North Carolina -- July 10, 2026: A North Carolina political controversy surrounding early voting has intensified after State Auditor Dave Boliek reassigned Dallas Woodhouse, the former elections liaison for the Auditor's Office, following reports that he had been involved in efforts to influence county early voting plans.
Woodhouse, a former executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party, had served as the Auditor's liaison to county boards of elections after the General Assembly transferred appointment authority over the State Board of Elections from the governor to the state auditor. His responsibilities included working with county election officials on election administration and early voting plans.
The reassignment follows reporting by NBC News and North Carolina media outlets that revealed Woodhouse had communicated with county election officials regarding proposed early voting locations and schedules.
Among the reported communications were text messages urging officials in Pasquotank County to eliminate Sunday early voting and messages involving discussions over an early voting site at Western Carolina University in Jackson County. According to documents obtained by NC Local, one message instructed a county election board chair, "Don't let them have a vote" regarding the campus polling location proposal.
The Auditor's Office confirmed that Woodhouse has been reassigned and said the elections liaison position has been eliminated.
In a statement reported by multiple news organizations, the Auditor's Office said the liaison role was created after the office assumed new election responsibilities and was never intended to be permanent. Officials said county election boards have now completed much of the transition process, making the position unnecessary.
Governor Josh Stein sharply criticized the developments on social media, writing:
"Every lawful voter deserves to have his or her voice heard. Yet under Auditor Boliek's watch, the State Board of Elections has been directing counties to eliminate Sunday voting and remove early voting from college campuses including the country's largest HBCU."
Stein linked to the NBC News report announcing Woodhouse's reassignment as evidence supporting his criticism.
The issue has become part of a broader debate over voting access in North Carolina. Supporters of expanded early voting argue that Sunday voting and campus polling sites increase participation among students, working families, and communities that rely on early voting opportunities. Opponents have argued that county election boards should have flexibility in determining polling locations and schedules based on local administrative needs and election management.
With North Carolina preparing for the 2026 midterm elections, the controversy is likely to remain a focal point as election officials finalize early voting plans across the state's 100 counties.