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CONVENT—Taylor Roussel, Chief Deputy for the St. James Parish Registrar of Voters, has been designated as a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) or Certified Elections/Registration Vendor (CERV) the highest professional achievement for election officials and election vendors in the country.

 

Parish President Pete Dufresne noted that Taylor’s accomplishment is exciting for St James Parish. “Taylor becoming a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) is wonderful for our parish. Elections put leaders in place who shape our parish’s future, and Taylor helps ensure this process runs smoothly. I’m proud of her pursuing and achieving this goal, and anticipate watching her successful career within St James Parish. She is truly an asset to our community.”

 

CERA/CERV designation is achieved only through a multi-year course of study taught by the Auburn University’s Master in Public Administration (MPA) faculty, Auburn, Alabama, and conducted by the Election Center’s Professional Education Program (ECPEP). The program intends to professionalize the management of voter registration and elections administration in promoting and preserving public trust in the democratic process.

 

Director of the ECPEP Tim Mattice said, “This is the highest designation available to elections and voter registration officials. This graduating class of 85 election professionals totals 1,420 election officials and election vendors who have achieved the CERA/CERV status. This is an outstanding accomplishment. St. James Parish is indeed fortunate to have Taylor as one of the top designated professionals in America. Obtaining and maintaining CERA/CERV status means that she has committed to a career-long process of continuing education to improve the electoral process in Louisiana and the nation.

 

The Professional Education Program is sponsored by the Election Center, a non-profit association of voter registrars, elections administrators, and providers of election services throughout America and the U.S. Territories.  Its membership is comprised of township, city, county, and state elections officials and other election-related organizations.  The Center’s primary purpose is to promote and support continuous improvement in the administration of elections and voter registration through research, professional education, conferences, networking, and consulting. Professional Education Program participants receive continuing education credits from Auburn University as well as professional training credits from the Election Center.

 

Taylor Roussel is excited to achieve this huge accomplishment, and continue her career in St. James Parish. She said, “It has been a pleasure working for the St. James Parish Registrar of Voters Office and I look forward to continuing my education and my employment as I move forward as a Certified Election/Registration Administrator.”

 

Taylor has been employed in the Registrar of Voters office for 6 years. She started working for the Registrar’s office in January 2017 as Confidential Assistant.  Her work ethic and dedication to St James Parish, as well as her many skills and commitment to continued education led to her promotion to Chief Deputy in June of 2021.