The State Board of Elections says it's investigating irregularities with mail-in absentee ballots received in a southeastern North Carolina county for this fall's election. Board spokesman Patrick Gannon confirmed Tuesday the investigation of the Bladen County ballots is continuing. The ballots are the subject of a formal election protest that Republican Gov. Pat McCrory's campaign announced was filed late Tuesday at the Bladen elections board by a winning candidate for soil and water conservation district supervisor. The protest says hundreds of ballots may have been cast unlawfully to influence races large and small. The McCrory campaign alleges the ballots were supposed to help Democrats. McCrory is trailing Democrat Roy Cooper by 5,000 votes with more ballots yet to be counted. Cooper campaign officials said in a statement that the incident was isolated and that they fully support the investigation.

The State Board of Elections says it's investigating irregularities with mail-in absentee ballots received in a southeastern North Carolina county for this fall's election.

Board spokesman Patrick Gannon confirmed Tuesday the investigation of the Bladen County ballots is continuing.


The ballots are the subject of a formal election protest that Republican Gov. Pat McCrory's campaign announced was filed late Tuesday at the Bladen elections board by a winning candidate for soil and water conservation district supervisor.

The protest says hundreds of ballots may have been cast unlawfully to influence races large and small. The McCrory campaign alleges the ballots were supposed to help Democrats.

McCrory is trailing Democrat Roy Cooper by 5,000 votes with more ballots yet to be counted.

Cooper campaign officials said in a statement that the incident was isolated and that they fully support the investigation.