Directors, Deputy Directors, Staff, and Board Members of all 88 County Boards of Elections.

A total of 8 classes are required to receive your initial certification. Of those 8 classes, 3 of them must be core courses with the participant selecting 5 additional Elective Courses to take to finish their certification.

Below, you will find a listing of the three Core Courses as a part of the OREO Program. The schedule of which of these courses will be offered in conjunction with one of the upcoming conferences will be announced along with its opportunities to register.

Course 100: Introduction to Elections Administration

It is no secret that election administration has become increasingly complex, with election officials expected to “wear many hats” to effectively perform their jobs. Institutional knowledge is critical to success of elections administration and mastering the skills and understanding the nuances of this role is a constant, ongoing process. This course will provide an overview of the fundamentals of Ohio elections, functions of the Board of Elections (BOEs), functions of the Secretary of State (SOS) in elections, the role of the Ohio Association of Election Officials (OAEO), and emerging practices in election administration. The course will strike a balance between educating pupils new and old to election administration.

Course 101: A History of Election Administration and Litigation in Ohio and the U.S.

The United States prides itself on its democratic processes, but those processes have been constantly evolving throughout the country’s history as a reflection of broader social changes as well as in response to administrative problems and legal challenges. This three-hour course combines a historical discussion of how the processes of conducting elections have changed over time with an overview of how key court cases in disputed elections have altered or influenced American elections.

Course 102: Ethics: Data, Partisan Politics, and the Public

Boards of Elections house substantial data, including personal identifying information. This course will explore the ethical and legal aspects of handling that data and the ethical situations that arise while operating in a pseudo-political environment. Participants also will explore how boards of elections interact with the public and strategies for interacting with the public, candidates and the press in a way that balances political interests and promotes voter confidence.

Below, you will find a listing of all Elective Courses that are available as a part of the OREO Program. The schedule of which courses will be offered along with an upcoming conference shall be announced prior with it registration opportunity.

Course 103: Voter Registration

The Law and practice intersect to create an ever-changing landscape for how people register to vote and how voter registration records are managed. This class includes a top-to-bottom review of voter registration law and administration, including its history, federal and state legal requirements, current issues and litigation, registration methods, database management, best practices, and likely future developments.

Course 104: Money and Politics: Campaign Finance Regulation

This course focuses on the role money plays in our political system. Students will have an

interactive discussion on how the campaign finance system affects political discourse and

policymaking in our state and country. The second part of the class will be a hands-on, practical lesson on how to administer campaign finance at the local board of elections level. This section will identify how boards of elections can successfully implement their legal requirements as it relates to campaign finance laws.

Course 105: Poll Workers: Recruiting, Maintaining, Training and Managing

The full range of what must happen to assure that enough poll workers are found and what can be done to improve their abilities, to assure they return for future elections, managing the polling place, and training and motivating poll workers. The course covers subjects such as how adults learn, special training needs for older adults, and enhancing voter experience with improved poll workers.

Course 106: Duplicate Processing, Local Options and Chargebacks

This is a hands-on, practical course that will focus on the day-to-day tasks involving list

maintenance and local option questions. The course will focus on resolving potential duplicate voter queries, the board of elections role in local liquor options, and when and how chargebacks can be used with local governments.

Course 107: IT for Non-IT Administrators

If you are an election administrator, you are an IT expert. The two go hand-in-hand. This course is designed for election officials who have never had formal IT training and will focus on the basic knowledge that is needed to function in a professional environment increasingly defined by computer systems. Additional information will focus on cybersecurity and the ability to practically implement state laws and directives.

Course 108: Election Administration Plans and Contingency Planning

Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and elections operations are a critical component of our Nation’s Essential Critical Infrastructure. It is crucial that election officials have plans in place that will allow the election operations to continue in the event of unforeseen circumstances. This course provides election leaders with a general understanding for election contingency planning and specific expertise related to the Ohio Election Administration Plan (EAP) and an Election Continuity of Operations Preparedness Plan.

Course 109 (Formerly Course 100): The Election Aftermath: Audits, Recounts and Ensuring the Accuracy of Your Election

By statute, Ohio county election officials are charged with undertaking a host of critical

responsibilities after the polls close on Election Day. These include conducting the unofficial canvass, the official canvass, a post-election audit, and recounts, when necessary. In addition, county election officials must adhere to critical security procedures, and be prepared to have their conduct scrutinized in a post-election judicial contest of an election outcome. This course will explore and discuss how county election officials can undertake their responsibilities with a critical eye to building and maintaining public trust in the election process.

