Scotland Neck election hearing set

HALIFAX — Questions about the legitimacy of some votes in the Nov. 3 Scotland Neck town elections may be decided at a Halifax County Board of Elections hearing Tuesday, Dec. 1.

The hearing will focus on the results of the mayoral contest between incumbent James Mills and challenger Raymond Watson and a challenge by council candidate Kenneth Branch who lost his election bid by a few votes. Mills was the tentative winner by a single vote.

The Board of Elections will meet at 4:30 p.m., Monday to decide “how we will conduct the hearing and who we are going to bring in to testify,” said Board Chairman Mitchell Robinson Friday.

Raleigh attorney Gerald Meek will represent the board at the Dec. 1 hearing.

This is the second consecutive election the Scotland Neck results have ended up in the center of controversy. Mills’ first election landed before the State Board of Elections before it was settled.

Earlier this month, the county board conducted the official canvass of the Nov. 3 vote. Initially, the board approved the count but then members noticed something out of the ordinary.

The panel rescinded the approval and began looking at potential irregularities. On Nov. 13, the three candidates filed protests to the election outcome.

Their challenges included allegations votes were counted from outside the municipality, some voters didn’t sign their registration cards and some voters voted twice.

Friday, the county board met to discuss the legal issues surrounding the controversy. While much of the meeting was a closed session to discuss legal concerns, Robinson did answer questions from the public and the participants.

“Has anything happened to change the totals you came up with from the canvass?” asked Mills. “A few things did happen on election day,” Robinson responded. “But that has not been quantified at this point.”

Robinson explained he did not want to discuss any of the evidence before the hearing, but when asked if there were problems discovered, he said, “I think at this time, this process is needed,” 

When asked what would happen at the hearing, Robinson explained evidence from the protests will be heard, people who have been subpoenaed will be called to question and registered voters will be allowed to give any other evidence pertinent to the case. He reminded everyone the speakers would be under oath during the hearing.

Robinson said the board is in close contact with the State Board of Elections and while they may observe, they will not take part in the proceedings.