Cooper Sets Dates For Special Congressional Election In Eastern North Carolina

Gov. Roy Cooper has set election dates to fill an eastern North Carolina congressional seat left empty after this month's death of Republican Rep. Walter Jones Jr.

Cooper's proclamation Wednesday directs 3rd Congressional District primary elections for April 30, based on candidate filing next week.

The general election would be July 9. But a primary runoff would be held that day instead, if a leading candidate in a primary doesn't get more than 30 percent of the vote. In that case, the general election would be Sept. 10.

The state elections board will meet Monday to set new elections for the 9th Congressional District. The board is scheduling dates for the 9th because it declared last week they were necessary following absentee voting fraud testimony in last fall's race.