Brinson Bell elected 2026 NASED president

KENANSVILLE — Karen Brinson Bell, a native of Duplin County and the NC State Board of Elections executive director, was recently elected as the incoming president of the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED). According to the NCSBE announcement, Brinson Bell was sworn in earlier this month during the NASED conference in Washington, D.C., and will serve as association president in 2026. She served as the organization’s vice president last year.

“Through this role on the NASED board, I interact routinely with election officials from across the United States as we learn from each other and improve elections,” Brinson Bell said. “I am proud of the work NASED does to help all election administrators succeed in making voting accessible, secure, and fair across the country.”

Born and raised in Kenansville, Brinson Bell has served in her position at the State Board of Elections for nearly six years. Brinson Bell currently leads about 65 employees at the state agency and has a long history in election administration, having worked in county, state, and national roles since 2006.

Among her many accomplishments in her role, her department initiated a voter confidence campaign during her first year, updated voting equipment, and managed elections during the height of the pandemic. Additionally, the department rolled out the absentee ballot request portal for citizens overseas, introduced ballot tracking for the public, and oversaw a website revamp to enhance security and accessibility. Her department jump-started a four-year plan to modernize the state’s election management system, which handles voter registration statewide and implemented field support to all 100 county boards of elections in the state, among other initiatives.

Her significant role in NASED represents a key milestone in her career, highlighting her leadership and commitment to enhancing the election process. Members of this nonpartisan organization meet twice a year to discuss the latest developments in election administration and share best practices, with the goal of promoting accessible, accurate, and transparent elections.