SCHWAB ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW CERTIFIED ELECTION TRAINING PROGRAM

Monday, April 11, 2022

TOPEKA – Today, Secretary Scott Schwab announced the launch of a Certified Election Training program for all Kansas county election officials. This program will be administered by the Secretary of State’s office, with implementation led by former Johnson County Election Commissioner, Connie Schmidt.

The new Certified Election Training program will help analyze election office procedures, improve uniformity across counties, teach how to implement new policies, and provide a curriculum training course to receive certification. This program is in addition to the annual statewide and biannual regional trainings that currently take place for county election officials conducted by the Secretary of State’s office. Schwab’s administration is the first in Kansas to implement a Certified Election Training program.

“Kansas is fortunate to have a highly qualified and respected election expert like Connie to lead the certification program. I am grateful that she has agreed to share her knowledge and serve our state in this capacity,” said Schwab.

Schmidt has more than 27 years of experience in election administration. She previously served as the Johnson County Election Commissioner from 1995-2004. Schmidt later owned her own election consulting business and provided services to numerous election agencies, including the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Throughout her tenure, she chaired and/or was a member of the Professional Education Certification Board, the NASED Voting Systems Standards Board, the State of Kansas HAVA Implementation Committee, and managed the State Registered Election Official certification program in California, Virginia, Delaware, and Ohio. Her accomplishments have been recognized by the Election Center and the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), which awarded Schmidt the NASS Medallion Award and the Election Hall of Fame Award.

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