Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Election Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lunenburg County Electoral Board addresses ADA inspections, training and reported sheriff uniform conduct
Summary
At its Sept. 5 meeting the Lunenburg County Electoral Board assigned staff to coordinate ADA inspections with the county building inspector for state certification by Oct. 16, adjusted training plans after a poll chief contracted COVID, agreed not to replace a voting machine and said it will notify the sheriff about reports of uniformed political solicitation.
Lunenburg County Electoral Board Chairman Donna Dagner called the board to order at 4:00 p.m. Sept. 5 and led discussion of several administrative items ahead of the November election.
The board agreed that a previously questioned voting machine would not be replaced after Secretary Oliver Wright reported he had told County Administration to submit the insurance claim and that the funds could be returned to the budget or general fund.
Board members were told that poll chief Becky Wright Brizee tested positive for COVID and could not attend the planned EPB training for the CAP on Sept. 6; other CAP members will attend the scheduled session and Brizee will complete training once she recovers. The Chairman distributed training schedules for the November election.
Members discussed creating county email addresses for conducting Electoral Board business. Secretary Oliver Wright said he would contact the County Administrator’s office to initiate issuance of county email accounts for board members.
The board emphasized that poll chiefs should administer the oath of office to election workers as the first action at each polling place on Election Day and should be trained to perform that duty.
A major item was a state-mandated Americans with Disabilities Act inspection and certification process. Wright said he would coordinate with the County Building Inspector, identified in the meeting as the county ADA compliance contact, to complete the required 10-page inspection report for each polling place and to send the certification to the State by Oct. 16.
Chairman Dagner reported she had received calls alleging that Sheriff Townsend had been asking people to put up signs and/or vote for him while wearing his uniform. Dagner cited Code of Virginia §15.2-1512.2, which the board said prohibits law-enforcement officers from such political activities in uniform; the board agreed the Sheriff would be notified of the reports.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
What happens next: Secretary Oliver Wright will contact County Administration about email accounts, coordinate ADA inspections with the Building Inspector and follow up on notification to the Sheriff. Training schedules remain in effect and absentee/poll chief training will be adjusted to accommodate illness-related absence.
