Tensions rise among Montgomery County officials at post-election press conference

 An election night press conference Tuesday detailing preliminary results from the 2024 general election put rising tensions on display among Montgomery County commissioners who also serve as the county election board.

“Everything went pretty smoothly today. There [were] some standard issues that came up. Machines that needed replacement that were dealt with quickly,” said Election Board Chairman Neil Makhija, who noted there were long lines at some polling places, which showed “a lot of people were voting.”

“I think I visited 24 locations throughout the county, and there’s been so much enthusiasm around this election in the community,” said Election Board Vice Chairwoman Jamila Winder.

The three-member board includes Makhija, Winder and Commissioner Tom DiBello. Makhija and Winder, both Democrats, hold majority leadership seats, while DiBello serves as the minority commissioner.

“Was it a great day? It was a great day … for the voters to get out and exercise the right to vote,” DiBello said. “But we have had issues throughout Montgomery County that seriously [have] to be addressed.”

DiBello shared accounts he heard throughout the day that differed from his Democratic colleagues.

“Unfortunately, my phone started ringing at 5:30 this morning … with setup and problems with some machines and … we've had overzealous judges of elections making up their own rules, causing issues at their polling locations,” DiBello said. “We had constables who decided to take upon themselves to be the king of the polls and cause issues with the voters and the people working outside.”

Laundry list of complaints

DiBello continued with a laundry list of reports he received, with situations ranging from mail-in ballot deliveries to accusations of people dropping off multiple mail-in ballots at drop boxes.

“I've had to go to some polling locations. I've had to call judges of elections,” DiBello said, adding that “I had to work with voter services.”

DiBello said that he intends to obtain surveillance videos to send to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

“My goal as being elected as a county commissioner [is] to be able to stand in front of the community and say that I could stand behind the election results, because I want full election integrity,” DiBello said.

After Makhija read out the initial set of results, DiBello acknowledged that they were “in alignment with the voter return,” but said he “wouldn't put a lot of credence in these election results as it is right now.” Makhija countered that he would.

“They’re not the full results but they are votes that were cast by eligible, registered voters that have been tabulated by our team. I would put credence in that,” Makhija said.

Thanks to poll workers

The board members spotlighted the efforts of the 2,800 poll workers who were at the county’s 426 precincts and expressed their gratitude for those working to pre-canvass the mail-in ballots and count the votes after the polls had closed. Winder stressed “we have some of the most hard working election workers in the state.”

DiBello agreed.

“So most of the issues that I talked about, we were able to get resolved one way or the other, but I don't want to give the impression that this was a perfect day, but … we've had really hard workers out there doing everything they could to ensure that we had a strong election,” he said.

Winder touted increased outreach and accessibility measures in the efforts to help boost voter turnout, including adding more drop boxes and satellite offices, a mobile outreach van, as well as ramping up digital communication to bring forth accurate information to voters.

“We worked really hard … in this election to make voting as accessible as possible throughout Montgomery County,” Winder said.

Tensions rise

DiBello countered that the satellite office expansion plan came with unnecessary costs, which he said he felt didn’t validate a significant return on mail-in ballots. The exact budget for the satellite office operations was unclear.

“I care about the taxpayer money, and all this additional effort, I don't believe it warranted anything more than a lot of propaganda,” DiBello said.

To that, Makhija interjected, “alright, alright are you done?”

“No, I'm not done,” DiBello replied.

“We’re here to share results,” Makhija said.

“We’re here to have a press conference,” DiBello said.

Makhija later challenged DiBello, claiming there was “some misinformation” that he was “happy to clear up.”

“There was no misinformation [to] what I’ve reported. So don’t sit there and say it’s misinformation. You’re calling me a liar. I’m not,” DiBello said.

Makhija asserted that the mail-in ballot return rate “is much higher than it has been in the past.” DiBello disagreed. “We’re going to see an 80 percent return rate on the mail-in ballots. That’s what we’re projecting. So since I was so rudely cut off, I guess I'll end at this point.”

Desire for unity

There were 171,000 mail-in ballots returned as of Tuesday night, per a Montgomery County spokesperson, resulting in an 89 percent return rate. Makhija addressed DiBello’s remarks with reporters after the press conference wrapped up.

“He said a lot of stuff, including things he’s going to send to the district attorney, which don’t provide evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of a voter,” Makhija said.

“Those comments undermine all the great work that we’ve done to pull off the election, and so we’re trying to show a united front despite our differences and party affiliations, but that’s an example of what we don’t want, because it undermines the work that we’re doing as election officials to ensure that we deliver on our promise to ensure that the residents of Montgomery County to deliver free, fair and safe elections,” Winder told MediaNews Group.

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