Correction: I understand and agree with the import of your column, Mr. Mills. But the NC Board of Elections (SBOE) has taken no official action regarding Dallas Woodhouse. He does not work for us. He was and still is employed by the Office of the State Auditor. The SBOE acts by voting as a board, or by action delegated to the Executive Director. Neither the board nor the ED has, to my knowledge, taken official action here. By law, the auditor has appointment authority and some administrative oversight. The Board retains elections oversight. Note: some board members have not been passive on this interference matter. To say more at this time would “not be prudent.”
I’m not a supporter of Woodhouse or the party he works for, but he did push county boards to change voting plans in ways that helped his side. Some officials said his involvement felt wrong and too political. The board took it seriously enough to move him out of the liaison job. But there’s no hard proof of threats, no coercion, no complaints, no finding of misconduct. The claim that he “pressured” anyone rests on how it looked, not on documented fact. But knowing Woodhouse, the likely hood of him engaging in this conduct is fairly high.
The republican led legislatures since their takeover in 2010 have done more damage throughout our state in the last 16 years than Democrats ever thought about doing while they had control of the legislature. Koch money really did a job on us and we’ve let it continue somehow thinking that things will have to get better. I hope the scales are finally beginning to fall from all who voted for these bastards before it truly is too late.
⬆️Yep, the solution lies in voting out Republicans in our grotesquely gerrymandered legislature!!! VOTE!!!
Also encourage everyone you know to register and/or update their voter registration!
I have been a NC poll observer for the last several cycles and it is heartbreaking how many voters show up on election day registered at the wrong address! (FYI- in NC you can update your voter registration during early voting, but NOT on election day).
Also, since the GOP is always looking for more "gotcha" opportunities, make sure the name on your voter registration is an EXACT match for whatever ID you are using to verify your identity (e.g., Driver's license, passport, military ID etc.).
ICYMI, the GOP-controlled legislature has initiated two different actions which may disenfranchise voters if they don't fix their voter registrations:
The NC Democratic Party has already launched their Voter Access/Protection program. One of the activities you can volunteer for is a once/month Voter Access phonebank to contact voters who are impacted by the above two issues. The next phonebank is this Wed (7/15) from 5 -7 pm ET. Training will be provided at the beginning of the phonebank. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/nc-coordinated/event/944125/
If you are interested in getting involved in other NC voter protection activities, please attend one of the weekly volunteer info sessions - there is one Thurs. (7/16) 6-7 ET:
Postcards for Democracy (https://postcards.markersfordemocracy.org/) has a current "write and hold" postcard campaign for Democrat Evonne Hopkins who is running in NC HD-35. There is a one-time, easy account set-up and then you can download the script and names and addresses. You provide the postcards (I get mine on Etsy) and the stamps.
Other NC-focused postcard campaigns include:
➡️ a "mail as you go" campaigns from Activate America (www.acticateamerica.vote) to elect Roy Cooper. (You provide postcards and stamps)
➡️ two "mail as you go" campaigns to register new voters from Field Team 6 (https://postcards.fieldteam6.org/) You provide postcards - or buy from FT6 - and stamps.
➡️ a "write and hold" campaign to empower BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) voters from Reclaim our Vote (https://www.centerforcommonground.org/postcards). You must purchase postcards with an approved design and provide the stamps.
➡️ a "write and hold" GOTV (get-out-the-vote) campaign from Postcards to Swing States (https://turnoutpac.org/postcards/). They target low-propensity, progressive-leaning voters with field-tested messaging - you are given a choice of three messages. They will mail you the postcards for free (100 postcard minimum), but you provide the stamps.
In addition, Vote Forward (https://go.votefwd.org/) has a letter writing campaign in NC. As in prior election cycles, you print out a customized letter then add a message about why you vote to help motivate low-propensity voters - in this case Democratic-leaning voters. But this year there is a new twist. These letters focus on Down Ballot Election Integrity. These are write and hold letters to be mailed in October. You print the letters and provide envelopes and stamps. Available in batch sizes of 5 or 20.
For anyone who is concerned about a lack of ID preventing NC voters from successfully casting their ballots, VoteRiders (https://voteriders.org/volunteer/) has a "letting writing" campaign for NC. You print out state-specific fact sheets, add a brief hand-written message, and address and stamp an envelope.
Correction: I understand and agree with the import of your column, Mr. Mills. But the NC Board of Elections (SBOE) has taken no official action regarding Dallas Woodhouse. He does not work for us. He was and still is employed by the Office of the State Auditor. The SBOE acts by voting as a board, or by action delegated to the Executive Director. Neither the board nor the ED has, to my knowledge, taken official action here. By law, the auditor has appointment authority and some administrative oversight. The Board retains elections oversight. Note: some board members have not been passive on this interference matter. To say more at this time would “not be prudent.”
