The North Carolina Auditor’s Office has reassigned Dallas Woodhouse, its controversial elections liaison, to a new role after a series of controversies involving his influence on early voting plans.
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Woodhouse, who led the state GOP from 2015 to 2019, was hired into the new role last year with a salary of $110,000 after Auditor Dave Boliek gained control over appointments to election boards.
His position, which had never existed when the governor had control over election boards, was intended to liaise with the 100 county election chairs across the state and “ensure election integrity.”
However, as local boards prepared for the midterms, news of Woodhouse’s involvement in early voting plans drew scrutiny.
Last month, Republican officials in Jackson County said they had been pressured by the GOP and the auditor’s office to reject an early voting site on Western Carolina University’s campus. In texts obtained by NC Local, Woodhouse told the chair “don’t let them have a vote” about the plan.
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And in Pasquotank County, Woodhouse told the board chair to “drop Sunday,” according to a text message obtained by Common Cause NC, a voting rights group.
Woodhouse’s reassignment was announced last week in an email to the board chairs, which The News & Observer has obtained. It does not state why he has been transferred or what his new role will be.
Randy Brechbiel, a spokesperson for the auditor’s office, said the elections liaison positions has been discontinued.
“The elections liaison was established because the Auditor’s Office gained new responsibilities,” he said. “The position was not meant to be permanent.”
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Woodhouse’s reassignment was first reported by NBC News.