Robbinsville – The results are certified.
Now the challenges can begin.
An unusually-high number of write-in candidates for the Town of Lake Santeetlah council popped up on the unofficial results after the general election Nov. 2, drawing numerous questions about the validity of some of the voters that registered shortly before election day.
Spearheading the inquiry is Diana Simon, who was the top vote-getter and only one of two incumbents to be voted back to the council.
“I was … surprised by the 67 miscellaneous write-in votes (52.37 percent of total),” Simon said in an email to Graham County Board of Elections director Teresa Garland, which Simon also read verbatim at Monday’s provisional meeting.
“This appears to be the highest percentage of any jurisdiction in North Carolina. Our Nov. 5, 2019 election had a total of 75 votes, while the Nov. 2, 2021 election had a total of 128 votes. At least six voters were registered within two days of the registration deadline before the election.”
Simon’s email later calls into question the validity of a family of six – who will not be named in this story – in which the children had stated an “intention to retire” to Lake Santeetlah. Simon’s email also notes that the family in question lost their home to a fire three years ago and are now constructing a two-bedroom home in the town.
“They have not been physically in residence in town for at least four years,” a portion of Simon’s email reads. “The family resides full-time in Buncombe County and has not resided in Graham County in more than three years.”
Simon emphasized her stance on challenging the outcome of the election, stating her belief that two of the write-in winners – Tina Emerson and Connie Gross – do not met the criteria for qualification and that eight separate voters did not meet the guidelines to cast a Lake Santeetlah ballot.
Election board chairman Juanita Colvard reiterated at both Monday and Tuesday’s meetings that the results would be certified regardless, before any challenges could be issued. The N.C. State Board of Elections will finalize the votes Thursday, Nov. 18, but challenges cannot be filed any sooner than Friday, Nov. 12.
Colvard also stressed the “burden of proof” needed to have votes thrown out due to ineligibility, saying that according to state law, the only identification needed to vote could include a driver’s license or a utility bill. Thus, it will be up to the challengers to prove that each voter does not claim the address they displayed on their identification as their primary residence.
Simon received 22 votes in the election, while mayor Jim Hager – who indicated a desire to resign from the council at Tuesday’s canvassing meeting – and council member Keith Predmore garnered 11 each. The other two incumbents – Roger Carlton and Kevin Haag – received seven and 10 votes each, respectively. New to the council are write-in candidates Emerson, Gross and Ralph Mitchell (14 votes each). A coin flip was held to determine who would get the final seat, with Hager winning the nod, but will still need to formally notify the council of his intention to resign.
It is unclear who would fill the vacant seat, should Hager resign. before any challenges could be issued. The N.C. State Board of Elections will finalize the votes Thursday, Nov. 18, but challenges can be filed until 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12.
Colvard also stressed the “burden of proof” needed to have votes thrown out due to ineligibility, saying that according to state law, the only identification needed to vote could include a driver’s license or a utility bill. Thus, it will be up to the challengers to prove that each voter does not claim the address they displayed on their identification as their primary residence.
Simon received 22 votes in the election, while mayor Jim Hager – who indicated a desire to resign from the council at Tuesday’s canvassing meeting – and council member Keith Predmore garnered 11 each. The other two incumbents – Roger Carlton and Kevin Haag – received seven and 10 votes each, respectively. New to the council are write-in candidates Emerson, Gross and Ralph Mitchell (14 votes each). A coin flip was held to determine who would get the final seat, with Hager winning the nod, but will still need to formally notify the council of his intention to resign.
It is unclear who would fill the vacant seat, should Hager resign.