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Virginia elections board will ask prosecutor to investigate claims of irregularities during Richmond vote count Voters cast ballots in Richmond at the city registrar s office. (Source: Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) By Graham Moomaw | April 21, 2021 at 8:55 AM EDT - Updated April 21 at 8:55 AM
The State Board of Elections voted Tuesday to ask Richmondâs commonwealthâs attorney to look into Republican officialsâ accusations that Democratic members of the Richmond Electoral Board may have violated state law by improperly opening sealed result envelopes on election night and completing the vote count at one board memberâs home a few days later.
The two members of the city board, Chairman Jim Nachman and Vice-Chair Joyce Smith have denied wrongdoing, saying the claims against them are false and a response from GOP activists unhappy with their decision to replace former Richmond Registrar Kirk Showalter, who had several run-ins with Democratic party officials d
The registrar s office for the city of Richmond. (Photo: Crixell Matthews/VPM News)
The Richmond Electoral Board has hired Keith Balmer to replace former elections chief Kirk Showalter, who was forced out after numerous complaints she mismanaged the 2020 election.
The three-member board voted 2-1 to hire Balmer for the role at an ad-hoc meeting Tuesday night. Vice Chair Joyce King Smith, a Democrat was the sole dissenting vote, while Board Chairman Jim Nachman, a Democrat, and Starlet Stevens, a Republican, both voted in favor of Balmer.
In an interview with VPM, Nachman said Balmer is “imminently qualified” to be Richmond’s next General Registrar.
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A new state report praised officials handling of Virginia s election despite new rules, elevated tensions, and a pandemic. (Photo: Crixell Matthews/VPM News)
A new report from Virginia’s Department of Elections calls the 2020 election “the most safe, secure, and successful” vote in the history of the state.
The report also details shortcomings in Richmond’s election administration, where the state noted a litany of problems that included the discovery of 1,000 unprocessed absentee ballots during early voting.
The November election set a statewide record for turnout, with nearly 75% of registered voters casting a ballot. The pandemic and a loosening of absentee voting laws also led to a surge in early voting, with nearly 60% of Virginia voters casting ballots before Election Day. About a third of that group cast ballots by mail, with the rest voting early in person.
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.