I’m not a supporter of Woodhouse or the party he works for, but he did push county boards to change voting plans in ways that helped his side. Some officials said his involvement felt wrong and too political. The board took it seriously enough to move him out of the liaison job. But there’s no hard proof of threats, no coercion, no complaints, no finding of misconduct. The claim that he “pressured” anyone rests on how it looked, not on documented fact. But knowing Woodhouse, the likely hood of him engaging in this conduct is fairly high.
The republican led legislatures since their takeover in 2010 have done more damage throughout our state in the last 16 years than Democrats ever thought about doing while they had control of the legislature. Koch money really did a job on us and we’ve let it continue somehow thinking that things will have to get better. I hope the scales are finally beginning to fall from all who voted for these bastards before it truly is too late.
Yep, the solution lies in voting out Republicans in our grotesquely gerrymandered legislature!!! VOTE!!!
⬆️Yep, the solution lies in voting out Republicans in our grotesquely gerrymandered legislature!!! VOTE!!!
Also encourage everyone you know to register and/or update their voter registration!
I have been a NC poll observer for the last several cycles and it is heartbreaking how many voters show up on election day registered at the wrong address! (FYI- in NC you can update your voter registration during early voting, but NOT on election day).
Also, since the GOP is always looking for more "gotcha" opportunities, make sure the name on your voter registration is an EXACT match for whatever ID you are using to verify your identity (e.g., Driver's license, passport, military ID etc.).
ICYMI, the GOP-controlled legislature has initiated two different actions which may disenfranchise voters if they don't fix their voter registrations:
- Registration Repair (missing credentials): https://www.ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair
- Unvalidated ID Numbers: https://www.ncsbe.gov/faq-letters-voters-about-unvalidated-id-numbers
The NC Democratic Party has already launched their Voter Access/Protection program. One of the activities you can volunteer for is a once/month Voter Access phonebank to contact voters who are impacted by the above two issues. The next phonebank is this Wed (7/15) from 5 -7 pm ET. Training will be provided at the beginning of the phonebank. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/nc-coordinated/event/944125/
If you are interested in getting involved in other NC voter protection activities, please attend one of the weekly volunteer info sessions - there is one Thurs. (7/16) 6-7 ET:
https://www.mobilize.us/nc-coordinated/event/953396/
I can also recommend their bi-weekly "Know Your Rights" sessions - the next one is tomorrow (7/14) 6-7 pm ET: https://www.mobilize.us/nc-coordinated/event/953390/
100%
The best antidote for this is a few more democrats in the NC General Assembly. At less Boss Phil Berger will be gone
I agree 💯percent!
Postcards for Democracy (https://postcards.markersfordemocracy.org/) has a current "write and hold" postcard campaign for Democrat Evonne Hopkins who is running in NC HD-35. There is a one-time, easy account set-up and then you can download the script and names and addresses. You provide the postcards (I get mine on Etsy) and the stamps.
Other NC-focused postcard campaigns include:
➡️ a "mail as you go" campaigns from Activate America (www.acticateamerica.vote) to elect Roy Cooper. (You provide postcards and stamps)
➡️ two "mail as you go" campaigns to register new voters from Field Team 6 (https://postcards.fieldteam6.org/) You provide postcards - or buy from FT6 - and stamps.
➡️ a "write and hold" campaign to empower BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) voters from Reclaim our Vote (https://www.centerforcommonground.org/postcards). You must purchase postcards with an approved design and provide the stamps.
➡️ a "write and hold" GOTV (get-out-the-vote) campaign from Postcards to Swing States (https://turnoutpac.org/postcards/). They target low-propensity, progressive-leaning voters with field-tested messaging - you are given a choice of three messages. They will mail you the postcards for free (100 postcard minimum), but you provide the stamps.
In addition, Vote Forward (https://go.votefwd.org/) has a letter writing campaign in NC. As in prior election cycles, you print out a customized letter then add a message about why you vote to help motivate low-propensity voters - in this case Democratic-leaning voters. But this year there is a new twist. These letters focus on Down Ballot Election Integrity. These are write and hold letters to be mailed in October. You print the letters and provide envelopes and stamps. Available in batch sizes of 5 or 20.
For anyone who is concerned about a lack of ID preventing NC voters from successfully casting their ballots, VoteRiders (https://voteriders.org/volunteer/) has a "letting writing" campaign for NC. You print out state-specific fact sheets, add a brief hand-written message, and address and stamp an envelope.