[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6561182,"mediaKeyId","3295771-d5adb4f523d6538c76c58d48ac322f1a","parentId",3295771,"title","Public witnesses allege petition fraud and whiteout on Initiative 83; Board of Elections says enforcement and challenges are public processes","audioSeconds",5575,"startMs",1385000,"endMs",6960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295771-d5adb4f523d6538c76c58d48ac322f1a&start=1385&end=6960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295771-d5adb4f523d6538c76c58d48ac322f1a/thumbnail_1385000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6561182/Public-witnesses-allege-petition-fraud-and-whiteout-on-Initiative-83-Board-of-Elections-says-enforcement-and-challenges-are-public-processes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561182-620ba131781a47ab621bdb36b0577336/orig.mp4?Expires=1770573889&Signature=eZQl7c~Aeb2DsETwiUSkWKttHHoHSMQrxay5xi7kXp1f4kPY4RgdW-bpi1267wryb3dHkAVzKAkHL47qwaZa9NvE5fkEQzT9JnWtHuFYrzqsYGxdOy4vbT7pJFY4xkpmyN8CdCb6mI1ioLOdiuWZAjPzUO2W9gPB1blL9zp2lPkhbkebVUB7jkuHZX-UEIlPH2wooQWSXc5NQ~Wl2iSfxSX-ZS3uASF~YjiTFmbpPi1rVE4tHlR46UAw38oVgmdM5TO5WxpHrbp2wapN4pJM2GBDSPqeGlhSAuc5wkv8ZZwNyK5hqqv1N2Ft5ZecDVpBMgH0bX-JqcXxPdMx4Kwkiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","District of Columbia (Executive Administration and Labor)","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","Multiple community witnesses told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor on May 13 they had evidence of petition tampering and process failures during nominating and initiative petition activity in 2024 and 2025.

Commissioner Robbie Woodland testified she submitted four stacks of challenge paperwork on April 29, 2025, alleging dozens of forged signatures on a candidate’s nominating petitions for the Ward 8 special election. Woodland said a Board of Elections staffer, identified in her testimony as Maisha (or Myesha) Thompson, took the documents into a back office rather than completing the usual front‑desk receipt and count. \"This breach of protocol broke the secure chain of custody designed to protect the integrity of election challenges,\" Woodland said. She added: \"Miss Maisha Thompson removed 24 pages from our filing. This action effectively crippled our challenge and denied the people of Ward 8 a fair electoral process. This election interference—this is election interference.\"

The Board of Elections said it is investigating the specific allegations but told the committee it had not yet received all evidence referenced by Woodland; the board said staff accepted four challenge packets that day but later determined some pages were missing from those packets and requested copies. Marissa Curente, the registrar, described BOE’s challenge workflow and said staff aim to notify challengers within about 24 hours whether an initial filing is sufficient to proceed to a line‑by‑line review.

Separately, witnesses and advocacy groups pressed the committee on Initiative 83, the 2024 ballot measure that became subject to litigation and public scrutiny after BOE staff observed use of whiteout to alter petition sheets. Attorney Deirdre Brown, chair of the Vote No on Initiative 83 coalition, told the council the board’s April 9 order confirmed a fraudulent use of whiteout and said \"this new evidence underscores the urgent need for reform.\" Witnesses said some out‑of‑state, well‑funded operatives had used whiteout and other alterations while collecting signatures in DC neighborhoods.

BOE provided the committee with its verification summary for Initiative 83: the agency reported it received roughly 42,640 petition pages, rejected 14,867 signature lines and verified 27,773 valid signatures — a total that exceeded the charter threshold and ward requirements. BOE also said it issued enforcement fines to four circulators associated with altered pages; the board described civil penalties as possible and noted it can refer matters for criminal prosecution. The board’s legal counsel said the agency can assess fines and that the statutory cap for a civil penalty is up to $2,000 per violation.

Why it matters: petition circulation and challenge procedures determine who appears on ballots. Witnesses called for clearer written policies, uniform verification standards, stronger enforcement and a pause on certification while legal challenges are pending. BOE said it would not decline to follow the law but acknowledged it must refine procedures, increase transparency about standards and complete its internal investigations.

