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Cumberland County election board finds substantial evidence of misconduct in Godwin and forwards findings to state
Summary
After hearing testimony and admitting copies of text messages sent by the Godwin town clerk, the Cumberland County Board found substantial evidence that a violation or irregularity occurred in the Nov. 4, 2025 Godwin town commissioners election and unanimously voted to forward the finding to the North Carolina State Board of Elections for action, including a possible new election.
Cumberland County’s board of elections on Jan. 16 unanimously found there was substantial evidence that a violation, irregularity or misconduct occurred in the Nov. 4, 2025 Town of Godwin commissioners race and voted to forward that finding to the North Carolina State Board of Elections for any action within its authority.
The decision followed testimony from several subpoenaed witnesses and admission into evidence of copies of text messages the board said were sent on election morning by Town Clerk Jacqueline Cooper Kelly. In an opening statement, the protester pressing the case said the clerk had “sent unsolicited text message to voters instructing them how to vote,” and argued that the messages, taken together with the clerk’s access to voter contact information, undermined the fairness of the election.
The protester requested the board either order a revote or…
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