With presidential and congressional elections coming up this year, the role of election officials is in the spotlight. To help officials stay up to date with constantly changing election law and technology, The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs and the Ohio Association of Election Officials (OAEO) offer the Ohio Registered Election Official Certification program.
With the increased scrutiny and complexity of their jobs, many election officials have been leaving the profession in recent years, said Aaron Ockerman, OAEO executive director. The certification program is designed to increase retention rates by equipping officials with tools and support, he said.
“One of the things that we’ve identified is that people stay in their jobs longer, they feel more appreciated if they have the opportunity and they feel like they’re going to be able to grow personally and professionally in that role,” Ockerman said.
Through the program, election officials who complete a series of eight courses receive certification.
The program “has really been geared towards providing those continuing professional development opportunities where they can learn about how to do their jobs better, where they can get a certification with initials next to their name,” Ockerman said.
The certification program helps officials translate election law into day-to-day operations, said Faith Lyons, OAEO co-chair and director of the Portage County Board of Elections.
“I think it’s imperative that we continue our education and understanding as far as why the laws and regulations are what they are and how we can then implement those laws and regulations,” she said.
“But also learning the practical side to it – what does it mean when the law gives you instructions to do X, Y and Z? What does that actually mean in your day-to-day life in the board of elections office, and to be able to stay up to date on processes and procedures and new innovations that other boards might be finding to help facilitate our daily tasks?”
The certification program delivers content that is relevant to local jurisdictions throughout Ohio, said Brian Sleeth, who is also OAEO co-chair and director of the Warren County Board of Elections.
“Election officials have very few places to go to get this type of specialized training,” he said. “It’s either that you’re just reading books or reading the current case law. It’s an avenue for those of us that learn better in a teaching setting, in person or by Zoom.”
Every six months, election officials can take continuing education courses that count toward the certification while attending OAEO’s winter and summer conferences.
The 2024 winter conference will be held Jan. 11-12 at the Columbus Downtown Hilton. The conferences provide opportunities for officials to network and learn best practices in other jurisdictions, Ockerman said.
“There is the opportunity to form relationships with your peers,” he said. “If you’re new to election administration, you may not know the director in Cuyahoga County, but you might meet the director in Cuyahoga County at one of these classes and establish a relationship.”
For more information about the Ohio Registered Election Official Certification program, visit the program’s website. For more information about OAEO conferences, visit the association’s website.