The Department of Election Services was created by a reorganization of county government departments that occurred in 1995.
The Department maintains and updates the voter registration files of the county, which currently contain more than 260,000 voters. In addition, the office prepares the voting machines, tabulates election results, and reports them to the proper authorities. The Director is also the Chief Clerk to the County Board of Elections.
The County Board of Elections is normally the County Commissioners. A County Commissioner may not serve on the Board of Elections in any election in which that Commissioner is a candidate for any public office, including re-election. The Commissioners may also not serve as the Board of Elections when a County Home Rule Charter or Optional Plan is before the voters. In those cases, the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas names temporary Election Board members. The Director of Elections does not have a vote on the Board of Elections, but prepares the agenda and maintains the records of the Board's proceedings.
It is the goal of this office to administer Voter Registration and conduct Elections in accordance with Federal and State voter registration and election laws. The office of Election Services maintains the accuracy of 260,000 registered voters for Berks County. Maintains boundary maps and descriptions for the 198 voting districts; locates accessible and suitable polling places; trains and processes payroll for 1200 polling place officials; processes candidate nomination petitions; prepares and packages various election materials required by polling officials; maintains, services and prepares approximately 500 electronic voting machines; processes Absentee, Alternative and Provisional Ballots; certifies Official Election Returns; informs candidates, political party committees, the media and the general public of the voter registration and election process.
