Charlottesville Board of Elections: Difference between revisions

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The '''Charlottesville Electoral Board''' is a three-member body appointed by the [[Charlottesville Circuit Court]] from nominations made by the Democratic and Republican parties. The chair comes from the party that most recently won the Governorship in Virginia. The Electoral Board is charged with conducting elections in Charlottesville and certifying the results. {{fact}}
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>
*In the general election on November 7, [[2017]], ''Democratic'' nominee Ralph Northam defeated ''Republican'' nominee Ed Gillespie.
*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>


The Charlottesville Electoral Board is in the process of appointing a General Registrar; the 4-year term of office begins on July 1, 2019.<ref>http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections</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.


==Electoral Board members==
==Electoral Board members and office==
[http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections/electoral-board-5946 Board officers, one-year terms beginning on March 1, 2019]:
[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]:
#[[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.
==General Registrar/Director of Elections==  
==General Registrar/Director of Elections==  
*[[Rosanna Bencoach]], General Registrar & Director of Elections, February 16, 2015 - present.  
*[[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>
Bencoach filled out the remainder of [[Sheri Iachetta]] term and was appointed for a four-years term starting on [[February 16]], [[2015]]. Bencoach plans to step down in July [[2019]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Charlottesville's voter registrar won’t seek reappointment|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/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=April 5, 2019}}</ref>. The Statewide and Local [[2019 election]] will be held on November 5th.


===Deputy Registrar===
[[Jamie Virostko]], Acting Deputy Registrar<ref>https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037</ref>
==Job Description / Duties==
==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>
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>
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: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>
: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==
==Electoral Board Meetings==
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*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]].  
*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===
===Former Electoral Board members===
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*[[Rick Sincere]], Republican Party  
*[[Rick Sincere]], Republican Party  


===Former General Registrars===  
===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>
::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>
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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>


Commander and Iachetta were both charged with felonies on September 15, 2014. <ref>{{cite web|title=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|url=http://literockz951.com/news/064460-iachetta-commander-arrested-in-cell-phone-investigation/|author=Charlottesville Police Department|work=Press Release|publisher=
[[Stephanie Commander]] and [[Sheri Iachetta]] were both charged with felonies on September 15, 2014. <ref>{{cite web|title=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|url=http://literockz951.com/news/064460-iachetta-commander-arrested-in-cell-phone-investigation/|author=Charlottesville Police Department|work=Press Release|publisher=
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==
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>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 14:50, 29 October 2019

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.[1]

  • In the general election on November 7, 2017, Democratic nominee Ralph Northam defeated Republican nominee Ed Gillespie.
  • In November 2016, 133 Virginia localities reported to Virginia Department of Elections.[2]
  • 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.[3]

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.[4] The Statewide and Local 2019 election will be held on November 5th.

Electoral Board members and office

Annual Board election results 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

Electoral board members serve three-year terms and appointed to staggered terms.

General Registrar/Director of Elections

Deputy Registrar

Jamie Virostko, Acting Deputy Registrar[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

Electoral Board Meetings

The following meeting schedule was announced at March 12, 2019 meeting: [11]

  • 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.

Former Electoral Board members

Former General Registrar & Director of Elections

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.[14]

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. [16]

Stephanie Commander and Sheri Iachetta were both charged with felonies on September 15, 2014. [17]

State Board of Elections

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.[18]

References

  1. https://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections/electoral-board-5946
  2. https://www.elections.virginia.gov/media/registration-statistics/2016/11/LocalityStatistics.csv
  3. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter3/section24.2-307/
  4. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections
  5. https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037
  6. https://www.nbc29.com/story/40722937/melissa-morton-sworn-in-as-charlottesvilles-new-registrar
  7. https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037
  8. https://www.elections.virginia.gov/Files/Media/GREBWorkgroup/Electoral-Board-JobDescription-31715.pdf
  9. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections
  10. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter1/section24.2-106/
  11. http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and-elections
  12. https://www.charlottesville.org/home/showdocument?id=66037
  13. https://www.nbc29.com/story/40722937/melissa-morton-sworn-in-as-charlottesvilles-new-registrar
  14. Web. Charlottesville's voter registrar won’t seek reappointment, Nolan Stout, The Daily Progress, April 3, 2019, retrieved June 24, 2019.
  15. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+ful+HJ927ER
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/rn21_election.pdf Presidential and Congressional Election Returns at the Library of Virginia

External links

Official site