The acting chair of the District’s troubled Board of Elections told the D.C. Council that she had no idea her agency had federal funds to spend on new voting equipment — even as it sought city money for that purpose — because board members are only “volunteers.” In fact, the federal government gave the District $18 million to upgrade its election process, and the board spent nearly $15 million of it, according to expenditure reports filed with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. But acting chair Deborah Nichols told the D.C. Council’s Judiciary Committee that board members asked for city funds for voting machines at the same time her agency spent millions of federal dollars on other election-related needs because they were in the dark about finances. She said board members “are not even considered part-time” and rely on the agency’s executive director for information.
The testimony at a council oversight hearing Tuesday came less than four months before the city’s June primary election, and Council Judiciary Chairman Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5) said that he has been concerned by recent revelations about the agency’s weak financial controls and the board’s ability to administer the next election.
McDuffie asked for assurances that the board can safeguard tax dollars. It was the second time in less than three months that he questioned the board about election preparedness and internal bureaucracy.
McDuffie and voting rights advocates say they are concerned by recent elections marred by faulty machines, delayed vote counting, inaccessible polling stations and other mishaps.
Full Article: Why D.C.’s troubled election board couldn’t get a grip on its finances – The Washington Post.