RALEIGH — The top official at the State Board of Elections wants tougher punishment for election crimes, suggesting special prosecutors should be appointed if district attorneys or federal authorities refuse to investigate wrongdoing.

ROCKINGHAM — With one day left of filing for the 9th District special election, the field of Republican candidates has increased by three.

ROCKINGHAM — Another third-party candidate has entered the race for a chance to go to Washington and represent the 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, bringing the total field to five.

ROCKINGHAM — Democrat Dan McCready was the only candidate to file for the 9th Congressional District special election on Tuesday, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections.

ROCKINGHAM — The first day of filing for the 9th Congressional District special election ended with three candidates, but only one familiar name.

ROCKINGHAM — Dan McCready won’t be the only retired Marine running for the 9th Congressional District, as former Mecklenberg County Commissioner Matthew Ridenhour— saying "It takes a Marine to beat a Marine — announced in a press release Wednesday that he was jumping in the race, bringing the field of GOP candidates to five for the special election.

RALEIGH — Leslie McCrae Dowless, the alleged mastermind of an election fraud scheme in the 9th Congressional District, was arrested Wednesday and jailed in Wake County.

ROCKINGHAM— Mark Harris will not be running in the election redo for the 9th Congressional District.

ROCKINGHAM — With the North Carolina Board of Elections calling for a new race for the 9th Congressional District, several questions remain.

One, of course, is: Who is going to run?

RALEIGH — Does beleaguered Republican Rev. Mark Harris have a prayer of winning a new 9th U.S. Congressional District election?