Course 110: Powerful PR

This course is a must for those who want to learn how to enhance their image, reach target

audiences, and get their message out. Through this seminar, attendees will learn tips for surviving a news interview, how to establish themselves as an “expert”, unique techniques to maximize media coverage, how to get free media coverage, and an opportunity to practice these new skills. This interactive program is designed to teach participants to become a more organized, confident, engaging, and dynamic communicator. This course places special emphasis for this program on trainee involvement, using group discussions, role-playing, exercises, real-life examples, and planning time to put these principles into action.

Course 111: Understanding Ohio’s Sunshine and Ethics Laws

Public servants in Ohio have both privileges and responsibilities. This course is designed to provide participants with a better understanding of Ohio’s complex public records & open meetings laws (“Sunshine laws”) and the Ohio Ethics Law. From what constitutes a public record to how to understand details of Ohio Ethics responsibilities, the instructors will present these in an entertaining and easy to understand way. This course will cover some of the legal and practical concerns and strategies for public servants to consider in 2022 and beyond. After this session, participants will have a practical understanding of how they can remain in compliance with these laws.

Course 112 (Formerly Course 101): Voting Equipment: Standards, Operation, Maintenance

Managing the implementation of voting equipment is one of the most challenging aspects of any election official’s job. This course will familiarize Ohio election officials with the basics of voting equipment standards, operation, and maintenance. The first half of the course will cover developments in voting technology, laws regulating the systems used for voting, and the testing and certification process for voting systems. The latter half of the course will focus on the operation and maintenance of voting systems, which includes managing the flow of information from election officials to the voter, ensuring the security of every vote cast, and reporting the results. The course will address the pros and cons of different types of voting equipment used in Ohio and survey trends and possible future developments in voting equipment.

Course 114: Battling Emotional Exhaustion

The last few years have heightened experiences of burnout as well as the sense of urgency for a plan to mitigate our own key drivers of burnout. As we emerge from the pandemic, self- preservation will be very important for elections officials. This course is designed to highlight the depth of the issue of burnout, its consequences, and tangible strategies that can be used to mitigate emotional exhaustion and burnout and promote vitality – a state of professional fulfillment, motivation, and commitment to ongoing growth.

Course 115: Leading in High Pressure Environments

This session is focused on how elections officials as leaders can create effective teams that are developed from a place of authenticity and responsive in high-pressure environments. Participants will learn about the dynamics of change, dimensions of authentic leadership, and the personal capabilities that are necessary for shaping effective teams. There will be a focus on emotional intelligence so that leaders can consider the benefits that come with being more self- aware. The session will end with suggested activities to implement authentic leadership team building as a supervisor.

Course 116: Deescalating Conflict

This 3-hour session will train elections officials in how to de-escalate conflicts they face within the elections sphere. The trainers will use a conflict resolution approach with discussion and role plays based on real life situations that election officials face.

Course 117: Chain of Custody

This course provides election administrators with essential training in chain of custody procedures to ensure the integrity, transparency, and security of the electoral process. Participants will learn how to recognize the basic elements needed to start and maintain a chain of custody, exercise reconstructing chain of custody, identify how to plan for chain of custody and development documentation, and understand chain of custody as an element of election security. Through real-world scenarios and hands-on exercises, administrators will gain the skills needed to uphold public trust and ensure every vote is protected.

Course 118: Designing Materials That Help Voters Succeed: Plain Language and Information Design

Cut through the noise and reach voters with communications that truly connect. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to make complex information easier to understand using plain language, and how to use visual design principles to make materials that stand out (for all the right reasons). You’ll see examples from work and research with election offices and voters across the country and you’ll leave with practical strategies to create clear, accessible voter materials of your own.

Course 119: Public Budgeting

Budgets inform everything that a board of elections does. While boards are funded primarily at the county level, how budgets are formulated and appropriated by county commissioners can vary. This class will explore the basics of public budgeting in Ohio with an emphasis on best practices for constructing and advocating for sufficient budgetary needs.

Course 120: Leadership in Election Administration

The unprecedented challenges of administering an election during a global pandemic and high political tension made the election of 2020 an exhausting one. Today’s election administration leaders are being asked to lead with fewer resources, motivate an exhausted staff, while continually finding new ways to tackle rising challenges in the field. Leadership in election administration is critical to good public governance and upholding the elections systems that we need to make our democracy thrive. This course will explore the role of leadership in election administration, paying particular attention to understanding the core competencies and approaches of leadership in the public sector, key challenges of leading an elections team, and practical skills to inspire competence, motivation, and productivity in elections staff.