Committee follow‑up: the council requested copies of documentary evidence referenced by public witnesses and asked BOE to provide its internal findings and written procedures for petition verification and challenge handling. Several witnesses also asked the council to consider criminal referrals to the Attorney General or Inspector General and to consider statutory changes to petition handling.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","District of Columbia (Executive Administration and Labor) - Committee on Executive Administration & Labor, Public Roundtable, Anita Bonds, Chairperson - May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Witnesses at a May 13 roundtable alleged forged signatures, removed challenge pages, and widespread use of whiteout on Initiative 83 petitions. BOE said it has assessed fines against circulators linked to whiteout use, described its challenge review process and said criminal referrals and civil penalties are possible under existing law.","taxTitle","Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, Committees, Legislative, District of Columbia","taxId",15950,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6561185,"OANC urges Board of Elections to run ANC special elections; BOE cites staffing and funding limits",5639,6636000,12275000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295771-d5adb4f523d6538c76c58d48ac322f1a&start=6636&end=12275","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295771-d5adb4f523d6538c76c58d48ac322f1a/thumbnail_6636000.jpg","/articles/6561185/OANC-urges-Board-of-Elections-to-run-ANC-special-elections-BOE-cites-staffing-and-funding-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561185-bfb03b5ec2a7db5b463378c3e1d0556b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770573889&Signature=QAO3EuQ6s1rnBK92ha3VRAusL-BYH~SeqofbVeTLKHyfvhCM6-KgLHtxRd-X2O0Kz2FKDl9BHpN8nBDwA~gPrqdA2GsF8funncfhfcwMuSh9bSEd1boZl5O4kRNgGSsICkmYVsLWycfCdqFKtMbLT4-9PiDYZ5x433RGlhwh8Rj~ReyhOX~lLMWej5l6o19OEktaQR6~km6Ol~zF~lj~pCWMsirc22TDr~VieRE4pSMBiaWQEyfbK2w8fPQNj8H6NuWuK5xCNA7Ks~OVf1doezFn~gD~J66QwQjLEnLprVecGYRnb6L-hq6zTeBVPJz-u5FJbKp2IHsXZkpeTZ~dMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The District’s Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions urged the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor on May 13 to have the DC Board of Elections conduct all special elections to fill Advisory Neighborhood Commission vacancies, saying the current volunteer‑run approach leaves gaps in voter access and administration.

\"It is time for the board to once again fulfill their legal mandate and conduct all local elections,\" Kent Base, executive director of OANC, told the committee. Base said ANCs increasingly run elections that look and function like contests and that ANC special‑election voters currently lack the same options — same‑day registration, vote‑by‑mail and early voting — available in other elections.

Base described a pattern in which the board declines to investigate potential residency violations or certify vacancies unless an ANC first schedules and votes at a special meeting — a procedure he called \"insulting and abusive\" to unpaid commissioners. He asked the council to clarify enforcement responsibilities and said OANC had, on several occasions, supplied court records that he said merited board action.

The board acknowledged the concerns but said expanding its responsibilities is not merely procedural. \"To have us in election mode at all times does not give us an opportunity to reset,\" Monica Evans said. She described a long list of pre‑election work — equipment procurement, programming poll pads, logic and accuracy testing and staff training — and told the committee that a reliable change would require a separate unit, equipment and dedicated funding.

BOE said it currently has roughly 65 full‑time staff and that while it conducts elections, it also runs year‑round maintenance, outreach and planning work for citywide races. The board also noted that ANC elections sometimes require scheduling special meetings on weekends or holidays because of statutory quorum and minimum‑hours rules.

Why it matters: ANCs are the official neighborhood advisory bodies to the Council, and how vacancies are filled affects local representation. OANC framed the shift as an efficiency and equity issue; BOE framed it as a resource, calendar and statutory issue that would need a funded programmatic change.

