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Election News This Week

Bomb Threats Continue: Elections offices in California, Maryland and Minnesota all received bomb threats late last week and over the weekend. In California, officials in Kings, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Clara, all reported receiving bomb threats. In Orange County, bomb detection dogs were used to search the entire building, and no explosives were found. “The Orange County Registrar of Voters is committed to ensuring equal access to the election process, protecting the integrity of votes, and maintaining a transparent, accurate and fair election system,” Registrar of Voters Bob Page said in a statement. “We are working diligently to address this incident and keep all staff and members of the public who visit our office safe.” In Maryland the counties who received bomb threats include Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore Co., Calvert, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester. The threats came in as many boards were wrapping up counting for the day on November 8 and did not result in any disruptions or delays, Maryland Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis said. “It appears that they (the threats) originated from overseas, and we are working with the FBI and our federal partners on that as well,” he said. “These threats failed in their mission,” said DeMarinis. “We made it safe and secure, and we’re going to continue to make it safe and secure — not only for the voters but also for the election judges, as well.” And in Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said that election offices in over half of the counties in the state–including Blue Earth and Goodhue counties–have received bomb threats. The threats were received by email and have been reported to the secretary of state’s office by county, state and federal partners. “Threats of violence against election workers, aimed at disrupting our democracy, are absolutely unacceptable,” Simon said. “Although Election Day is over, election officials across the state are continuing their work to verify that the election was free, fair, accurate, and secure. Over the next few weeks, counties will be canvassing the election, certifying election results, and conducting post-election reviews.” Simon says his office is coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement to ensure those responsible for the threats are held accountable.

Reward for Information: The FBI said this week it is offering up to $25,000 as a reward for information about the suspect behind recent ballot box fires in Oregon and Washington state. Authorities believe a male suspect that may have metalworking and welding experience was behind three ballot drop box fires in Portland and Vancouver, Washington including one that damaged hundreds of ballots in Vancouver. They have described him as a white man, aged 30 to 40, who is balding or has very short hair. The FBI specifically asked for help identifying the suspect’s car. Surveillance cameras captured images of a dark-colored, early 2003 to 2004 Volvo S-60 sedan, but at the time of the two most recent ballot box fires on Oct. 28 in Portland and Vancouver, it had a fraudulent temporary Washington license plate on the rear and no front plate, the bureau said. William Brooks, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Portland field office, said multiple local law enforcement agencies were providing resources, such as investigators, analysts and bomb technicians, to help the investigation. “Voters in both Oregon and Washington deserve answers in this case,” Brooks said. “Their votes and their voices matter, and we can’t allow one person’s violent actions to infringe on their rights.”

Conspiracy Theories Persist: While the results of the 2024 election have certainly tamped down some of the rhetoric around election administration, that doesn’t mean it’s gone away completely. For 2020 election deniers, they claim the  outcome vindicates their debunked claims that the 2020 election was stolen. On the far left, new claims have arisen about 20 million missing voters, which the 2020 deniers are using to bolster their claims as well. “Most people just don’t really understand how election administration and the tabulation of election results actually works in this country,” said Kathy Boockvar, who oversaw elections in 2020 in Pennsylvania as its secretary of the commonwealth. “And that of course leads, unfortunately, to susceptibility to conspiracy theories and false information.” Some social media users have stirred things up by claiming that vote counts were manipulated through Starlink. “It is not possible that Starlink was used to hack or change the outcome of the US presidential election,” David Becker, founder and executive director of The Center for Election Innovation and Research, wrote in an to the Associated Press. “This, quite simply, did not happen, and could not happen, thanks to the security measures we have in place, and these conspiracy theories echo other disinformation we’ve heard over the past several years.”

