State Board of Elections introduces efforts to further protect voter rights

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After one of the most high-profile election fraud scandals in the country's history, North Carolina lawmakers are looking to tighten up the absentee ballot process.

Channel 9's reporting in Bladen County helped expose the issues, including interviewing people who collected absentee ballots -- an act that is illegal in the state.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections now wants to expand voter protections.

"We only want to make sure absentee ballots are mailed to voters who are actually requesting absentee ballots," NCSBE Executive Director Kim Strach said.

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Proposed changes include not allowing people to be paid per absentee ballot request form. That would hopefully deter them from filling forms out for voters who don't want one, officials said.

The State Board of Elections does not want to allow third parties to copy or keep copies of the forms when they are filled out. A former worker for McCrae Dowless, Lisa Britt, testified that Dowless kept copies of previous voter request forms.

Dowless, in late February, was charged with three counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and two counts of illegal possession of an absentee ballot.

The NCSBE would also like to deter vote harvesting by funding prepaid postage stamps for absentee ballots and creating stronger penalties for people who interfere with elections.

"We think it is important to send strong messages," Strach said.

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Currently, there are only two felonies related to absentee election fraud, the rest are class two misdemeanors.

"I do think strengthening penalties is necessary. Right now, it is just a slap on the wrist," Rep. Holly Grange, R-New Hanover, said.

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Lawmakers appeared to be open to all of Strach's proposals, and future action could come in the coming weeks.

"No matter what party someone is involved with, if they commit these election irregularities, they ought to be prosecuted," Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said.

Cox Media Group