THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 3, 1994 TAG: 9412030265
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Even if Robert Anderson's allegations of voter fraud in Robeson County prove true, it would not be enough to make him the winner in the 7th District congressional race, a state election official said.
Edward J. High, chairman of the state Board of Elections, said Democrat Charlie Rose would have beaten Anderson whether or not improprieties occurred in the voting. High said board members knew this, and it factored into their decision to certify Rose as the winner of the 7th Congressional District seat.
``We decided that regardless of whether the allegations were true or not, the results of the election would still be the same,'' High told the Fayetteville Observer-Times.
On Tuesday, the state board first decided to delay certification of election results, then reversed itself and confirmed Rose's win.
Anderson on Friday disputed High's claim that Rose would have won the election, regardless of the alleged improprieties.
``I am amazed that these key figures at the state Board of Elections would prejudge my complaint without interviewing a single witness, reviewing any evidence or looking at any documents in this matter,'' Anderson said.
On Thursday, Anderson once again had asked the state board to delay certification. He said he was told that the board reversed its decision to delay certification because Rose was seeking to become House minority leader and a failure to certify him could hurt his chances in that race.
Rep. Richard Gephardt won the position in a 150-to-58 House vote on Wednesday, so Anderson said the board should again delay certification because the contest for minority leader is no longer a concern.
Anderson also accused Gov. Jim Hunt of influencing the board's decision, and said he would appeal to the U.S. House of Representatives if the state board doesn't change its position.
Rachel Perry, a spokesman for the governor, called the allegation ridiculous.
``The governor's office has never interfered with the Board of Elections activities and never will,'' Perry said.
The State Bureau of Investigation is expected to begin looking into Anderson's allegations next week.
Gary Bartlett, executive director of the state Board of Elections, said he will meet at 8 a.m. Monday with SBI Director James Coman.
``They will be investigating any misconduct or election law violations by the election officials,'' Bartlett said.
Rose won the Nov. 8 election by 3,843 votes: 62,593 to 58,750. Rose's win was built in Robeson County, where he beat Anderson 18,469 to 8,235. Anderson has accused Robeson County election officials of stuffing ballot boxes, letting people cast votes in dead people's names, and other illegal activities.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION by CNB