DA requests investigation of county absentee voting

 Cast Spears Fifth Judicial District Attorney E. Paul Jones has confirmed he hasrequested an investigation of absentee ballots in last Tuesday'sprimary but said his letter has been mailed so recently theattorney general's office may not have received it. "I have had complaints from citizens regarding absentee ballots inRandolph County but I and my office don't have the resources andexpertise to investigate allegations of this sort," Jones said. "I have asked the AG's office to look at it. They have theknowledge, resources and expertise to investigate and areinvestigating an incident in Perry County," Jones said. "The allegations I heard were related to the commission races. Idon't know if they spilled over in other races," he said. Republican Party chairman Bob Fincher and Democratic Party chairmanJames Harris met Tuesday morning in Probate Judge George Diamond'soffice to certify the election, and Harris said there was onechange. Of the four provisional absentee ballots checked by the Board ofRegistrars Don McLeod said one could be counted. There werepaperwork problems with the other three, he said. Harris said he personally opened it and it was a vote forCommission Candidate Richard Fetner, who lost by seven votes toDistrict 4 Commissioner T.J. "June" Waldrep. This cut the interimcommissioner's lead to six. "All I'm asking is for the absentees to be investigated," Fetnersaid last week. Fetner had 321 votes or 49.46 percent to Waldrep's328 votes or 50.54 percent. Fetner did not attend the canvass ofthe results; however he did call Harris Tuesday morning asking ifhe could attend the meeting. "It's my understanding he is going to go on through with thecontest," Harris said. Harris said he is calling specialists inelections to ensure they are doing everything right. "I don't want to show favoritism to anybody," Harris said. Anyonewanting to contest has from noon on Tuesday until noon on Thursdayto provide Harris with their intent to contest. District No. 3 Commissioner Kevin Spears, who lost his primary by athree-vote margin, said, "I don't know if there is anything tocontest really. There is a difference between a contest and arecount. If it's a recount they will just put the same ballotsthrough the same machines. It is all computerized. I got beat bythree votes is about all you can say."