CONFERENCE & EVENTS

NEWS

35TH Annual

National Conference

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Orlando, Florida

August 17-21, 2019

Conference

has Concluded

WELCOME to Orlando for the Election Center’s 35th Annual National Conference!

It’s true: Orlando is a magical place. And it’s not just because it’s home to Cinderella’s castle at Walt Disney World. There’s an incredible mix of fun things to do in this great city that make it an ideal vacationing spot for not only families but young singles, baby boomers, foodies, outdoor adventurous types, luxury shoppers and international visitors.

While the city was built on theme park fame, the number and variety of Orlando attractions have grown to include world-famous restaurants, high-end outlet shopping centers, theatrical performances, and amazing concert and sporting event venues.

Orlando is a place known for hospitality, and that extends to its many hotels, spas and services that suit every budget and taste.

This year’s Conference attendees will be inspired and energized as we head into the final stretch of the 2019 Election year. We will share substantive elections issues including crucial critical infrastructure information, new election initiatives and tons of practical and meaningful election administration tools and resources including the newest innovations and ideas to help election officials as the 2020 presidential year quickly approaches.

We will once again host the vendor exhibit area where you can learn about new and innovative voting system support and services and take home a vendor booklet with the contact information on all vendors that are present at the conference.

We will honor the winners of the Election Center’s acclaimed Professional Practices Papers’ Program. You will not only hear presentations on the winning presentations but you will take home a CD with all of the innovative programs and ideas that were submitted by your colleagues in jurisdictions around the country.

We will be celebrating those graduating from the Professional Education Program with the designation of CERA or CERV. The graduates will be recognized at a special ceremony and luncheon on Tuesday. At the end of the formal conference program, we offer an optional tour on Wednesday so you can partake in the vitality of what Orlando has to offer.

Professional Education Program

The Election Center's Professional Education Program is a course of study designed to instill the highest level of professional knowledge and expert skill in election administration and voter registration management practices. Our professional educators and specialist have been paired with skilled, seasoned elections and registration practitioners so that the course work offered during our Professional Education Program conferences are related directly to your professional needs. Our continuing education program is designed and organized to have more substance and information directly related to your profession, than other groups and associations.

11.

History I – Ancients to 1781

Instructor: Rober Montjoy, Ph.D.

Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

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Saturday August 17

9:00am - 4:30pm

Sunday August 18

8:00am - 11:00am

12.

History II – 1781 to Modern Era

Instructor: Bridgett King, Ph.D.

Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

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Saturday August 17

9:00am - 4:30pm

Sunday August 18

8:00am - 11:00am

Training in Elections

Instructor: Kelly Krawczyk, Ph.D.

Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

15.

Credit For This Course Is Given Only To Graduate Student Renewing Their CERA Status.

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Saturday August 17

9:00am - 4:30pm

Sunday August 18

8:00am - 11:00am

Redistricting and Election Administration

Instructor: Ryan Williamson, Ph.D.

Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

32.

Credit For This Course Is Given Only To Graduate Student Renewing Their CERA Status.

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Saturday August 17

9:00am - 4:30pm

Sunday August 18

8:00am - 11:00am

Note: some of the courses listed above can be applied toward your certification as a Certified Elections Registration Administrator, a Certified Elections Registration Vendor or a Certified Elections Monitor and some can be applied by our graduates toward your renewal certification of the same. Anyone participating in these courses is eligible to receive CEUs (continuing education units) from the Auburn University's Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program through the Department of Political Science.

Save The Date

Begins

Inclusion and Integrity II: Innovation, Investment, and Critical Conversation

A Symposium

Auburn, Alabama

October 13-15, 2019

Auburn University Hotel And Conference Center

Inclusion and Integrity II: Innovation, Investment, and Critical Conversation continues the conversation in the election community between experts running elections in the field, researchers, advocates, and vendors. Our format includes plenary speakers, panels, and workshops, as well as time for networking.

Hotel rooms at the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center are available at $139/night. The registration fee is $100 and includes hosted meals (Monday October 14 breakfast, lunch, and evening reception; Tuesday October 15 breakfast and lunch).

Questions?

Contact Kathleen Hale:

Graduate Certificate in Election Administration

The Graduate Certificate in Election Administration is a 15 credit hour program within the Auburn University Master of Public Administration Program. The certificate requirements include 3 required courses and 2 electives, which are available online.

The curriculum is designed to provide graduate level students and practicing professionals with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to function effectively in election administration. The certificate can be earned while pursing an MPA or independently. Courses cover institutional arrangements, law and policy, and critical contemporary issues facing the election administration community. Students are also required to complete an ePortfolio.

