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Harrisonburg electoral board reviews security survey in closed session, updates staffing and election preparations
Summary
The board went into closed session to review the locality’s LEHI/election-security survey, received updates on officers of election recruitment and a staff vacancy, and reviewed poll-book certification and equipment logistics ahead of the June primary.
The Harrisonburg Electoral Board convened March 3 and moved into closed session to review the 2025 LEHI (locality election security standards) survey, according to the chair’s motion citing Virginia code. After the closed session, the board returned to open meeting and set April 14 as the next regular meeting date.
"We will need to go into closed session after this to review this document," the director of elections told the board before the closed session. The motion to enter closed session cited personnel matters pursuant to Virginia Code §2.2-3711(a) and election-security practices under §24.2‑410.2; the board voted to enter closed session and later voted unanimously to return to open session.
Why it matters: the LEHI survey is part of the Department of Elections’ annual security-review process. The director said Harrisonburg completed the first part of the 2025 LEHI, will review remaining sections with the head of IT and the city manager, and must submit signed attestations to the state as the city completes the multi-part survey.
Staffing and officers of election:
- Tracy Condit departure: The director announced that Tracy Condit’s last day was Feb. 28 and that the office will post a part-time vacancy; the stated goal is to fill that role before early voting begins for the June primary.
- Officers-of-election survey: The office sent a 2025 availability survey Feb. 19. The director reported 61–62 affirmative responses so far, with one or two individuals declining or indicating they cannot work in 2025. The director cautioned responses can change and said primary staffing is typically harder because students and others take summer vacations.
Security, equipment and vendor notes:
- Poll-book certification: The director shared a press release from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission noting that the vendor-reported "Knowing" poll pad system (referred to in the packet) completed the EAC electronic poll-book certification program. The director said the certification is voluntary and called it a positive security milestone for the jurisdiction’s new poll-book system.
- Security policies and cages: A draft security-policy packet for 2025 was distributed; the director said the document reflects the city’s new poll-pad system and the introduction of secure "cages" in storage and recommended board review before final approval later in spring.
- Printelec equipment pickup: The director said Printelec collected rental machines used in November as part of the vendor end-of-year inventory; signed paperwork confirming pickup was available.
Election calendar and logistics:
- Candidate and filing dates: The director said primary-filing deadline is April 3 and that the city should know by about April 6 which offices will appear on the June ballot. Early voting for the June primary is scheduled to start May 1; election day is June 17. The director also reminded the board that independent candidates for November have a June 17 filing deadline.
- Meeting schedule: The board set its next regular meeting for April 14 at 9 a.m., but the director said the office might move the date earlier if the ballot-order deadline requires it.
Formal meeting actions recorded in the minutes included routine approvals and the closed-session motion. The board approved the meeting agenda and minutes by voice vote, voted to enter closed session citing the Virginia code sections noted above, then voted unanimously to return to open session and to adjourn.
The director asked board members to review the draft 2025 security policies and to share suggested edits in advance of the May meeting; the board will finalize the policies before August 1 when parts of the LEHI documentation must be submitted.
