Scotland Neck fraud claim dismissed


The Halifax County Board of Elections has dismissed an election protest by Scotland Neck Mayor Robert Partin, who claimed voter fraud in a predominantly black precinct in town.

Partin was defeated by James Mills, who said he will be sworn in as the first African-American mayor of Scotland Neck. The board did find one questionable provisional ballot and two voters who voted twice—once by absentee ballot and once at the polls on Nov. 6, Jane Stancill reports.

But those votes were not enough to throw the final result into question, the board said in a written decision filed this afternoon after a hearing Monday. The decision said "the protest should be dismissed because there is not substantial evidence of any violation, irregularity, or misconduct sufficient to cast doubt on the results of the election."

Partin sought a new election with his protest, which contended that more than 70 voters used inaccurate addresses. He could appeal the board's findings to the State Board of Elections, but had not filed notice as of this afternoon.

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Re: Scotland Neck fraud claim dismissed

I echo the comments of fnbuzerak. Now, if only sunlight will also enter ElectriCities. Partin is closely tied to ElectriCities, an entity of the greedy and fortunate few. The only difference - the people in the towns do not have the opportunity to see what is going on in that entity. Here's hoping James Mills and Vertia Evans will get involved with electric issues in Scotland Neck where the rates are more than 20% than areas served by cooperatives and Progress Energy.

Re: Scotland Neck fraud claim dismissed

Robert Partin must be seething at this moment. Again, for the second time in the past twelve years, the backs of bullies have been broken. First it was 38 years of Ferd Harrison who kept Scotland Neck from moving forward during his reign. Now the ten years of Robert Partin's bullying of the community is at an end. Hopefully, the sunlight will again enter town government. People that are truly interested in moving Scotland Neck forward will get their chance.

My congratulations to James Mills and Vertia Evans. I wish you all the best as you try to get Scotland Neck's government to reflect the community as a whole. Not be a government of the greedy, selfish and fortunate few.