CURRICULUM

Required Courses

POLI 6270 Seminar in Election Administration

POLI 6280 Election Regulation and Reform

POLI 7920 Internship**

Electives

POLI 6150 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations

POLI 6290 Public Sector Information, Security, and Risk Management POLI 6470 Comparative Election Administration

POLI 7520 Program Evaluation

**Practitioners can use the Election Center Certified

Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) program certification to fulfill the internship requirement.

EPORTFOLIO

To complete the certificate, students create an ePortfolio, a professional website that demonstrates mastery and showcases knowledge and skills.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT

Kathleen Hale, JD, PhD

Professor, Department of Political Science

Director, Graduate Program in Election Administration

Special Workshop Presentations

Virginia Beach Virginia 2019

Improving The Integrity of Voter Registration And Election Operations

Our Virginia Beach 2019 Special Workshop addressed various approaches to improving the integrity of the voter registration process and other elements that are integral to better operations in election administration. The following agencies, offices and institutions delivered presentations: Sutter County Clerk, Johnson County Auditor, Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder/County Clerk, Thurston County Auditor, North Carolina Board of Elections, District of Columbia Board of Elections, Auburn University, Forsyth County Director of Election, Citrus County Supervisor of Elections, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Center for Democracy & Technology, National Institute of Standards and the Election Center.

Presentation topics included:

Customer Relations in Elections

Update on Legislation

Vote By Mail: Accessibility and Security

Training On All Fronts

Election Worker Training

Education and Training Pathways at Auburn University

FCEP - Florida Certified Election Professionals

PR Lessons from the Front Lines of Democracy

Media Relations

Telling Your Success Story to the Media

Election Law Update Redistricting and Gerrymandering

Election Cybersecurity

Our Role in Securing Elections

Special Workshop Presentations

Birmingham Alabama 2019

Lessons Learned in 2018

In Preparation for Elections 2020

Our Birmingham 2019 Special Workshop addressed an assortment of issues derived from the lessons learn during the 2018 midterm election cycle. Your colleagues and stakeholders in election administration shared information on lessons learned during the midterms with an eye toward applying these insights to the Presidential Election in 2020. The following agencies, offices and institutions delivered presentations: The Alabama Secretary of State, U.S. Election Assistance Commision, Orange County Supervisor of Elections, Federal Voting Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Voting at Home, Auburn University, and The Election Center.

Presentation topics included:

Election Administration Professionalism Index

Election Administration and Voting Survey 2018

A UOCAVA Update

Postal Service Updates

2018 Midterms: What Happened, What We’ve Learned, & 2020 Vision

2018 Florida Elections What Happened

Let's Put Voters First

Election Security

Elections in Alabama

Services Available from The Election Center

Joint Election Officials Liaison Committee

Arlington, VA

2019 Conference Presentations

JEOLC 2019 addressed an assortment of themes in election administration, election security and analysis of the 2018 Midterm Elections with presentation from the following agencies, offices and institutions: Auburn University, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), Center for Internet Security (CIS), Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Council (EISCC), Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC), United States Postal Service (USPS), National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and University of South Florida.

Presentation topics included:

Keynote: 2018 Midterm Election Cycle Reveals a Changing Electorate

2019 Joint Liaison Official Election Committee United States Postal Service Update

EISCC JEOLC Briefing

Elections Infrastructure Security National Landscape & Path to 2020

Investing In Elections Professional Measurement Project

Election Stories From 2018

Election Administration Professionalism Index

Defending Democracy

U.S. Government Accountability Office Work on Election Administration Issues

Our Student's Stories

Drew Stewart

Voting Technology Vendor

Fort Worth

Tarrant County, Texas

"There is a passion in this industry with people who work in it, you see it in the courses. It brings people from every state together. "

One of the best indications of a programs success is the way it touches the lives of the people involved. Take a look as Drew Stewart shares his story and experiences with our certification program. Watch Our Student's Stories here.

Incident Handling Overview For Election Officials

The Department of Homeland Security

website: https://www.dhs.gov/

September 26, 2018

Our Student's Stories

Jennifer Anderson

Elections Administrator

San Marcos

Hays County, Texas

Paul D. Pate

Secretary of State

Des Moines Polk County, Iowa

One of the best indications of a programs success is the way it touches the lives of the people involved. Take a look as our students share their own story and experiences with our certification program. Watch Our Student's Stories here.

This toolkit is designed to support election offices in their efforts to reach UOCAVA voters — Service members, their eligible family members, and U.S. citizens residing overseas — and help them vote absentee in the 2018 elections from anywhere in the world.

