Columbus County Elections Chairman may lose his job

A State Board of Elections panel decided today not to take action against Columbus County Commissioner Lynwood Norris, but the elections chair may lose his job.

A candidate for county commissioner alleges that political activists were interfering with the voting process at the polls, to the point where it changed the outcome of the election.

State Board of Elections officials came to Columbus County today for a hearing involving the outcome of the county commissioner’s race during the May primary.

Barry Worley, who ran for county commissioner, alleges that voters were swayed to vote for his opponent, incumbent Commissioner Lynwood Norris, by political activists at the polling stations.

Witnesses say activists were offering to help people vote, following them inside the polling stations where electioneering is not allowed – even giving voters sample ballots already filled out for Lynwood Norris. But the State Board of Elections decided the election results will stand.

“I think it was the way it was supposed to went. Because I worked hard to get what I got. I’m just glad it’s over with so I can go about the county’s business,” said Lynwood Norris.

“Its not very important today about the outcome of the commissioner’s race, I’m here trying to make a change for the next person running,” said Barry Worley, who lost to Norris in the primary.

At the center of this hearing, is North Carolina statute that says if a voter needs help, they have to ask for it and the chief precinct judge must ask why they need help. The hearing revealed, the Chair of the County Board of Elections, Jessie Graham, instructed the precinct judge not to ask why help was needed – saying that would intimidate the voter.

The Sate Board of Elections voted 4 to 1 to hold a hearing in to whether or not Graham interfered with the election process, and whether or not he should continue his position as the county chair of the Board of Elections. The date for that hearing hasn’t been scheduled yet.