North Carolina elections board dissolves before certifying November results of 9th district race

The North Carolina state board of elections dissolved Friday without certifying results from the 9th Congressional District, throwing into doubt the prospects for a new election in a race tainted by allegations of ballot fraud by a Republican operative.

Later Friday, the second-ranking House Democrat said his party would object to Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris being sworn in on January 3 when the new Congress is seated.

Harris filed an emergency petition on Friday to certify his lead in the November election, moments before the nine-member board disbanded on noon Friday. But whether he’ll actually be sworn in as a member of Congress next week remains up in the air, as he would need a court to quickly rule that he is entitled to the seat — because the state board did not certify the result, there is no legal authority outside of a court order to allow him to take his seat.

And House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat who is set to take on the position of majority leader in the next Congress, said Democrats will work to ensure Harris is not seated.

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