The Rhode Island Board of Elections and the Rhode Island Department of State have announced the graduation of the first cohort of election officials from the Election Training and Certification, or ETAC, program, a professional development and certification program jointly developed and administered by the state’s election agencies.
Sixty-seven election officials received their ETAC certifications at a ceremony held at the Board of Elections on June 18.
“Our local Boards of Canvassers are the frontline of conducting elections in Rhode Island,” said Board of Elections Executive Director Miguel Nunez. “By providing our partners with the professional development and best practices offered through this certification program, we are ensuring a professional, skilled, and prepared workforce capable of conducting successful elections while building public trust in our electoral process.”
Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore said the program helps prepare officials ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. “Rhode Island’s election system is strengthened by the division of responsibilities between the RI Department of State, the State Board of Elections, and local boards of canvassers,” he said.
Board of Elections Chairwoman Jennifer Johnson congratulated the inaugural cohort. “The success of our democratic process relies on dedicated, well trained elections professionals,” she said. “By prioritizing professional development through the ETAC Program, we are equipping our election officials with the specialized training and tools needed to grow their expertise.”
The state’s local boards of canvassers are the primary point of contact for voters and play a central role in ensuring the integrity of polling locations and of every ballot cast. The ETAC program provides a standardized series of training courses intended to ensure uniformity in election administration across all Rhode Island municipalities. To earn certification, election workers completed 13 classes and assessments covering topics including Rhode Island election law, cybersecurity practices, voter registration and mail ballots, signature verification, election equipment use, public records and open meetings, and the setup of polling places.
Among the Newport County graduates were Karin Clancey and Wendy J.W. Marshall of Middletown; Sharon Connors and Hugh Moren of Newport; Roberta Fagan, Keith Ford and Laura Goldstein of Jamestown; Jacqueline Schulz, Barbara Sherman and Ellen Vadney of Portsmouth; Elizabeth DeNuccio and Sarah Masson of Narragansett; Julie Chouinard and Jeanne Spencer of Tiverton; and, on Block Island, Alton Bentley, Millicent Highet, Laurel Payne and Keisha Phillips-Brown of New Shoreham.
Officials from communities across the rest of the state also earned certifications in the program’s first cohort.
