Seneca County Board of Election member earns special election certification

Seneca County Board of Election member earns special election certification
Grandillo joins fellow board of elections members in continuing their education

[Columbus, OH – Jan. 17, 2023] — Seneca County Board of Elections member Nancy Grandillo graduated from the Ohio Association of Election Officials Training Program during a conference in Columbus last week, making her one of several other local board of elections members in having this special certification.
Grandillo completed the Ohio Registered Election Official Certification Program on Thursday afternoon and was rewarded with a plaque and certificate, making her a certified Ohio Registered Election Official (OREO).
Seneca County Board of Elections Deputy Director Lori Ritzler thanked Grandillo, who was appointed to the board in 2021, for her hard work and dedication to being the best election official she can be.
“Congratulations on earning your professional designation in such a short time on the board,” she said.
Ritzler said three board members and three staff members have now earned this distinction, one that makes them more knowledgeable and will help them to provide an efficient and secure election process.
Ritzler is joined by Director Jim Ehrman, staff member Amanda Davidson and board members Jim Cline, David Koehl and now Grandillo in having the OREO certification.
Ritlzer said the program is encouraged but not required for election officials. She said it is typical for directors to complete it, but not for board members or staff.
“I think it’s wonderful that they wanted to take that leap and learn more about the election process,” she said.
The program includes eight classes with lectures in Columbus. It is offered by the Ohio Association of Election Officials through a partnership with the Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs. The program is an Ohio-centric certification program that provides a variety of courses related to election issues from the academic and legal perspectives. There also are courses on how election laws are implemented and applied on the job.
“The course provides training on important issues to make sure we have fair and accurate elections,” Ritzler said, adding that she valued the experience she had when she took the class and graduated in January 2019.
“There isn’t a formal education process to learn the election world,” she said. “This program is a very valuable tool. It was a great opportunity to gain knowledge and a better understanding of Ohio elections.”
Ehrman, also a January 2019 graduate of the program, said those who receive the certification must continue their education to remain certified. He said the courses are a valuable way to improve as an election official.
“There is no college major or university study that preps you to be an election official in Ohio,” he said. “This program features college-level lectures and coursework.”
Grandillo received this honor at the Winter Election Officials Conference on Jan. 12th and 13th, where Directors, Deputy Directors, board members and staff from Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections gathered to refresh their training, network with other counties and swear in new election officials.
Several county election officials participated in the conference.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose also attended the conference to swear in new trustees of the Ohio Association of Election Officials and speak to attendees about the shared accomplishments of the prior four years and the priorities for this new term.
Ehrman and Ritzler thanked board of elections members and staff for always going above and beyond to improve so the team can provide safe, secure and accurate elections.