Investigations: The Denver District Attorney’s office has begun an investigation into how many of Colorado’s voting machine passwords ended up online. Voting machine passwords for equipment in 34 of Colorado’s 64 counties were listed on a hidden tab on a spreadsheet posted on the Secretary of State’s website in June. The state removed the passwords on Oct. 24, after an election vendor discovered it. The public first became aware through an announcement by the Colorado GOP.  A spokesman for the Denver District Attorney’s office would not provide Colorado Public Radio more information about the ongoing investigation beyond confirming it is underway. According to CPR it’s not the only prosecutor’s office with its eye on the data breach. The El Paso County District Attorney’s office said in a press release Friday that it started looking into the situation after receiving two affidavits alleging violations of a state law. Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin announced he is launching an investigation into the city of Boston’s election administration. Galvin, said the ballot shortages in Boston caused “unreasonable and unnecessary delays” in a letter directed to Eneida Tavares, the chair of the commission. He said workers at the precincts contacted his office after they were “unable to contact” the commission’s own election line. “This is unacceptable and contravenes the most fundamental principles of our democratic process,” Galvin writes in the letter. “As election officials and individual voters in my own office attempted to reach out to the Boston Election Department and other Boston officials during the day yesterday, they were not answering the phone,” Galvin said at a State House press conference. “They were not responding to their own employees or reaching out to them. They were not responding to us, nor were they responding to individual citizens. This is unacceptable conduct, and it will not be tolerated.” The Boson mayor’s press office provided a statement from Tavares that called any delays in voting “completely unacceptable.” “The City has begun a full audit into the delays from ballot shortages at polling locations during yesterday’s election, and will work closely with the Secretary of State’s office to support the state’s investigation so that the findings can deliver needed improvements to our voting system,” Tavares wrote.

Social Media Update: You can now find electionline on BlueSky at @electionline.bsky.social. BlueSky is a social media site similar to X (nee Twitter). There are about 15 million users on BlueSky which recently grew from 13 million as people sought an alternative to X. The platform resembles X, with a “discover” feed as well a chronological feed for accounts that users follow. Users can send direct messages and pin posts, as well as find “starter packs” that provide a curated list of people and custom feeds to follow. Electionline is still on Threads, Facebook and will stay on X for the time being. If you/your elections office joins BlueSky, give us a follow and we’ll follow you back. 

Podcast News: The latest episode of High Turnout Wide Margins is now live. In this episode, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Sarah Archambault and Margo Guernsey. They are the production team behind the documentary “No Time to Fail,” and of a new documentary, “The Officials” that continues to shine a light on the work of local election officials. They spoke about why they chose to focus their work on local elections, how they have built a connection to the elections administration community and what everyday Americans could take away from the nonpartisan nature and focus of the field. On the latest episode of NPR’s Politics Podcast, Donald Trump’s election win took the wind from the sails of his election fraud conspiracy movement. Following Vice President Harris’ concession, the early stages of post-election administration went smoothly and largely without controversy, a stark contrast to the aftermath of the 2020 election. But are election lies going away?

Personnel News: Dutchess County, New York Democratic Elections Commissioner Hannah Black has informed the county Democratic Committee that she is not seeking reappointment to the position. Gulf County, Florida Supervisor of Elections John Hanlon did not seek re-election and has overseen his final election. Bruce Sherbet is retiring as the Collin County, Texas elections administrator after nine years at that job and a total of 44 in the elections world. Jacque Callanen has administered her final election as the Bexar County, Texas elections administrator. 

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Alabama: Alabama Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, has pre-filed a bill that would allow registered voters to vote prior to election day. This bill would require each county to provide at least one early voting center to be open during the week immediately preceding election day, according to its text. It specifies that the centers cannot allow people to vote less than four days or more than six days during the one-week period immediately preceding election day. On weekdays and Saturdays, the centers would be open from 9am to 5pm and on Sundays, they would be open from 1pm to 5pm If the governing body of a county opts to establish more than one early voting center, the bill says officials will have the sole authority to configure the centers’ boundaries. County officials will also control what days the centers are open, provided they allow people to vote between four and six days prior to election day. “I think we need to see what other states are doing,” said Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, a former General Fund chairman in the Alabama House, advocating for a study or an analysis of how much early voting costs elsewhere.

Alaska: Legislators in Alaska will tackle election reform when they convene in January. “…I’d like to see us deal with elections issues early on so we don’t wait until the last minute,” said Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak This spring, a major elections reform bill died on the last day of the legislative session. The same thing happened with another elections reform bill two years ago. “One of the things I’ve heard about is election reform,” said Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage and a member of the coalition. “There’s just a recognition that we have a number of things that need to be fixed,” he said, mentioning signature verification on absentee ballots, witness signatures on those ballots, and adding the ability for voters to “cure,” or fix, errors that would otherwise disqualify their votes. “I think making it easier for people to vote — it’s not a Democratic or Republican issue,” he said.

