Three Buncombe Elections Officials Earn Highest Professional Achievement, Designated as Certified Elections/Registration Administrators

Victoria Pickens, Corinne Duncan, and Neggy Rodriguez Fox (L-R) earn the highest professional achievement for elections officials.

Following successful completion of a rigorous, multi-year program, Buncombe County Elections Director Corinne Duncan, Deputy Director Neggy Rodriguez Fox, and Accounting Technician Victoria Pickens will be designated as a Certified Elections/Registration Administrators (CERA), the highest professional achievement for election officials and election vendors in the country.

CERA and Certified Elections/Registration Vendor (CERV) designation is achieved only through a multi-year course of study taught by the Auburn University’s Master in Public Administration (MPA) faculty, Auburn, Alabama and conducted by the Election Center’s Professional Education Program. The intent of the program is to professionalize the management of voter registration and elections administration in promoting and preserving public trust in the democratic process.

“This is the highest designation available to elections and voter registration officials,” said Tim Mattice, director of the Center. “This graduating class of 85 election professionals totals 1,420 election officials and election vendors who have achieved the CERA/CERV status. This is an outstanding accomplishment.”

“Buncombe County is indeed fortunate to have three staff designated as the top designated professionals in America. Obtaining and maintaining CERA/CERV status means that they have committed to a career long process of continuing education to improve the electoral process in Buncombe County, North Carolina, and the nation,” he stated.

The Professional Education Program is sponsored by the Election Center, a non-profit association of voter registrars, elections administrators and providers of election services throughout America and the U.S Territories. Its membership is comprised of township, city, county, and state elections officials and other election related organizations. The Center’s primary purpose is to promote and support continuous improvement in the administration of elections and voter registration through research, professional education, conferences, networking and consulting. Professional Education Program participants receive continuing education credit from Auburn University as well as professional training credits from the Election Center.

Buncombe County Election Services is committed to transparent, inclusive, and efficient elections giving the residents of Buncombe County confidence in exercising their right to vote. For more information about Buncombe County Election Services, how to register for the upcoming election, and more go to www.buncombecounty.org/vote.