Charlottesville Board of Elections: Difference between revisions

From Cvillepedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (added citation)
m (major clean-up / needs membership update)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''Charlottesville Board of Elections''' (also referred to as the '''Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville''') is a three member board appointed by the [[Charlottesville Circuit Court]] Judges to a staggered, three-year term beginning March 1st.  Appointments are based on nominations from the local committees of the two political parties which received the most votes statewide in the most recent gubernatorial election. The Governor's party has two representatives on the Board and the party receiving the next highest number of votes has one representative. The Electoral Board is charged with conducting elections in Charlottesville and certifying the results.<ref>https://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections/electoral-board-5946</ref>
The '''Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville''' is a local board responsible to the State Board of Elections. This bipartisan local electoral board is composed of three members who are appointed by the respective Circuit Court.  


*In the general election on November 7, [[2017]], ''Democratic'' nominee Ralph Northam defeated ''Republican'' nominee Ed Gillespie.
==Current events==
*In November 2016, 133 Virginia localities reported to Virginia Department of Elections.<ref>https://www.elections.virginia.gov/media/registration-statistics/2016/11/LocalityStatistics.csv</ref>
*The Charlottesville Electoral Board is considering changes to the precinct boundaries that would change two polling places, affecting about 40 percent of the city's registered voters. Public hearing will be held in January 2023.
*The general registrar shall notify the governing body whenever the number of voters who voted in a precinct in an election for President of the United States exceeds 4,000. Within six months of receiving the notice, the governing body shall proceed to revise the precinct boundaries, and any newly established or redrawn precinct shall have no more than ''5,000 registered voters''.<ref>https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter3/section24.2-307/</ref>
 
*[[2022 election]]
 
==Purpose==
The Electoral Board is charged with conducting elections in Charlottesville and certifying the results. Electoral boards have the authority to administer all aspects of elections, including oversight of the Director of Elections/Voter Registrar, protection of ballots, and the appointment of election officials.  


In May 2019, the Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville was is in the process of appointing a General Registrar; the 4-year term of office to begin on July 1, 2019.<ref>http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections</ref> The Statewide and Local [[2019 election]] will be held on November 5th.
==Membership==
Electoral Board members are selected by the local political parties and appointed by the Circuit Court to staggered three-year terms. The party of the Governor of Virginia selects two of the three appointments, with the third appointment being of the other major political party.  


==Electoral Board members and office==
Note: There are 133 local Electoral Boards that oversees the voting process in 95 counties and 38 cities, so there is a total of 399 local Electoral Board members in Virginia.  
[http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections/electoral-board-5946 Annual Board election results for terms beginning on March 1, 2019]:


==Electoral Board members==
The Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville is a three member board appointed by the Charlottesville Circuit Court Judges to a staggered, three-year term beginning March 1st.
:For terms beginning on March 1, 2019:
#[[Anne Hemenway]] (Democratic Party), Chair
#[[Anne Hemenway]] (Democratic Party), Chair
#[[Jon Bright]], (Republican Party), Vice Chair
#[[Jon Bright]], (Republican Party), Vice Chair
#[[Jim Nix]], (Democratic Party) Secretary
#[[Jim Nix]], (Democratic Party) Secretary


Electoral board members serve three-year terms and appointed to staggered terms.
Note: The chair and secretary must represent different political parties unless the position is declined. Board members serve three-year terms. Appointments are staggered so that each year one expires on the last day of February. Members can be reappointed and serve an unlimited number of terms.
 
===Former electoral Board members===
*[[Stephanie Commander]], Democratic Party, left office in 2011.
*[[Joan Schatzman]] ,Democratic Party, Board Chair
*[[Rick Sincere]], Republican Party
 
==Electoral Board Meeting Minutes==
 
==General Registrar/Director of Elections==  
==General Registrar/Director of Elections==  
*[[Melissa Morton]], June 28, 2019 - present<ref>https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037</ref><ref>https://www.nbc29.com/story/40722937/melissa-morton-sworn-in-as-charlottesvilles-new-registrar</ref>
*[[Melissa Morton]], June 28, 2019 - present<ref>https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037</ref><ref>https://www.nbc29.com/story/40722937/melissa-morton-sworn-in-as-charlottesvilles-new-registrar</ref>


