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ADA Live! Episode 59: Voting Rights and Accessible Polling Places

1:00 pm EDT August 01, 2018   |   Organized by: Southeast ADA Center

Description

Voting is one of our nation’s most fundamental rights and a hallmark of our democracy. Yet for too long, many people with disabilities have been excluded from this core aspect of citizenship. The November mid-term elections will soon be upon us! Knowing our voting rights, including the right to accessible polling places, is critical to having our voices heard and participating fully in our communities.

Join us at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, August 1 for ADA Live! (WADA) when our topic will be voting rights and access to polling places. In this episode, Ms. Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County (Kentucky) Court Clerk and Chairwoman of the Louisville-Jefferson County Board of Elections, shares with us her experiences to ensure voting is accessible for all.

Featured Organization(s):

The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office is a state constitutional agency with varied duties governed by the Kentucky Revised Statutes. With the Departments of Motor Vehicles, Legal Records and Elections all under the auspices of the County Clerk, the Office directly serves the citizens of Jefferson County, Kentucky. The Jefferson County Election Center is responsible for conducting all elections, including administering elections laws, registering voters, candidate filing, the surveying of polling locations, and maintenance of voting machines. County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw serves as the chair of the board of elections, overseeing a voter population of 593,000 registered citizens. The Election Center is responsible for printing ballots, canvassing the votes at primary and general elections, and certifying election results before they are transferred to the secretary of state. While the duties of the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office may be varied, it’s mission is clear – the JCCO is here to offer exceptional service based around the ideals of value and integrity. It strives to perform at the highest possible standard, making all citizens’ government experience as pleasant and effective as possible.




Bobbie Holsclaw

Elected to office in November 1998, Ms. Bobbie Holsclaw began her first term as the Jefferson County (Kentucky) Clerk on January 1, 1999. As the Jefferson County Clerk, Ms. Bobbie Holsclaw leads over 275 employees, in nine divisions, who serve the citizens of Jefferson County. As Clerk, she is responsible for the issue, registration, and titling of all motor vehicles in the county; the recording and maintenance of various legal instruments; and, collection of delinquent property tax. The County Clerk’s Office issues disabled parking permits, marriage licenses, professional licenses and notary commissions.

Performing her official duties with integrity and determination, Ms. Holsclaw’s mission for the County Clerk’s Office is “to bring government closer to the citizens of Jefferson County while providing VIP service to our customers.” Under her leadership, the Jefferson County Clerk’s office is the first Clerk’s Office in Kentucky to capture the convenience of the Internet by providing motor vehicle renewal service on line. The Clerk’s Office expanded access to land records via a free online service. Customer service Web cams have been installed in the motor vehicle departments to allow our customers to see how busy their branch is before making the trip to that branch office. Ms. Holsclaw also became the first Clerk in Kentucky to offer renewal service by telephone.

In 2013, an eighth Motor Vehicle satellite office was opened in southwest Jefferson County, and two others were relocated and updated. Updates were made to five other Motor Vehicle satellite offices. In March of this year, the Deed Room was reopened after extensive renovations, including a new software program that streamlines the recording process for Legal Records.

Ms. Holsclaw believes in being fiscally conservative and responsible. All of the above-mentioned initiatives were accomplished while not only maintaining a balanced budget, but also turning over to Louisville Metro Government a surplus at the end of each of her terms for a total of $8,775,772.17. These significant contributions were placed in the Mayor’s budget for use throughout our community.

Ms. Holsclaw is a member of the Kentucky County Clerk's Association, served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Clerks, and is past president of the Southeast Republican Women's Club. Being an innovator in the public service arena, Ms. Holsclaw has received a great deal of recognition for her willingness to undertake new challenges and find solutions to a variety of customer service needs. She is honored as the 2007 “Most Admired Woman” in the political category by Today’s Woman Magazine readers. In 2009, Ms. Holsclaw was also honored with the "Salute to Catholic School Alumni" award, and the Courier Journal’s “Top Work Places”. In 2008, she was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Louisville Defender Newspaper for “Outstanding Service to the Community.” Ms. Holsclaw was presented the Landmarks of Excellence Award from the Public Relations Society of America (Bluegrass Chapter) and the International Association of Business Communicators of Kentucky. She’s also received the Corporate Award of Excellence from the Business and Professional Women/River City organization, and the Business Equity Award from the Business and Professional Women of Kentucky. These awards are given annually to a company or business that best demonstrates excellence in its hiring practices, is fiscally responsible, and provides quality customer service. Ms. Holsclaw was the first elected official to receive these awards for a government agency.

As County Clerk, Ms. Holsclaw also serves as Chairperson for the Board of Elections. In fulfilling her responsibilities as Chairperson, she has seen her goal of providing private voting to visually impaired and physically challenged citizens of Jefferson County come to fruition; first in 2006, with the implementation of the AccuTouch voting machines, and just this year with the new replacement ExpressVote machines that are now available in every polling location throughout Jefferson County.

As County Clerk, she encourages her staff to live out the mission of the Jefferson County Clerk's Office. The mission statement of the Clerk's Office is clear, and has been adopted by every employee of the Clerk's Office. The mission statement is: As public servants, we, the employees of the office of the Jefferson County Clerk, are committed to providing service that reflects Value, Integrity, and Performance. She believes every citizen deserves VIP service.

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