protests, as did town commissioner candidate Kenneth Branch. In the initial results Watson defeated the incumbent Mills and Branch fell just three votes shy of winning a seat on the town council.

In their protests, all three cited provisional ballots being accepted from voters who live outside the city limits.

Watson and Branch also claimed there were voters “whose addresses are either vacant lots, abandoned buildings or condemned properties.” Both candidates reserved the right to submit an amended protest after the canvass is official. The Board of Elections rescinded last week’s canvass.

Watson and Branch question the validity of information on provisional ballot envelopes which were partially or entirely completed by a poll worker.

They allege at least two voters voted twice and at least two voters did not sign the voter registration application section of the provisional ballot envelope.

Mills names Watson directly in his allegations claiming two women voted using a city address when they actually live outside Scotland Neck. Mills claimed the women were doing what Watson directed. Mills says he has witnesses to the misconduct.

He also alleged there was a situation in which the voter equipment was not secure.

To remedy the situation, Watson and Branch asked provisional ballots be disqualified.

They contend the allegations are sufficient to cast doubt on the results of the election. If that happens, Watson becomes mayor and Branch takes a seat as a town commissioner.

Mills also contends his allegations cast plenty of doubt. He wants a “new election of all candidates but Aaron Lee.” He also asks for, “prosecution of all fraud found in this election,” and “proper supervision of (precincts) Scotland Neck I and Scotland Neck II.”

It's anyone's guess as to how that scenario could play out.

Mills says, “The total number of votes and voter fraud cases (in Scotland Neck) show there is a shadow over this election.”

Board of Elections Chair Mitchell Robinson was there to answer questions as the protests were filed. He said he called an emergency meeting of the board for Monday. The members will have to go over the protests to decide if there’s any merit to them. He said if the board feels the protests stand on their own, it will call a hearing.

 He said, “We’ll go through with the protests, then we may have to do a recount.”