Richmond has a new General Registrar
By: WTVR CBS 6 Web Staff
Posted at 3:25 PM, May 10, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-10 15:25:26-04
RICHMOND, Va. Richmond s new General Registrar and Director of Elections Keith Balmer was sworn into office during a Monday morning ceremony. I want everybody to see how we operate in this office, Balmer said while emphasizing he planned to run a transparent office. I think that can sort of allay any fears that people may have.
Balmer began his election career in the warehouse as a machine technician. I walked in trying to do one thing, which was to be an election officer and walked out with a job and it kind of led to all of this 11 years later, he said.
Richmond Registrar’s Office. (Photo: Crixell Matthews/VPM News)
The Richmond Board of Elections removed General Registrar Kirk Showalter on Monday. Now, the city is preparing to search for a new registrar: something they haven’t done since the mid-90s.
Board chair Jim Nachman says he’s still learning the process of bringing a new registrar on.
Virginia law says the board can appoint any qualified voter from the city to serve in the position. There are no other requirements listed.
Deputy Registrar Jerry Richardson is leading the office now, but the board has not officially identified an interim replacement. The city is required to have a registrar, and must hire an interim while they search for Showalter’s replacement.
Richmond Electoral Board votes to remove cityâs general registrar
Richmond Electoral Board votes to remove cityâs general registrar By NBC12 Newsroom | February 1, 2021 at 10:59 PM EST - Updated February 1 at 11:18 PM
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The Richmond Electoral Board voted to remove the cityâs top election official on Monday.
Councilman Mike Jones says the board voted to remove Richmondâs General Registrar Kirk Showalter during a meeting.
This follows the Democratic Party of Virginia, Richmond City Democratic Committee and now Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney calling for Showalterâs resignation in November.
In November, officials with the Democratic Party of Virginia and Richmond City Democratic Committee sent a letter to Showalter and the Richmond Electoral Board calling for change at the registrarâs office.
Richmond Electoral Board removes General Registrar Kirk Showalter for cause
The Richmond Electoral Board will vote whether or not to dismiss General Registrar Kirk Showalter following allegations of mishandling the November election.
and last updated 2021-02-02 07:56:28-05
RICHMOND, Va. The Richmond Electoral Board voted 2-1 Monday night to dismiss General Registrar Kirk Showalter for cause following allegations of mishandling the November election.
Showalter has served as the cityâs chief elections officer since 1995.
She was removed âfor cause,â but she has been highly criticized for her handling of the November election. Brendan King CBS 6 (@ImBrendanKing) February 2, 2021
Last year, the Democratic Party of Virginia, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, and others called for Richmond Registrar Kirk Showalter to step down from her job citing events that occurred before, during, and after the 2020 election.