A new vote has been ordered in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District after the republican in the race admitted his lead over his democratic opponent was tainted by ballot-tampering conducted by operatives working for is campaign.

The new vote was approved unanimously by the state's board of elections on Thursday after several days of evidentiary hearings in which witnesses said that operatives hired by the campaign of Mark Harris conducted illegal door-to-door ballot harvesting in violation of state law.

Mr Harris, who had previously pushed back on the notion that his victory came as a result of any voter fraud, agreed on Thursday that his 905-vote lead over Democrat Dan McCready may have been impacted by that tampering. He urged the board to approve a new election, which has not been given a date.

"Through the testimony I listened to over the past three days, I believe a new election should be called,” Mr Harris told the board on Thursday. “It’s become clear to me that the public’s confidence in the 9th District seat general election has been undermined to an extent that a new election is warranted."

His democratic opponent cheered the board's decision on Twitter.

North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Show all 14 1 /14 North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Gender neutral signs are posted in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law The "We Are Not This" slogan is posted at the entrances to Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Museum manager Jeff Bell adheres informative backing to gender neutral signs in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A unisex sign and the "We Are Not This" slogan are outside a bathroom at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Gender neutral signs are posted in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A gender neutral sign is posted outside a bathrooms at Oval Park Grill on May 11, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Gender neutral signs are posted in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Unisex signs hang outside bathrooms at Toast Paninoteca on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A unisex sign and the "We Are Not This" slogan are outside a bathroom at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A private women's bathroom is offered at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Gender neutral signs are posted in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A unisex sign and the "We Are Not This" slogan are outside a bathroom at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A private men's bathroom is offered at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A unisex sign and the "We Are Not This" slogan are outside a bathroom at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty

“Today was a great step forward for democracy in North Carolina,” Mr McCready wrote. He continued, calling for justice for voters “from the moment the first voice was silenced by election fraud.”

The board’s decision could mean that the seat — which is the last to be decided in the state from the 2018 midterm elections — could be left open for months. The attorney for the election board is preparing to review laws for new primaries and a general election, and will then submit a plan to the board for final approval.

There were about 280,000 votes cast in November in the district, which includes several counties and the city of Charlotte.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

The state has refused to certify the original results, which put Mr Harris ahead by 905 votes, noting that a political operative working for Mr Harris, Leslie McCrae Dowless, may have tampered with mail-in ballots.

Mr Harris has claimed he was not aware of the ballot harvesting at the time.

No criminal charges have been filed so far in the case.