Virginia Moves to Remove Waynesboro Election Official Who Refused to Certify Votes

The Virginia State Board of Election voted to petition a circuit court to remove Curtis Lilly as the head of the Waynesboro Board of Elections. (Adobe Stock)

The Virginia Board of Elections (VBOE) voted unanimously to have a court remove the Waynesboro Board of Elections chairman from his post after he attempted to refuse certification ahead of the 2024 general election. 

In a 5-0 vote Jan. 15, the VBOE agreed to petition the Waynesboro Circuit Court to have Curtis Lilly removed from his position after he filed a lawsuit to refuse election certification after casting doubt on the security of voting machines. Lilly, along with Waynesboro Board of Elections Vice Chair Scott Mares, filed a lawsuit Oct. 4 that said they would refuse to certify the upcoming general election unless the state’s policy prohibiting them from hand-counting ballots was changed. 

The pair argued the way votes are tabulated through voting machines in Virginia violates the state’s constitution and “to certify the election under the current legal and administrative regime, therefore, would be a violation of their oaths of office, and, absent Court intervention, shall refuse to certify the 2024 election.”

In response, five voters filed a counter lawsuit to ensure the pair would certify the election results, which a Virginia circuit court judge ordered them to do Nov. 5. 

“My vote is my voice. I shouldn’t have to rely on the whims of election officials to ensure that my vote is counted,” Ann Criser-Shedd, one of the five plaintiffs, said according to the Augusta Free Press. “They are causing voters to mistrust the system and that could have a lasting impact. Our officials need to follow the law like every other election board.”

Though the Waynesboro Board of Election followed the judge’s order and certified the election, Lilly and Mares’ initial refusal to certify reportedly caused major issues for the Waynesboro Board of Elections. According to The Daily Progress, Lisa Jeffers, Waynesboro registrar and director of elections, said the duo’s initial lawsuit to refuse to certify the election blindsided her and was a “complete misuse of power.”

“Once the public learned of the lawsuit, I began to receive hate emails about the lawsuit,’’ she told The Daily Progress. “The public thought it was me, the Director of Elections, that was suing the state. It took time to reassure the voters that their vote was safe, secure and would be certified.”

Learn more about the case here.