Lakita Fisher

Key discussions during the meeting included the reorganization of the Board for the coming year, resulting in new appointments for Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. The Registrar presented budget priorities, focusing on the plan to replace precinct and early voting OVO's with the newer Freedom Vote System (FVS) scanners for future compliance, and the necessity of elevating the Chief Deputy's pay grade to a more appropriate level.

The meeting agenda included a review of the FY 2026 Department of Social Services Budget, noting fluctuations in specific budget lines due to pay periods, staffing changes, and anticipated increases in expenditures for crisis situations during cold months. The Board considered a motion allowing the director discretion to carry over annual leave hours for tenured employees when taking leave might negatively impact agency operations. Updates were provided regarding the impact of the government shutdown, specifically concerning the increased state funding share for the SNAP program and the challenges staff face meeting new mandates, such as increased frequency of face-to-face interviews for SNAP applicants. The Director also provided an overview of agency program priorities and an update on the director's Employee Performance and Professional Excellence (EPPE) review process. The distribution dates for Angel Tree toys were noted. The Board convened in closed session to discuss employment-related matters.

The meeting addressed the upcoming logistics for Board appointments and reorganization in the coming year, as it was the Chair's last meeting. A brief discussion was held regarding the budget process and priorities for Fiscal Year 2027. The Board agreed to schedule the next meeting for January 8, 2026.

The Electoral Board discussed the Electoral Duties and Delegations spreadsheet presented at the Annual Training and elected to review it in depth for a vote at the subsequent meeting. The Board directed the registrar to order ballots at 110% of voter enrollment for the upcoming General Election. The annual Registrar Evaluation from ELECT was distributed for completion by the next meeting. Furthermore, the Board discussed the procedures for assigning political party status to Officers of Election, stipulating that only those recruited by a party and listed by that party receive party affiliation, while all others receive "non-partisan" status.

The meeting included approval of the roster of Officers of Election for the upcoming General Election. The board discussed precinct placements, confirming sufficient officers in each precinct, and reviewed the election schedule for October, including machine training, the All-Call meeting, L&A testing, and pre-processing activities.