Elections board revisiting poll worker restrictions

TIFFIN — The Seneca County Board of Elections will revisit a recent decision regarding poll worker eligibility following guidance from the Ohio Secretary of State's office. Earlier this month, the board passed a motion stating that "any active member who is publicly or actively working against the use of voting machines shall be ineligible to serve as Voting Location Manager and shall not be assigned to serve in their home precinct." The decision was based on concerns about individuals advocating for the elimination of voting machines and a return to hand-counted ballots. In a statement, Lori Elchert, director of the Seneca County Board of Elections, said the board initially believed restricting leadership roles was a fair compromise. "While we want everyone to have the opportunity to serve, we initially determined that those advocating for the elimination of machines and a return to hand counting ballots should not serve in leadership roles as Voting Location Managers," Elchert said. "Leadership positions carry greater responsibility, and after discussions with other election officials across Ohio, this approach seemed like a fair balance."However, on Sept. 10, the board received a letter from Chris Burnett, director of elections and deputy assistant secretary of state, stating that the decision was inconsistent with Ohio law. "Affiliation with a group whose ideology differs from that of the board is not grounds for prohibiting individuals from fulfilling their civic duty," Burnett wrote.Burnett's email specifically referenced the Coalition of Concerned Voters of Ohio, noting that the board had voted to prohibit individuals affiliated with the group from serving as voting location managers. However, the board's motion did not mention CCVO by name, nor did it reference any specific organization. The reference to CCVO came solely from the Secretary of State's office. According to its website, CCVO describes itself as a grassroots activist organization focused on election integrity. The group states that "the only way to preserve our freedoms and our constitutional rights is to make sure our elections are safe and secure and cannot be manipulated." CCVO expresses concern that current voting systems are vulnerable to interference, citing forensic examinations in other states and expert claims that some machines may have been "deliberately designed to be manipulated." Burnett cited state law and the Election Official Manual, which outline the legal framework for appointing poll workers and voting location managers. While boards may remove individuals for misconduct or neglect of duty, they must do so on a case-by-case basis. Burnett emphasized that disqualifying an entire class of people based on affiliation is not permitted. The Secretary of State's office encouraged the board to reconsider its position, especially if those affected have previously served "with integrity and excellence." At the same meeting, the board also passed a second motion aimed at reinforcing standards for poll worker conduct. The motion states that "poll worker training shall place clear emphasis on the importance of bipartisan cooperation and neutrality. Any substantiated reports of conduct in violation of this principle shall be grounds for removal of the individual from eligibility to serve as a precinct election official in future elections." Elchert said the board will revisit the matter during its next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 1:30 p.m. at the Seneca County Board of Elections office. The meeting is open to the public, and attendees will have the opportunity to speak. "I am proud to work with a board that demonstrates transparency, openness, and a willingness to reconsider decisions in light of new information," Elchert said. "The mission of the Seneca County Board of Elections remains clear: to conduct fair, secure, transparent, and accessible elections. We remain fully committed to that mission on behalf of the voters of Seneca County."The Advertiser-Tribune reached out to the Secretary of State's office and to the Coalition of Concerned Voters of Ohio for comment but had not received responses by press time.