RALEIGH, N.C. — A Western North Carolina town must have a new election after a poll worker told voters on Election Day that a candidate in the contest had died, which may have skewed results.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted unanimously Monday to conduct a new election for the Town of Dobson Board of Commissioners in Surry County, responding to an election protest and appeal.
A candidate, Sharon Gates-Hodges, died before the elections but after early voting had begun, meaning her name appeared on ballots. On Election Day, a poll worker told voters that a candidate had died — at times appearing to indicate another candidate and not Gates-Hodges. The worker also told voters they had to pick two candidates, which may have made people feel obligated to vote for two people when they could have opted for just one.
