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Godwin election protest dismissed after board finds insufficient evidence that clerk’s text messages changed outcome
Summary
The Godwin Board of Elections dismissed a protest by candidate Dennis C. Smith Sr. alleging the town clerk sent election‑day texts favoring incumbents, ruling the record lacked substantial evidence that voters were influenced and the election outcome was swayed; the dismissal was unanimous.
The Godwin Board of Elections dismissed a protest on whether the results of the Nov. 4 town commissioner election were tainted by election‑day messages from a town employee.
Protester Dennis C. Smith Sr. alleged the town clerk sent text messages on election day urging recipients to "vote for George Cooper, Joseph Smith, Ronald McNeil, and Scarlett Hall," and presented sworn testimony from several witnesses who said they had seen or heard the messages or conversations about them. Smith read a copy of the message into the record as evidence during his opening.
The board heard testimony from Mayor Willie Burnett and several residents who said they overheard or later saw evidence of communications linked to the clerk. Subpoenaed town clerk Jackie Cooper…
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