Davidson County election commissioners pick new chair and secretary, sign voter-registration inspection report

The Davidson County Board of Elections elected Commissioner Butch Burns chair and Commissioner Janine Davis secretary, approved minutes from the March 28 meeting and signed the quarterly voter-registration inspection report during a meeting at the Sunny West Conference Center.

The action came after public comment and staff briefings. Roberts, the county elections official, told commissioners the office has provided orientation to 76 prospective poll workers this year and has another 37 scheduled; he said the office is working with an architect on a new lease at the Airways Building with a target move-in by October to meet petition pickup for the City of Berryhill. Roberts also reminded commissioners that state law requires a quarterly review of 200 voter-registration cards and walked the board through how to check forms for required fields.

The newly elected chair, Commissioner Butch Burns, presided over the organizational items after the voice votes. Commissioners approved the March 28 minutes by voice vote and later signed the inspection report that documents the quarterly registration-card review. Legal counsel Nikki Yecke was introduced to the new commissioners during the meeting. Commissioners also completed the workplace harassment/anti-discrimination training required by the State Election Commission; Miss Howard presented the training slides and guided commissioners through each slide.

In public comment, resident Jim Garrett urged commissioners to oppose ranked-choice voting if the subject arises, calling the system “an abomination to the voting process” and asking commissioners to reject it. Former Commissioner AJ Starling offered congratulations to the new commissioners and volunteered to assist the board if needed.

The board discussed staff leave limits adopted during the 2024 election cycle and heard that staff will work to return leave balances to normal before the 2026 cycle. Commissioners also reviewed different formats of voter-registration submissions (mail, federal form, online, Department of Safety transfers) and the common information the review seeks: name, Social Security number or driver’s license number, birthdate and address.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn by voice vote. Commissioners set future meetings to be held at the call of the chair.

Votes at a glance: Butch Burns elected chair (voice vote; mover/second not specified; outcome: approved); Janine Davis elected secretary (voice vote; mover/second not specified; outcome: approved); Minutes from March 28 approved (voice vote; outcome: approved); Commissioners signed and submitted the quarterly voter-registration inspection report to the state (action recorded; outcome: signed/approved); Motion to adjourn approved by voice vote.