===Deputy Registrar===
===Deputy Registrar===
[[Jamie Virostko]], Acting Deputy Registrar<ref>https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037</ref>
[[Jamie Virostko]], Acting Deputy Registrar<ref>https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037</ref>
==Job Description / Duties==
The Electoral Board of each County and City in Virginia is made up of three members who serve three-year staggered terms. Two members are members of the political party of the most recently elected governor. The chair and secretary must represent different political parties unless the position is declined. Although the bipartisan board is appointed by the Circuit Court based upon local party recommendations, each member must carry out official duties in a nonpartisan manner. The authority for the administration of all aspects of elections for the locality remains with the Electoral Board, including oversight of the [[General Registrar/Director of Elections]], and is responsible to the State Board of Elections for that administration. It employs and supervises the General Registrar, who handles voter records. Generally, the work of the Electoral Board should be shared equally by all three members, although the Secretary has additional responsibilities.<ref>https://www.elections.virginia.gov/Files/Media/GREBWorkgroup/Electoral-Board-JobDescription-31715.pdf</ref>
:Straight from City's website: The Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville is a three member board appointed by the Charlottesville Circuit Court Judges to a staggered, three-year term beginning March 1st.  Appointments are based on nominations from the local committees of the two political parties which received the most votes statewide in the most recent gubernatorial election. The Governor's party has two representatives on the Board and the party receiving the next highest number of votes has one representative. The Electoral Board is charged with conducting elections in Charlottesville and certifying the results.<ref>http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections</ref>
Electoral board members serve three-year terms and appointed to staggered terms, one term to expire at midnight on the last day of February each year. The board shall elect one of its members as chairman and another as secretary. The chairman and the secretary shall represent different political parties, unless the representative of the second-ranked political party declines in writing to accept the unfilled office.<ref>https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter1/section24.2-106/</ref>
==Electoral Board Meetings==
The following meeting schedule was announced at March 12, 2019 meeting: <ref>http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections</ref>
*Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 5:45 PM in the Voter Registration and Elections Office, City Hall Annex Building, 120 7th St. NE, Room 142, for the purpose of conducting a random draw to determine ballot order for the Democratic Primary for City Council among candidates who filed at the same time, in addition to normal business.
*Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 5:45 PM in the City Hall 2nd floor conference room, for the purpose of reviewing and agreeing on questions for the first round of interviews for appointment of a General Registrar for the 4-year term beginning July 1, 2019. 
*Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 5:45 PM in the City Hall 2nd floor conference room, for the purpose of determining those to be interviewed and scheduling interviews for the position of [[General Registrar]].
*[[June 4]] &ndash; At the Electoral Board meeting, in accordance with the directives in the [https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter37/section2.2-3712/ Code of Virginia] [[Anne Hemenway]], Chair [https://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections/electoral-board-5946 announced] that a closed meeting would be held for the purpose of interviewing candidates for the position of [[General Registrar for the City of Charlottesville]]. The position currently held by [[Rosanna Bencoach]].
*Tuesday, [[June 11]] &ndash; at 7:00 p.m, the Canvass and Provisional Meeting for the primary was convened in the office of the Charlottesville General Registrar for the included purpose of compiling the results of the June 11, 2019 Primary Election for the [[2019 election | 2019 General Election]]. Members of the meeting included the [[Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville]], [[General Registrar & Director of Elections]], Voter Equipment Technician and the [[Charlottesville Clerk of Court]]. According to the [https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=65678 Draft Minutes], the meeting was suspended at 10:30 p.m. and was resumed at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
===Former Electoral Board members===
*[[Stephanie Commander]], Democratic Party, left office in 2011.
*[[Joan Schatzman]] ,Democratic Party, Board Chair
*[[Rick Sincere]], Republican Party
===Former General Registrar & Director of Elections===


===Former General Registrar/Director of Elections===
*[[Rosanna Bencoach]], 2015 to June 28, 2019<ref>https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037</ref><ref>https://www.nbc29.com/story/40722937/melissa-morton-sworn-in-as-charlottesvilles-new-registrar</ref>  
*[[Rosanna Bencoach]], 2015 to June 28, 2019<ref>https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037</ref><ref>https://www.nbc29.com/story/40722937/melissa-morton-sworn-in-as-charlottesvilles-new-registrar</ref>  
 
