Monthly Programs

July Program

Tuesday, July 5, 2022 | 9:30–10:45 a.m. (doors open at 9 a.m.)
Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts, 221 Columbia Ave, Holland, MI, 49423 (in-person)
HASP@Hope YouTube Page (virtual)

“Election Administration in the Post-2020 Era: Building Trust and Securing Our Infrastructure for the Future” presented by Justin Roebuck, Ottawa County Clerk and Register of Deeds

By nearly every standard, the 2020 Presidential Election was one of the most transparent and secure in our history. Yet the facts that support this statement have been largely ignored due to a post-2020 narrative that has convinced millions of Americans of a “rigged system.” The pressure and added scrutiny caused by widespread distrust has also exposed an elections infrastructure that is in serious need of reinforcement. What does this mean for the future of our democratic process? For democracy to thrive in coming generations, we need investment now to develop public trust and ensure a better infrastructure. Though the claims of a rigged election have been proven inaccurate, there are still many ways that election officials can and must create a more transparent and secure system. However, we cannot do it alone. We need resources from federal, state, and local governments; and we need community leaders to understand the facts and speak the truth. Strengthening our elections will take serious investment from all of us. Are we prepared to do what it takes?

As County Clerk and Register of Deeds, Justin Roebuck serves as the chief election officer for Ottawa County’s 220,000 voters. Justin’s passion is to build trust with honesty and transparency in the election process. His goal is to change the way election officials interact with voters by modeling proactive, consistent, and fact-based communication. In 2021, he was honored by his colleagues as Michigan’s “County Clerk of the Year.” Justin currently serves on the Standards Board of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and as a member of the Bi-Partisan Policy Center’s Elections Task Force. He is the Chair of the Michigan Council of Election Officials, and Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee of the Michigan Association of County Clerks. He was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to the Michigan Judicial Council, and has been appointed by Governors Snyder and Whitmer to the Michigan Electronic Recording Commission, where he is currently serving as Chair.

Upcoming Monthly Programs

  • Tuesday, August 2, 2022 — “Exploring Ottawa County Parks” presented by Jason D. Shamblin, Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission Director
  • Tuesday, September 6, 2022 — “Reimagining America’s Schools” presented by Ron Bogle, President & CEO, National Design Alliance

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