LUMBERTON — The fate of an uncertified judicial election in Robeson County could be decided on Monday.
It was announced Wednesday that the State Board of Elections will meet at 1 p.m. Monday in Raleigh and its agenda includes the District Court 16B Seat 2 race between Democrat Vanessa Burton and Republican Jack Moody Jr.
The District Court contest wasn’t certified by the State Board of Elections because of concerns the results of the Nov. 6 general election were tainted by the same absentee ballot irregularities that caused the N.C. District 9 U.S. House seat race between Republican Mark Harris and Democrat Dan McCready not to be certified.
The vote count taken after the Nov. 6 general election showed Moody won by 138 votes. His lead was cut to 77 after absentee ballots were tallied. After provisional ballots were counted on Nov. 15, Moody trailed Burton by 71 votes.
Burton’s margin of victory was below the 1 percent of all votes cast threshold that permits a recount request. Moody was granted a recount, the results of which showed Burton had 15,382 votes to Moody’s 15,315, a margin of 67.
The congressional race became the object of a months-long investigation and a four-day public evidentiary hearing that led to an order from the state board to hold new a election. Dates for that election could also be set on Monday.
Results of the two Bladen County elections, including one for county commissioner, also were not certified and new elections ordered.
The meeting is open to the public. It will take place in the agency’s board room on the third floor of the Dobbs Building, located at 430 N. Salisbury St. in Raleigh
