NORTH CAROLINA: McCrory Files Election Protests In 11 More Counties Over “Fraudulent” Absentee Ballots

The Raleigh News & Observer reports:

Gov. Pat McCrory’s campaign team announced Wednesday evening that election protests are being filed in 11 more counties, further clouding the outcome of a close race in which the Republican governor trails.

McCrory, who lags roughly 5,000 votes behind Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper with some ballots yet to be counted, had already seized on potential problems in Durham and Bladen counties in casting doubt on election results.

Now his re-election campaign alleges fraudulent absentee voting may have benefited Democratic candidates in more counties. “These voter fraud concerns must be addressed before the results of the election can be finalized,” Russell Peck, McCrory’s campaign manager, said in a news release about the 11 new complaints.

Cooper campaign spokesman Ford Porter said there’s no evidence behind the allegations. “It is absolutely shameful that Gov. McCrory would make these unfounded claims,” Cooper campaign spokesman Ford Porter said. “This is the worst kind of misinformation campaign meant to undermine the results of an election the Governor has lost.”