::In December [[2018]], General Registrar/Director of Elections [[Rosanna Bencoach]] told the Charlottesville Board of Elections that she would not seek reappointment to another four-year term. Her tenure started in early [[2015]], at the end of a saga that led to the resignation of Registrar [[Sheri Iachetta]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Charlottesville's voter registrar won’t seek reappointment |url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/charlottesville-s-voter-registrar-won-t-seek-reappointment/article_eb492ad2-5655-11e9-b7ab-536963345aba.html|author=Nolan Stout |work=|publisher=The Daily Progress|location=|publishdate= April 3, 2019|accessdate=June 24, 2019}}</ref>
::Bencoach told the Charlottesville Board of Elections in December [[2018]] that she would not seek reappointment to another four-year term. Her tenure started in early [[2015]], at the end of a saga that led to the resignation of Registrar [[Sheri Iachetta]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Charlottesville's voter registrar won’t seek reappointment |url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/charlottesville-s-voter-registrar-won-t-seek-reappointment/article_eb492ad2-5655-11e9-b7ab-536963345aba.html|author=Nolan Stout |work=|publisher=The Daily Progress|location=|publishdate= April 3, 2019|accessdate=June 24, 2019}}</ref>


*[[Sheri Iachetta]], served as registrar for 15 years, resigned [[December 31]], [[2014]].  
*[[Sheri Iachetta]], served as registrar for 15 years, resigned [[December 31]], [[2014]].  
*[[Charlotte Riddick]], served as general registrar for 23 years, [[1971]] to June 6, 1994.<ref>http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+ful+HJ927ER</ref>
*[[Charlotte Riddick]], served as general registrar for 23 years, [[1971]] to June 6, 1994.<ref>http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+ful+HJ927ER</ref>
   
   
==Officer of Election==
An Officer of Election is a person appointed by an Electoral Board to serve at a polling place for any election pursuant to Virginia Election Laws. The Electoral Board, when appointing Officers of Election, must ask each officer which party he will agree to represent: Democrat or Republican. The officer is not required to be a member of either party.
===Training===
All Officers of Election receive training prior to the election. Each officer receives written Election Day Guidelines.
===Compensation===
==Cellphone controversy==
==Cellphone controversy==
The [[Daily Progress]] reported in August 2014 that former member [[Joan Schatzman]] had turned over records that indicated former board member [[Stephanie Commander]] continued to use a cellphone paid for by the city more than three years after leaving service for a total of $2,530. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Charlottesville paid cellphone bill of ex-official for 3 years|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/charlottesville-paid-cellphone-bill-of-ex-official-for-years/article_487570a0-2a6c-11e4-be84-001a4bcf6878.html|author=K. Burnell Evans|pageno=|printdate=August 23, 2014|publishdate=August 22, 2014|accessdate=May 23, 2014|cturl=}}</ref>
The [[Daily Progress]] reported in August 2014 that former member [[Joan Schatzman]] had turned over records that indicated former board member [[Stephanie Commander]] continued to use a cellphone paid for by the city more than three years after leaving service for a total of $2,530. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Charlottesville paid cellphone bill of ex-official for 3 years|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/charlottesville-paid-cellphone-bill-of-ex-official-for-years/article_487570a0-2a6c-11e4-be84-001a4bcf6878.html|author=K. Burnell Evans|pageno=|printdate=August 23, 2014|publishdate=August 22, 2014|accessdate=May 23, 2014|cturl=}}</ref>
Line 62: Line 57:
LiteRock Z95.1|location=|publishdate=September 17, 2014|accessdate=September 17, 2014}}</ref>
LiteRock Z95.1|location=|publishdate=September 17, 2014|accessdate=September 17, 2014}}</ref>


