By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: Dave Burns is sworn in by Probate Judge Kim Kervin as a member of the Board of Registrars.
On Tuesday, April 19, a local longtime pastor was sworn in by Probate Judge Kim Kervin at the County Commission office as a new member of the Board of Registrars for Autauga County.
Dave Burns, Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Prattville, said that he became aware of the open Registrar position through some of his local friends.
Burns, who has lived in and around Autauga County since 1975, said he has a married son and daughter and their spouses along with four grandsons living in the area.
“I applied and was appointed by Commissioner Rick Pate, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries,” said Burns. “I have been interested in local government for a long time.”
Burns explained that he ran two unsuccessful campaigns for the Autauga County Commission but his goal has always been to serve his community in leadership.
“I plan to impact Autauga County by coordinating fair and orderly elections,” Burns explained. “I hope to see our board encourage more of the 4,200 registered voters to gladly exercise their precious right to vote.”
Presently serving as Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Burns has also served four other churches in the area and sees this new role as part of his serving the church and the community.
“I see this position as an extension of the Lord’s ministry for me,” he said.
The pastor said that he is one of three Registrars who will oversee the process of voter registration and elections.
“Carl Poteet is the Chairman of the Autauga County Board of Registrars and he has worked in that position for more than 10 years,” explained Kervin about the rest of the board. “Wendi Hawn is the third member of the Autauga County Board of Registrars. She has worked in that position for four years.”
Kervin said that the most important aspect of their job is receiving voter applications and facilitating voter registration.
“They also are available to answer questions from voters and poll workers the day of an election, as well as receive voter rolls and Provisional Ballot Applications when the poll workers return their material after the polls close,” she continued.
The Probate judge went on to explain the other important duties the board members.
“The Registrars update and are responsible for evaluating the Provisional Ballot Applications and notifying the Electoral Board which Provisional Ballots should be counted when the election is certified,” she commented. “The registrars instruct the public on how to conduct voter drives, and also make themselves available to local campuses for the purpose of voter education and registration. In addition, they are responsible for keeping voter records updated, and removing those voters who have moved from this county, died, or become ineligible to vote due to felony conviction involving an act of moral turpitude.”
Kervin also said that one aspect that may be easily overlooked when it comes to the board is their interactions with citizens.
“Our local Board of Registrars impacts our community in that they make the voter registration easy for our residents,” she said.
For more information about the Autauga County Board of Registrars, as well as important voting information, go online to www.autaugacountyprobateoffice.com
