The day after Anson County election board members chose between early voting plans, Election Director Neva Helms and Republican Board Chair Kelly Newton received a text from Dallas Woodhouse, the state auditor’s liaison with county boards of election. “We are going to have to redo that early voting plan,” he wrote. Woodhouse resigned Monday after a series of his suggestions to county boards became public.

Background

In late 2024, state lawmakers transferred the governor’s power to appoint county election board chairs and State Board of Elections members to the recently elected Republican state auditor, Dave Boliek. As a result, each of the state’s election boards shifted from 3-2 Democratic to Republican majorities.

Under the new law, most of election boards’ business would remain independent of the auditor’s office, with the exception of the initial appointments and budget oversight. However, since election boards shifted, some feel like the auditor has blurred the lines of his authority.

Incidents of Pressure

Woodhouse’s resignation came after it was revealed that he had been pressuring county election boards to change their early voting plans. In Anson County, Woodhouse texted Helms and Newton, suggesting that they redo their early voting plan because it did not include enough hours. He also suggested using newly available money to bring the matter back up for reconsideration.

In other counties, Woodhouse also made suggestions on early voting plans. In Columbus County, he texted election staff, advising them to choose three specific early voting sites. In Cabarrus County, emails between the county election director and assistant county manager reveal that the auditor wanted an early voting site in Midland.

Woodhouse’s actions have been criticized by some as an overstep of his authority. His resignation has been seen as a victory for those who believe that election boards should be independent of the auditor’s office.

Original reporting: Carolina Public Press — read the source article.