Maine Ballot Measure: Voter ID for ME dispatched hundreds of volunteers across the state to polling places on November 5 to explain to voters their ideas for voter ID ballot measure and to gather signatures. The organizers of a referendum say they’ve gathered enough signatures to get the question before voters in a November 2025 referendum. “We’re looking forward to passing this popular initiative next year,” said Alex Titcomb, the lead petitioner on the effort. He said supporters have collected more than 165,000 signatures, including over 125,000 on Election Day alone, and will submit them to the Maine Department of the Secretary of State for review and certification. The proposal would require people to present a photo ID at the polls or when requesting an absentee ballot, unless they have a religious exemption to being photographed. Voters without a photo ID could cast a provisional ballot, which would be counted if they produce a photo ID within four days of the election. It would also require the secretary of state to provide free state nondriver IDs to people who need them. Enacting a statewide voter ID requirement has been proposed repeatedly by Republicans in the Maine Legislature in recent years, but has been blocked by Democrats, who have criticized the costs of such a program and warned that the new requirement would create long lines at the polls and effectively discourage voting.

Michigan: State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lansing, introduced four election-related bills: HB 6052 would allow clerks to use on-demand ballot printing for same-day registration voters in a clerk’s office or in election day voting centers. It would also allow on-demand ballot printing for ballots printed in a language other than English so that clerks could avoid having to pre-print large numbers of non-English ballots. HB 6053 would adjust the deadline for most election-related Michigan lawsuits from 28 days before Election Day to 45 days beforehand. The rationale behind this, Tsernoglou said, is to prevent needless administrative disruptions to the election process when absentee ballots have already been sent out. The bill still allows for lawsuits to be filed during this timeframe, but only when there is a compelling reason and with a higher burden of proof placed on the filer. HB 6054 and 6055 propose multiple amendments to election administrative procedures and early voting provisions, including requiring clerks to notify the Michigan Bureau of Elections of early voting site decisions at least 50 days before the site opens for polling. The bills would also outline the procedures for early voting agreements and withdrawals among municipalities and counties, clarify rules for absentee ballot processing, require county clerks to conduct unofficial counts for early unofficial returns, and amend sentencing guidelines provisions in the state’s criminal law procedure, among other changes.

Gun owners would be banned from openly carrying their firearms to Michigan election locations under bills headed to the desk of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for likely signature. House Democrats gave final passage to the legislation Wednesday in a series of 56-53 party-line votes, approving changes made by the state Senate in February. Democrats have attempted to ban guns at polling locations since at least 2020, when Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson tried to do so on her own. She was sued by gun rights groups who argued she was violating their Second Amendment rights. Under the legislation approved this week, a person could not bring a firearm in or within 100 feet of a voting location while polls are open on Election Day, unless they carried their weapon concealed and had a permit to do so.  The same rules would apply to early voting locations, as well as absentee ballot drop boxes, for the 40 days prior to an election. During that 40-day window, a person could not bring their gun into, or within 100 feet of, a city or township clerk’s office or their satellite locations. Violations could result in a $100 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both. House lawmakers signed off on several provisions the state Senate had added to the bills in February, including allowing gun owners to keep their weapons in their cars or have their weapons on hand if visiting someone living within 100 feet of a drop box or polling location.  Off-duty police officers would also be included in the list of individuals allowed to carry a firearm in the vicinity of election activity. 

Ohio: Sens. Theresa Gavarone (R- Bowling Green) and Andrew Brenner (R-Powell), introduced Senate Bill 324 the day after Election Day that would prohibit ballot drop boxes, impose citizenship verification requirements on voters, and other new rules. The Legislative Service Commission hasn’t yet analyzed the 149-page bill, but Gavarone said she has distributed it to Ohio’s 88 county election directors. Its provisions include: Citizenship checks during voter registration and change of address; Prohibiting ballot drop boxes; Requiring petition circulators to identify themselves via badge as paid operatives; and Prescribing attestation forms for those dropping off others’ ballots. Gavarone was noncommittal when asked if she expects the legislation to pass during the lame duck session. At year’s end, any legislation not yet signed into law must restart the entire legislative process as new lawmakers take over.

Ohio Ballot Measure: State Attorney General Dave Yost  announced his office certified petition summary language for a proposed amendment enshrining voter-friendly policies into the state constitution. His certification marks an early step in a long and cumbersome citizen-led constitutional amendment process. It comes after the Ohio Supreme Court unanimously swatted down his previous rejection of the amendment on the grounds that its title – “Ohio Voters Bill of Rights” – was misleading. The court ruled he had no authority to analyze the title, only the subject matter of the proposed amendment itself. Now the proposal goes to the Ohio Ballot Board – a state body controlled by Republicans – which must determine whether the proposal is limited only to one subject, as required by law. With the board’s approval, the organizers can begin gathering the roughly 413,000 signatures needed to place the matter on a statewide ballot for a simple majority vote. The voter bill of rights would have declared that voting is a “fundamental right” in Ohio, which triggers heightened judicial scrutiny of any laws that might infringe on that right. It also would enshrine voting hours, early voting, automatic voter registration via the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, online voter registration, same-day voter registration, loosened identification requirements to vote, allowances for more drop boxes and early voting locations, a requirement that election mail to come with prepaid postage, and others.

