NC voter audit suggests widespread fraud

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — The North Carolina Board of Elections is investigating hundreds of cases where voters appear to have cast 2012 ballots in two states.

Elections Director Kim Strach told lawmakers Wednesday that her staff has identified 765 registered North Carolina voters whose first names, last names, birth dates and last four digits of their Social Security numbers appear to match information for voters in another state.

Strach said there could also be about 50 people statewide who died before election day but were recorded as casting a ballot. In several past cases, instances of so-called zombie voters turned out to be the result of clerical errors.

Republicans immediately touted the preliminary report as evidence they were justified in approving sweeping elections changes last year that include voters presenting photo ID at the polls.

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