Broward County’s Supervisor of Elections, Joe Scott, and Chief Deputy Mary Graham Hall have both been recognized with the prestigious Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) designation, marking the highest level of professional achievement for election officials and vendors in the U.S.
The CERA certification, awarded by the Institute of Election Administration Research & Practice in partnership with the National Association of Election Officials (Election Center), is achieved through a multi-year program. Courses are taught by Auburn University’s Master in Public Administration (MPA) faculty. The program aims to elevate election management practices while promoting public trust in the democratic process.
“This program gives election workers an opportunity to learn more about the history and best practices of this profession,” Joe Scott said. “As someone new to this field, I was able to meet and get to know elections officials from across the country and understand how election administration varies from place to place.”
Mary Graham Hall, the longest-serving administrator in the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office, also shared her pride in achieving the certification. “Being the longest-serving election administrator gave me the opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences with my classmates. I’m proud of the role I serve in the elections arena, and I feel that the CERA program has provided me with additional tools to make our election services more current and transparent,” she said.
Tammy Patrick, Chief Programs Officer for the Election Center and a 2007 CERA graduate, praised the milestone. “Attaining the completion of the CERA curriculum is a milestone to be lauded and celebrated. With the addition of this graduating class of 120 election professionals, we now have 1,617 officials who have achieved the CERA status. This is an outstanding accomplishment.”