==State Board of Elections==
==Events==
The State Board of Elections was created by an act of the General Assembly in [[1946]]. The act granted the board supervisory powers over elections earlier exercised by the secretary of the commonwealth and the Board of State Canvassers. The State Board of Elections supervises and coordinates the work of county and city electoral boards and registrars, thereby assuring uniformity in election proceedings and legality in all elections. After an election, the State Board of Elections transfers returns and other relevant records of the previous election to the Library of Virginia. Although most of the records are available at the Library of Virginia in downtown Richmond, some are housed at the nearby State Records Center.<ref>https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/rn21_election.pdf Presidential and Congressional Election Returns at the Library of Virginia</ref>
*In November 2016, 133 Virginia localities reported to Virginia Department of Elections.<ref>https://www.elections.virginia.gov/media/registration-statistics/2016/11/LocalityStatistics.csv</ref>
*The general registrar shall notify the governing body whenever the number of voters who voted in a precinct in an election for President of the United States exceeds 4,000. Within six months of receiving the notice, the governing body shall proceed to revise the precinct boundaries, and any newly established or redrawn precinct shall have no more than ''5,000 registered voters''.<ref>https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter3/section24.2-307/</ref>
 
*In May 2019, the Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville was is in the process of appointing a General Registrar; the 4-year term of office to begin on July 1, 2019.<ref>http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections</ref> The Statewide and Local [[2019 election]] will be held on November 5th.
 
*[[June 4]], [[2019]] &ndash; At the Electoral Board meeting, in accordance with the directives in the [https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter37/section2.2-3712/ Code of Virginia] [[Anne Hemenway]], Chair [https://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections/electoral-board-5946 announced] that a closed meeting would be held for the purpose of interviewing candidates for the position of [[General Registrar for the City of Charlottesville]]. The position currently held by [[Rosanna Bencoach]].


==SB 1395 Discrimination; prohibited in voting and elections administration, etc.==
===SB 1395 Discrimination; prohibited in voting and elections administration, etc.===
Amendments S.B. 1395 and H.B. 1890 prohibit state and local policy from denying or restricting anyone the right to vote because of their race, color or language they speak. The bill empowers the attorney general’s office to sue anyone suspected of violating election laws in a discriminatory manner, with civil penalties of up to $50,000 for a first violation and up to $100,000 for repeat offenses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wric.com/news/politics/capitol-connection/gov-northam-approves-voting-rights-act-making-virginia-the-first-state-to-approve-its-own/#:~:text=The%20Governor's%20office%20said%20this,color%20or%20language%20they%20speak.|title=Gov. Northam approves Voting Rights Act, making Virginia the first state to approve its own|last=Heymann|first=Amelia|publishdate=Posted: Mar 31, 2021 / 01:42 PM EDT / Updated: Mar 31, 2021 / 01:42 PM EDT|publisher=RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC)|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|accessdate=April 3, 2021}}</ref>
Amendments S.B. 1395 and H.B. 1890 prohibit state and local policy from denying or restricting anyone the right to vote because of their race, color or language they speak. The bill empowers the attorney general’s office to sue anyone suspected of violating election laws in a discriminatory manner, with civil penalties of up to $50,000 for a first violation and up to $100,000 for repeat offenses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wric.com/news/politics/capitol-connection/gov-northam-approves-voting-rights-act-making-virginia-the-first-state-to-approve-its-own/#:~:text=The%20Governor's%20office%20said%20this,color%20or%20language%20they%20speak.|title=Gov. Northam approves Voting Rights Act, making Virginia the first state to approve its own|last=Heymann|first=Amelia|publishdate=Posted: Mar 31, 2021 / 01:42 PM EDT / Updated: Mar 31, 2021 / 01:42 PM EDT|publisher=RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC)|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|accessdate=April 3, 2021}}</ref>



Revision as of 15:24, 18 December 2022

The Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville is a local board responsible to the State Board of Elections. This bipartisan local electoral board is composed of three members who are appointed by the respective Circuit Court.

Current events

  • The Charlottesville Electoral Board is considering changes to the precinct boundaries that would change two polling places, affecting about 40 percent of the city's registered voters. Public hearing will be held in January 2023.

Purpose

The Electoral Board is charged with conducting elections in Charlottesville and certifying the results. Electoral boards have the authority to administer all aspects of elections, including oversight of the Director of Elections/Voter Registrar, protection of ballots, and the appointment of election officials.

Membership

Electoral Board members are selected by the local political parties and appointed by the Circuit Court to staggered three-year terms. The party of the Governor of Virginia selects two of the three appointments, with the third appointment being of the other major political party.

Note: There are 133 local Electoral Boards that oversees the voting process in 95 counties and 38 cities, so there is a total of 399 local Electoral Board members in Virginia.