Course 121: Redistricting in Ohio

Voter maps influence the outcome of elections. This course will explore the history and legal authority of redistricting in Ohio, the current processes and tools that are used to draw Ohio’s voter maps, and the implications of how those maps are drawn for elections officials, Ohio politics, and American democracy.

Course 122: Project Management Fundamentals

Whether you lead a project or are part of a team, this course will provide you with the concepts, tools and terminology that will assist in project success! Participants will learn the project framework, life cycle and knowledge areas including setting the schedule and budget, managing risks, and managing the scope of the project. This course covers the tools, techniques, and balance between the art and science of managing projects and managing people. Part analytic and technical skills and part people skills, you will gain a better understanding of simple, yet effective, techniques for ensuring that projects meet your goals.

WHEN

- In January of each year, in conjunction with the OAEO Winter Conference, there are 2 In-Person and 2 Zoom classes.

- In June/ July of each year, in conjunction with the Ohio Secretary of State's Conference, there are 2 In-Person and 2 Zoom classes.

WHERE

- Classes that are held in conjunction with the OAEO Winter Conference along with the Ohio Secretary of State's Conference are typically held at the same venue as the conference itself.

- Classes that are held virtually are held via Zoom.

HOW DO I TAKE THE COURSES?

- Courses that are taken in-person are the responsibility of the individual to travel to and be available for the course. While it is typical for individuals attending the courses to also be enrolled to attend the conference on or around the time that the course is taken, it is not required - individuals can just attend for the course.

- Courses that are taken virtually simply need a computer or mobile device to join the Zoom presentation and can be done in any location that you choose.

Upon completion of the eight undergraduate classes, one graduate level class must be completed every three years to maintain certification.

We strive to create curriculum that has both an academic and a practical focus. Thus, classes will concentrate on both election law and statute, as well as how those laws are implemented and applied.

The cost per class is $115 per person, per class.

In most cases, it can take two to three years for one to become certified as an OREO.

Yes, all participants from our previous program were grandfathered into the current program of instruction.

Absolutely! The credits are based on the individual, not the office in which they are currently working.

Policy Resolution: Cancellation of OREO Course Registrations

Whereas, The Ohio Association of Election Officials (“OAEO”) conducts education courses, training, and professional development opportunities for election officials throughout the State of Ohio through the Ohio Registered Election Official (“OREO”) Certification Program;

Whereas, Advance planning for the courses requires accurate attendance numbers to ensure appropriate contractual commitments, budgeting, and logistical arrangements;

Whereas, Many courses are in high demand requiring an attendee waitlist;

Whereas, Late registration cancellations may result in financial obligations or the inability to fill the cancellation from the waitlist, which adversely affects the Association and its members; and

Whereas, Establishing a clear and consistent registration cancellation policy promotes fairness, fiscal responsibility, and effective course planning;

Resolved, That the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Association of Election Officials hereby adopts the following policy governing cancellation of registrations for its Ohio Registered Election Official Certification Program:

1.     Cancellation Deadline

Any individual registered for an OREO course who is unable to attend must submit a written cancellation no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the course.

2.     Credit for Timely Cancellations

For any registration cancellation received at least fourteen (14) days prior to the course, OAEO shall issue a credit equal to the full course fee, to be applied toward a future course registration. In lieu of credit, course registration can be transferred to another individual within the county upon approval by the Education Committee Co-chairs. If the registration is not transferred within the county and a waitlist for the course exists, the next person on the waitlist will be contacted to fill the vacancy.

3.     Late Cancellations and No-Shows

If a cancellation is not received at least fourteen (14) days prior to the course, no credit or refund shall be issued.  Special consideration may be given in the case of a personal medical emergency, hospitalization, or death of an immediate family member.

4.     Method of Cancellation

Cancellation requests must be submitted via email to the Education Committee Co-chairs.

5.     Communication and Implementation

This policy shall be prominently communicated in registration materials, on the OAEO website, and in related communications. The policy shall take effect immediately following its adoption.

I, Frank DiCarlantonio III, Secretary of the Ohio Association of Election Officials, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Trustees at a meeting held on February 19, 2026, at which a quorum was present, and that such resolution has not been amended, modified, or rescinded and remains in full force and effect as of the date hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of February, 2026.

(Signature on Original Document)

Frank DiCarlantonio III

Secretary, Ohio Association of Election Officials