By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — State Auditor Dave Boliek is defending his former elections liaison after the State Board of Elections declined Thursday to subpoena Dallas Woodhouse over his communications with county election officials amid accusations of improper influence over early voting plans.
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The board voted 3-2 along party lines against issuing the subpoena after Democratic members argued Woodhouse should testify about emails showing he communicated with county election board chairs about election administration, including early voting plans.
Woodhouse resigned from the position on Monday after being accused of trying to influence early voting plans in several counties.
The most controversial texts concerned direct instructions to officials. In one instance, Woodhouse texted the Jackson County Elections Board chair, “Don’t let them have a vote,” referring to a proposed early voting site at Western Carolina University.
“Some of the language would not have been my choice. But that being said, there’s nothing nefarious there with any of the communications that have been reported,” said Boliek.
Boliek told CBS 17 that Woodhouse’s communications with county election officials were authorized and part of his job.
“Dallas talked to the board chairs all the time. His job was to be a liaison and to help ask questions, answer questions, and to assist them in anything they needed,” he said.
Woodhouse served as the Boliek’s elections liaison after lawmakers transferred responsibility for appointing county election board members from the governor’s office to the auditor earlier this year. Boliek said the position was created to help county election officials navigate the transition and answer questions as the new system took effect.
“The election liaison position was always something we thought that would be temporary and would be ultimately phased out. And so, we were able to do that this past week,” he said.
Boliek also dismissed criticism over the communications as politically motivated.
“It shouldn’t be a shock that Democrat activists complain about actions of majority Republican boards. Political theater,” Boliek said.
Boliek pointed to Granville County’s decision to add an early voting site in the northern part of the county as an example of the office’s efforts to improve voter access.
Boliek said, “Our goal should be more access and easy access for all voters across the state of North Carolina to be able to access the polling place in an efficient, effective manner”
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