Editing Bladen County, North Carolina (section)

==Government and politics==
===Government===
Bladen County is a member of the [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Lumber River Council of Governments]], a regional planning board representing five counties.<ref>{{cite news| title = Richardson explains role of LRCOG to Rotary Club| newspaper = [[The Laurinburg Exchange]]| date = January 28, 2020| url = https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/news/33084/richardson-explains-role-of-lrcog-to-rotary-club| access-date = July 21, 2022}}</ref>

It lies within the bounds of North Carolina's 15th Prosecutorial District, the 13A [[North Carolina Superior Court|Superior Court]] District, and the 13th District Court District.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/bladen-county| title = Bladen County| publisher = North Carolina Judicial Branch| access-date = February 12, 2023}}</ref>

===Politics===
{| role="presentation"
|
|-
| {{PresHead|place=Bladen County, North Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 14, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|10,035|6,620|109|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|9,676|7,326|123|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|8,550|7,058|289|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|7,748|8,062|147|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|7,532|7,853|95|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6,174|6,109|30|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|4,977|5,889|42|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,335|4,952|673|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,214|5,700|1,263|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,770|5,031|13|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|4,701|5,064|14|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,745|6,104|92|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,546|6,009|34|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,205|2,201|91|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,746|2,754|3,897|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,169|4,516|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,854|4,353|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,542|4,078|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,710|3,506|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|500|2,831|583|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|731|2,542|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|543|2,925|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|551|3,360|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|808|2,651|36|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,911|1,552|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|786|1,551|23|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,064|1,939|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|651|1,261|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|33|1,140|511|North Carolina}}
|}
Following the 2018 United States Midterm Elections, an investigation was opened into accusations of an absentee ballot fraud scheme directed by [[McCrae Dowless]] in Bladen County, within North Carolina's [[North Carolina's 9th congressional district|9th Congressional District]]. Accusations were based around the Republican Primary election, in which [[Mark Harris (North Carolina politician)|Mark Harris]] defeated incumbent [[Robert Pittenger]], and around the general election, in which Harris initially appeared to defeat Democrat [[Dan McCready]]. {{As of|2018|December}}, the investigation is currently ongoing.<ref>{{cite news| last=Morrill| first=Jim| date=November 29, 2018| title='Tangled web' in Bladen County has questions swirling about votes in the 9th District| url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article222363510.html| work=The Charlotte Observer| location=Charlotte, North Carolina| access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last1=Gardner| first1=Amy| last2=Ross| first2=Kirk| date=November 29, 2018| title=Certification in limbo in N.C. House race as fraud investigation continues| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/certification-in-limbo-in-nc-house-race-as-fraud-investigation-continues/2018/11/29/109209f6-f406-11e8-80d0-f7e1948d55f4_story.html| newspaper=The Washington Post| location=Washington, D.C.| access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref> Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, Democrat, said it was possible over 1,000 ballots had been destroyed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Casiano|first=Louis|date=December 6, 2018|title=Over 1,000 ballots may have been destroyed in NC congressional race, DA says|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/over-1000-ballots-may-have-been-destroyed-in-tighty-contested-north-carolina-congressional-race|work=[[Fox News]]|access-date=December 6, 2018}}</ref> According to District Attorney Jon David, Republican, the county has a "troubled history of political groups exploiting the use of absentee ballots."<ref>{{cite news| last1=Henderson| first1=Bruce| last2=Doran| first2=Will| date=December 7, 2018| title=In 2 NC counties with 'rough politics,' election fraud claims are nothing new| url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article222739860.html| work=The Charlotte Observer| access-date=December 9, 2018}}</ref> The scandal brought national media attention to Bladen.<ref name= nagem/>

As of 2022, Bladen County is home to about 22,000 registered voters, comprising about 9,700 registered Democrats, about 5,100 Republicans, and about 7,000 unaffiliated voters.<ref>{{cite news| last = Nagem| first = Sarah| title =  Here are some primary races to watch in Bladen County for May 17 election| newspaper = Border Belt Independent| date = April 20, 2022| url =https://borderbelt.org/2022-primary-election-candidates-bladen-county/| access-date = July 21, 2022}}</ref>