Electoral Board members

The Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville is a three member board appointed by the Charlottesville Circuit Court Judges to a staggered, three-year term beginning March 1st.

For terms beginning on March 1, 2019:
  1. Anne Hemenway (Democratic Party), Chair
  2. Jon Bright, (Republican Party), Vice Chair
  3. Jim Nix, (Democratic Party) Secretary

Note: The chair and secretary must represent different political parties unless the position is declined. Board members serve three-year terms. Appointments are staggered so that each year one expires on the last day of February. Members can be reappointed and serve an unlimited number of terms.

Former electoral Board members

Electoral Board Meeting Minutes

General Registrar/Director of Elections

Deputy Registrar

Jamie Virostko, Acting Deputy Registrar[3]

Former General Registrar/Director of Elections

In December 2018, General Registrar/Director of Elections Rosanna Bencoach told the Charlottesville Board of Elections that she would not seek reappointment to another four-year term. Her tenure started in early 2015, at the end of a saga that led to the resignation of Registrar Sheri Iachetta.[6]

Officer of Election

An Officer of Election is a person appointed by an Electoral Board to serve at a polling place for any election pursuant to Virginia Election Laws. The Electoral Board, when appointing Officers of Election, must ask each officer which party he will agree to represent: Democrat or Republican. The officer is not required to be a member of either party.

Training

All Officers of Election receive training prior to the election. Each officer receives written Election Day Guidelines.

Compensation

Cellphone controversy

The Daily Progress reported in August 2014 that former member Joan Schatzman had turned over records that indicated former board member Stephanie Commander continued to use a cellphone paid for by the city more than three years after leaving service for a total of $2,530. [8]

Stephanie Commander and Sheri Iachetta were both charged with felonies on September 15, 2014. [9]

Events

  • In November 2016, 133 Virginia localities reported to Virginia Department of Elections.[10]
  • The general registrar shall notify the governing body whenever the number of voters who voted in a precinct in an election for President of the United States exceeds 4,000. Within six months of receiving the notice, the governing body shall proceed to revise the precinct boundaries, and any newly established or redrawn precinct shall have no more than 5,000 registered voters.[11]
  • In May 2019, the Electoral Board for the City of Charlottesville was is in the process of appointing a General Registrar; the 4-year term of office to begin on July 1, 2019.[12] The Statewide and Local 2019 election will be held on November 5th.

SB 1395 Discrimination; prohibited in voting and elections administration, etc.

Amendments S.B. 1395 and H.B. 1890 prohibit state and local policy from denying or restricting anyone the right to vote because of their race, color or language they speak. The bill empowers the attorney general’s office to sue anyone suspected of violating election laws in a discriminatory manner, with civil penalties of up to $50,000 for a first violation and up to $100,000 for repeat offenses.[13]

References

  1. https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037
  2. https://www.nbc29.com/story/40722937/melissa-morton-sworn-in-as-charlottesvilles-new-registrar
  3. https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037
  4. https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037
  5. https://www.nbc29.com/story/40722937/melissa-morton-sworn-in-as-charlottesvilles-new-registrar
  6. Web. Charlottesville's voter registrar won’t seek reappointment, Nolan Stout, The Daily Progress, April 3, 2019, retrieved June 24, 2019.
  7. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+ful+HJ927ER
  8. Web. Charlottesville paid cellphone bill of ex-official for 3 years, K. Burnell Evans, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, August 22, 2014, retrieved May 23, 2014.
  9. Web. Iachetta, Commander Arrested In Cell Phone Investigation - See more at: http://literockz951.com/news/064460-iachetta-commander-arrested-in-cell-phone-investigation/#sthash.PrHo5Tp8.dpuf, Charlottesville Police Department, Press Release, LiteRock Z95.1, September 17, 2014, retrieved September 17, 2014.
  10. https://www.elections.virginia.gov/media/registration-statistics/2016/11/LocalityStatistics.csv
  11. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter3/section24.2-307/
  12. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections
  13. Web. Gov. Northam approves Voting Rights Act, making Virginia the first state to approve its own, RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC), Posted: Mar 31, 2021 / 01:42 PM EDT / Updated: Mar 31, 2021 / 01:42 PM EDT, retrieved April 3, 2021.

External links

Official site