By Diane Nester
For The Office of WV Secretary of State Kris Warner
Rapid City, South Dakota – The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) announced that WV Secretary of State Kris Warner has been appointed to serve as National Co-Chair of the NASS Elections Committee for a second term. Secretary Warner’s appointment was announced during the 109th annual NASS 2026 Summer Conference held in Rapid City, South Dakota. Secretary Warner and Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas will Co-Chair the Elections Committee until July 2027.
Additionally, Secretary Warner was elected by his peers from other states to serve on the NASS Executive Board as the Southern Region-Vice President. Executive Board members will also serve until the conclusion of the NASS 2027 Summer Conference.
The NASS Elections Committee represents the organization in coordinating discussions and cooperation with federal agencies such as the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the Department of Homeland Security. The Committee also provides a forum for members to discuss strategies for facilitating voter participation and share innovative practices on voter education and outreach.
“West Virginia is recognized throughout the country as a leader in election integrity and security,” said Secretary Warner. “I look forward to the opportunity to expand my leadership role as the Southern Region Vice-President with NASS, and I’m honored to have the confidence of my peers to serve as Co-Chair of the Elections Committee for two consecutive years.”
The NASS summer conference brings together Secretaries of State, senior staff, and private-sector partners. In addition to Secretary Warner, the WVSOS Office was represented in Rapid City by General Counsel & Deputy Secretary of State Dave Cook, Director of Communications Diane Nester, Director of Outreach Jarrod Summers, and Director of Administrative Law Maureen Lewis. The team presented three times on a range of topics including the WV Centurion Chamber of Commerce Program, Creative Funding Solutions for Election Infrastructure and Security, and Election System Modernization.
NASS is a nonpartisan professional organization for U.S. Secretaries of State and other public officials with similar duties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories. Founded in 1904, NASS is the oldest such organization for public officials in the nation.