Committee next steps: Councilmembers said they will follow up with both OANC and BOE to determine what legal or appropriations changes would be required to shift responsibility for ANC special elections.","The Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions told the council the Board of Elections should conduct special elections to fill ANC vacancies; BOE officials said taking on all ANC special elections would require dedicated staff, equipment and funding.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6561190,"Board of Elections sets July 15 Ward 8 special election; ballots, vote centers, outreach outlined",2968,8836000,11804000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295771-d5adb4f523d6538c76c58d48ac322f1a&start=8836&end=11804","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295771-d5adb4f523d6538c76c58d48ac322f1a/thumbnail_8836000.jpg","/articles/6561190/Board-of-Elections-sets-July-15-Ward-8-special-election-ballots-vote-centers-outreach-outlined","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561190-c6ff765399d249b205eb5f8da536efcb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770573889&Signature=V~-gebWLI08otGWTWpy6nk9h6CIM1ek61P3afZ2vpIrD6xBVh3vtTL9EUuXd8u4MSvG0url2N1kFP8NkgrgEkLU4kH4Nt1Xe~mTCMRtkaqi7t~Ngfw2EHd~gWcEsmib4Zy80ITbOh8XCyxI~QmNJE-gYhLEau442lG~-2TzGUnhgBiqReV5CsFra0epdmaOkQLRKkg8r-Z-fngpxvY~QzZlwLCPkpXYf1rrWC5ZaaN7vqswm7zKPu4ch7KvdNfzSOkGut36F1HwDPux4NQ-rEA6TuQRk1KHIZ5zO7ed5YYrEz2sUt5vPknKPWS3WKHOskUSsl3QhXfYtFBuOBUyt5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The District of Columbia Board of Elections plans to hold the Ward 8 special election on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, with early voting Friday, July 11 through Monday, July 14, the board’s executive director said at a May 13 roundtable convened by the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor.

\"BOE will mail every eligible voter a ballot for the Ward 8 special election,\" Monica Evans, executive director of the DC Board of Elections, told the council. The board said it tentatively will begin mailing ballots on Monday, June 9, and open four mail‑ballot drop boxes on Friday, June 13 at sites including Anacostia, Bellevue, Navy Yard and Congress Heights.

The board also gave a timeline for in‑person voting and staffing: it plans to operate four early vote centers July 11–14 and about 12 vote centers on election day, and expects to recruit 175–200 election workers to ultimately deploy roughly 145 workers at vote centers. Election worker training is scheduled to begin June 7.

Why it matters: the special election fills a Ward 8 Council vacancy and requires tailored outreach and logistics because only Ward 8 residents should be eligible to cast ballots in the contest. The board said it is preparing voter lists, programming poll‑book equipment to the ward, and conducting accessibility surveys of vote centers in June.

Supporting details and outreach: the Board of Elections’ Voter Education and Outreach team reported year‑round activity aimed at seniors, students and residents with limited English proficiency. The agency said it is coordinating with correctional facilities to ensure eligible Department of Corrections residents receive ballots and that Federal Bureau of Prisons outreach will occur by mail and email.

Local partners described steady collaboration. Diana Vega, civic engagement coordinator for DC Public Library, summarized years of joint voter registration drives and tabling at neighborhood branches, noting targeted events in Wards 7 and 8 in the run‑up to the special election. Donnie Russell of the University of the District of Columbia said UDC students participate as paid election workers through the BOE’s Adopt‑a‑Vote‑Center program and that multiple UDC campuses have served as vote centers in past cycles.

Board officials cautioned that advance planning and funding underlie the operations: \"When we had the general election in November, that next day ... we're meeting with vendors because we're discussing upgrades to equipment,\" Evans said, and urged that large changes to who conducts elections require funding and dedicated staffing.

The board posted a draft special‑election calendar on its website and said it will continue outreach events in Ward 8, and will work with the Department of General Services to ensure vote centers are structurally accessible and ADA‑compliant. Mail‑ballot packets and election materials will be provided to facilities holding eligible voters.","The DC Board of Elections told a May 13 roundtable it will hold the Ward 8 special election on July 15, 2025, with four early vote centers, 12 vote centers on election day, mail-ballot distribution beginning in June, and targeted outreach and worker recruitment underway.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public witnesses allege petition fraud and whiteout on Initiative 83; Board of Elections says enforcement and challenges are public processes

OANC urges Board of Elections to run ANC special elections; BOE cites staffing and funding limits

Board of Elections sets July 15 Ward 8 special election; ballots, vote centers, outreach outlined