You’re welcome to customize and publish the content in this toolkit on your channels to best serve your UOCAVA voters.

2018 Digital Media Content Toolkits

for Election Officials from FVAP.GOV

34th Annual National Conference Presentations

New Orleans, LA

This year's National Annual Conference presentations exhibit a vast array of topics comprising: Securing Elections in 2018 and Beyond, Election Officials as IT Managers, Improving the accuracy of voter registration rolls, The implementation of New Voting Systems, Updates on Security Threats from Homeland Security and much much more.

Individual presentations from the following agencies, offices and institutions included: The United States Election Assistance Commission, The Director of Elections Oakland County , Michigan, Homeland Security, National Voter Registration Day, Electronic Registration Information Center and many more.

2018 Professional Practice Papers

34th Annual National Conference

New Orleans, LA

Our Annual National Conference showcased the contributions of election officials from many jurisdictions throughout the country. The professional ingenuity, innovation and excellence exhibited by our colleagues in election administration was demonstrated and shared to the election community with the publication of our most recent professional practice papers. The use of media campaigns to inspire and educate voters, and the leveraging of existing USPS Informed Delivery to provide an interactive touch point for voters in an entirely vote by mail election. These are only a few of the projects presented. Be sure to review all of the award winners as well as the papers of merit.

New Ballot Service Type

IDs - Effective August 20, 2018

MAY 22, 2018

The United States Postal Service® remains steadfast in its commitment to the democratic process and the election community. As states and localities increasingly use mail in the election process, the Postal Service remains ready to support the growth in vote-by-mail initiatives. The USPS and Election Community Partners identified the need to increase official ballot mail visibility within the automation environment which has led to solutions to include the use of:

• Matching Serial Numbers in the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) for outgoing and returning ballots, allowing the mailer to track and identify the recipient on both outgoing and incoming ballot mail.

• New Service Type Identifiers (STID)s in the IMb to distinguish ballot mail in the mail flow effective August 20, 2018.

The ballot mail solution led to the assignment of 23 STIDs to enable tracking of outgoing ballot mail and one unique STID for all returning ballots (votes). These STIDs are available on PostalPro at: https://postalpro.usps.com/mailing/service-type-identifiers

Why Don't Americans Vote? Causes and Consequences by Bridgett A. King and Kathleen Hale, Editors

How do socialization, mobilization, and legal structures help—or hinder—participation in the political process?

Once again, The Election Center is pleased to announce the ABC-CLIO publication of Why Don't Americans Vote?: Causes and Consequences by two of our esteemed CERA faculty at Auburn University:

Bridgett A. King, and Kathleen Hale.

"Elections not only determine who will fill an office; they have a lot to say about how the democratic process works—or doesn't work—in 21st-century America. This fascinating book sheds light on that question by focusing on factors that currently shape elections and political participation in the United States. It covers issues that are consistently in the media, such as gerrymandering; voter ID; and rules pertaining to when, where, and how Americans register and vote.

But it also goes beyond the obvious to consider issues that are often overlooked—civic education and engagement, citizen apathy, and political alienation, for example." - Publishers Website

Hard cover autographed copies signed by both authors will be for sale at The Election Center's 33rd Annual National Conference in Orange County, California, August 19-23, 2017. This is indispensable reading for election professionals. Be sure to pick up your copy.

Author Information:

Bridgett A. King, PhD, is assistant professor of political science at Auburn University, Auburn, AL, and an instructor in the Election Center's Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) program.

Kathleen Hale, JD, PhD, is associate professor of political science and director of the MPA program at Auburn University, Auburn, AL. She is a board member of the Election Center and an instructor in the Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) program.

Administering Elections

How American Elections Work

Auburn University And CERA Faculty Publication

The Election Center is pleased to announce the Palgrave Macmillan publication of Administering Elections: How American Elections Work written by three of our esteemed CERA faculty at Auburn University; Kathleen Hale, Robert Montjoy, & Mitchell Brown.

CONTACT US

21946 Royal Montreal, Suite 100

Katy, TX 77450

281-396-4309 Phone

281-396-4315 Fax

services@electioncenter.org

CREDIT CARD AND PURCHASING POLICY

For the terms and conditions of the Election Center's Credit Card and Purchasing Policy please visit here.

OUR MISSION

To promote and support continuous improvement in the administration of elections and voter registration through research, professional education, conferences, networking and consulting.

OUR GOVERNANCE & ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Election Center Governance, Organizational Structure and Bylaws.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

For a complete listing of our Board of Directors as well as contact information please visit here.