16-407. Election officers; qualifications; certificates; certification programs; advisory committee; plan; exemption

1. Except as provided in subsection H, no person may perform the duties or exercise the authority of an election officer or of the clerk of the board of supervisors or the county recorder in performance of election duties in or on behalf of any county unless he is the holder of an election officer's certificate issued by the secretary of state before January 1 of each general election year.

2. The secretary of state shall provide for the examination of applicants for election officer certificates. The secretary of state may not issue a certificate to a person who has not demonstrated to the satisfaction of the secretary of state that he is competent to perform the work of an election officer or of the clerk of the board of supervisors or the county recorder in the performance of election duties.

3. The secretary of state shall provide for election officer certification programs of which successful completion by a person attests to the attendance at, participation in and completion of a course of instruction in the technical, legal and administrative aspects of conducting elections within this state.

4. An election officer education, training and certification advisory committee is established consisting of the following members:
   1. An assistant attorney general appointed by the attorney general.

   2. Three election officers, deputy county election officers or county recorders appointed by the secretary of state.

   3. A training coordinator in the office of the secretary of state appointed by the secretary of state.

5. The terms of members appointed pursuant to subsection D, paragraphs 1 and 2 are one year. The training coordinator appointed pursuant to subsection D, paragraph 3 serves at the pleasure of the secretary of state. The members of the advisory committee shall choose a chairman from among themselves. The advisory committee shall meet at least semiannually at a time and place set by the chairman. Additional meetings shall be held on the call of the chairman or at the request of two or more members.

6. The advisory committee shall evaluate:
   1. The curriculum proposed by the secretary of state for the election officer certification program.

   2. The procedures proposed by the secretary of state for evaluation of participants.

   3. The form and content of all examinations given in the election officer certification program.

7. On or before December 31 of each year of a general election, the secretary of state shall submit an election officer education, training and certification plan to the advisory committee and to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives. The plan shall outline the achievements and problems of the previous two year period and specify the expected education, training and certification activities of the coming two year period.

8. Subsection A does not apply to elected officials, clerical and secretarial personnel, counting center personnel, precinct election and tally board members and election officials in cities or towns.

WARNING - The above text was curent June 2003, but may be outdated now.