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 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.