School of Business to Offer Mandated Training, in Convenient Locations, for State’s 338 Registrars
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill and UConn School of Business Dean John A. Elliott today announced a partnership that will bring formal training and education to the state’s 338 Registrars of Voters for the first time in election history.
“Up until now there has really been no formal way to train new registrars,” Merrill said. “It’s been almost a buddy system, where a new registrar will seek advice from an experienced one and ask how to do the job.”
The mandated program was formally introduced Wednesday during a press conference at the State Capitol. Each registrar has two years to complete the certification program, which involves eight educational sessions and a final exam. The courses will address the legal role of registrars, how to prepare for and execute Election Day, state and federal voting regulations, and more.
One of the much-lauded aspects of the certification program is that while UConn professor and attorney Karen Fassuliotis will teach from the UConn Stamford campus, registrars have the option of attending classes, via live video feed, at UConn campuses throughout the state.
“The UConn School of Business is pleased, and honored, to provide this educational service, which will strengthen the Registrars of Voters in Connecticut and bring greater clarity and professionalism to the state’s election process,” Elliott said.
“We are prepared to deliver these programs on our beautiful campuses, in professional and comfortable classrooms, using sophisticated technology that is already in place for ‘distance learning.’ As such, it will be easier and more convenient for registrars throughout the state to learn at whichever campus is most convenient, while easily viewing and communicating with their instructor and colleagues.”
Fassuliotis, an attorney practicing in Connecticut and New York, has served as a poll worker in her hometown. She said she hopes that the coursework will establish a model program for Connecticut that will be the envy of other states. “I’m looking forward with enthusiasm and vigor to getting started on Monday,” she said.
Many registrars, who were made aware of the program over the last few months, have already signed up for the inaugural class. Most of the classes are four hours long and participants must pass a final exam, with a grade of 90 or better. If they fall short, they will have several opportunities to retake the test.
Merrill said the goal of the program is to give every voter a good election experience. When asked by a reporter, Merrill acknowledged that the election issues of 2014 provided an impetus to get the program launched. Last year, several polling places in Hartford opened late because of missing voter registration lists.
She noted that the Registrars of Voters Association of Connecticut (ROVAC) had asked for such a training program to be established. Even seasoned registrars will benefit from the program, because of the fast pace of regulatory changes and the introduction of new technology, Merrill said.
Also attending the press conference were Melissa Russell, president of ROVAC, Michael Brandi, executive director of the state Elections Enforcement Commission and Kevin Ahearn, an Elections Enforcement attorney who helped develop the program with the help of a bipartisan committee. After registrars are certified, they will be required to receive yearly training on new election-related legislation.
The classes will be taught through UConn’s business school Connecticut Information Technology Institute (CITI) and registrars will be able to attend classes on the Stamford, Hartford, Waterbury, Groton and Torrington campuses. Each municipality will pay for its registrars to participate in the program, at a cost of $1,600 each.
Elliott said that in addition to providing an outstanding education for UConn students, the university is committed to serving Connecticut businesses and municipalities in whatever capacity it can to provide business and competitive advantages. This program, he noted, is just one of the many professional and career-development opportunities that UConn provides its residents each year.
Registrars of Voters can find more information and program registration here.
