North Carolina Elections Official Urges Lawmaker to Retract Fraud Claims
RALEIGH, N.C. — Tensions rose this week as Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, called for state Senate leader Phil Berger to retract comments implying that this month’s election results were being manipulated. During a press conference, Berger suggested that the electoral process resembles a scenario where votes are counted until a preferred candidate emerges victorious. His remarks followed a controversial race in which Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin, initially leading on election night, lost ground after ballots were added, prompting him to request a recount.
Brinson Bell’s response emphasized the potential consequences of such statements, warning that they could incite threats against local election workers. "You are a top leader of our state government. What you say matters," she asserted in her letter, emphasizing that claims of fraudulent conduct, which she labeled as "baseless," could provoke misguided actions from the public.
The backdrop to this controversy includes recent legislation that would transfer the authority to appoint the State Board of Elections from the governor to the state auditor—a move supported by Republicans amid frustrations over recent elections. Brinson Bell pointed out the bipartisan nature of local election boards, where dedicated officials from both parties worked to ensure the counting of eligible ballots.
Berger’s comments and the ongoing legislative shifts come against a backdrop of logistical challenges during the elections, which were impacted by Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding. While elections proceeded relatively smoothly, Brinson Bell expressed concern over the emotional toll and professional challenges faced by election officials, urging a return to civility and integrity in public discourse regarding elections. Berger has not yet commented on Brinson Bell’s letter, which represents a rare direct communication from an agency head to a major political figure.
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