With early voting underway, Richmond Registrar Keith Balmer is focused on getting people to the polls, as other officials call for his removal or continue to investigate his misconduct in office.

Balmer made an appearance during Sunday service at the Metropolitan African American Baptist Church to provide information and encourage the congregation to vote, alongside Electoral Board Secretary Joyce Smith and employees of the Office of Elections.

Their appearance was part of an effort across the city’s churches to raise awareness and establish polling places for Election Day, according to Balmer, and came days after Electoral Board Vice Chair C. Starlet Stevens said she wanted him removed as registrar.

Meanwhile, Balmer focused on his work.

“I’m just trying to run the election and ensure that people can come out and cast their ballot,” Balmer said. “I’m not too concerned with anything else.”

A major part of Stevens’ criticism was the suspension of Balmer’s city credit card in May after almost $70,000 in purchases made last year that included furniture, food and art for the office, and hotel, motel and resort rooms.

Other instances of financial misconduct in the Office of Elections are being investigated by Richmond Inspector General James Osuna alongside allegations of nepotism in hiring practices and contract labor.

A prior investigation by the city’s Department of Human Resources into Balmer and Deputy General Registrar Jerry Richardson confirmed allegations from ex-employees that the two employed family members.

The final report, submitted in July to local and state election officials, recommended “an immediate departmental restructuring to correct any nepotism,” as well as a more transparent recruitment process and training emphasizing the office’s code of ethics.

When asked about the timing of her comments Tuesday afternoon, Stevens emphasized that she had raised concerns over Balmer’s conduct repeatedly.

The importance of Osuna’s investigation has grown over the months, with other cases in his office put on hold to focus more on completing it in a comprehensive, timely fashion.

“We’re getting a little bit of pressure from the State Board [of Elections], just because it’s an election year,” Osuna said during an Audit Committee meeting in July.

“We’re trying not to disrupt the election process as well, and doing everything we can to get it out and get it accurate.”

Stevens, for her part, doubted that Balmer would be removed from his position before the end of the election, citing a lack of majority support on the Electoral Board and the process needed to remove him.

Despite these reasons and the long personal history she has with Balmer, including appointing him as registrar, Stevens was clear that action needed to be taken to address this misconduct.

“This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do as a board member, given the fact that I have known Mr. Balmer for a number of years,” Stevens said.

“The way things have played out with this situation is totally a shock to me. If someone had told me this a couple years ago after I appointed him, I would have said ‘no way.’ But here we are.”