Virginia: The House Privileges and Elections Committee advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore the voting rights of ex-felons. HJ2, sponsored by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-Alexandria, seeks to automate the process of restoring voting rights to people convicted of felony crimes who have served their sentences. The proposal comes in response to a 2023 policy change implemented by Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires people with felony convictions to proactively apply to regain their voting rights upon release from prison and is not automatically restoring rights for any group of offenders — a shift from Virginia’s three previous governors. Bennett-Parker told reporters that her amendment proposes automatic restoration of voting rights for individuals who have been released from incarceration, which she said would foster “a more just and bare” society. The committee backed HJ2 with a 12-9 party-line vote.

Legal Updates

Arizona: The Arizona Supreme Court declined to extend the deadline for voters to fix problems with mail-in ballots, a day after voter rights groups cited reports of delays in vote counting and in notification of voters with problem signatures. The court said Sunday that election officials in eight of the state’s 15 counties reported that all voters with “inconsistent signatures” had been properly notified and given an opportunity to respond. Arizona law calls for people who vote by mail to receive notice of problems such as a ballot signature that doesn’t match one on file and get a “reasonable” chance to correct it in a process known as “curing.” “The Court has no information to establish in fact that any such individuals did not have the benefit of ‘reasonable efforts’ to cure their ballots,” wrote Justice Bill Montgomery, who served as duty judge for the seven-member court. He noted that no responding county requested a time extension. “In short, there is no evidence of disenfranchisement before the Court,” the court order said. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Campaign Legal Center on Saturday named registrars in a petition asking for an emergency court order to extend the original 5 p.m. MST Sunday deadline by up to four days. Maricopa is the state’s most populous county and includes Phoenix. The groups said that as of Friday evening, more than 250,000 mail-in ballots had not yet been verified by signature, with the bulk of those in Maricopa County . They argued that tens of thousands of Arizona voters could be disenfranchised.

Illinois: The Cook County Circuit Court ruled this week to invalidate Evanston’s pilot ranked choice voting referendum, dismissing the action to implement RCV in the Evanston 2025 Consolidated Elections with prejudice.  The court deemed the 2022 voter referendum to be “void” because it is not self-executing and stated that the Illinois Election Code prohibits ranked choice voting, adding that the Cook County Clerk does not have legal authority to certify voting machines and that the Clerk does not have authority to submit a voting system to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Evanston voters initially approved the referendum in the 2022 midterm election, becoming the first city in Illinois to adopt RCV. Nonprofit Reform for Illinois with retired attorney David Melton initially filed the action against the County Clerk Cedric Giles in July. According to the motion to dismiss, the plaintiffs alleged that Evanston’s home rule municipality authority authorized the implementation of ranked choice voting. City spokesperson Cynthia Vargas told The Daily that the city is reviewing the court’s ruling and is eyeing potential legal action to defend the city’s home rule authority. 

Iowa: Irving Omar Ahumada Geronimo, 35, of Graettinger was arrested on two counts of election misconduct. He was charged on Oct. 31 with illegally registering to vote and voting on Nov. 2, 2021, in a Graettinger City Council and school board election. According to the criminal complaint, Greattinger fraudulently signed a voter registration form under oath attesting that he was a U.S. citizen and “fraudulently voted in that election knowing himself not to be qualified to do so.” First-degree election misconduct is a class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $750 to $7,500. This is the second recent prosecution announced by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office of a legal resident who is not a U.S. citizen accused of illegally casting a vote.

Kansas: The US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed and remanded a lower court ruling that allowed the organizations VoteAmerica and the Voter Participation Center (VPC) to send out mail-in ballot applications to Kansas voters with pre-filled information. The appeals court determined that the key legal issue in the case was “the level of scrutiny that should be employed” when examining freedom of speech and the Kansas statute. The district court had previously agreed with the plaintiffs’ argument that “strict scrutiny” should apply, meaning that the state would need to show that the “least restrictive means” were applied to further their interests. The court agreed with the plaintiffs that the statute is a content-based regulation, but the court found it should be subject to intermediate scrutiny since it is neutral in purpose or justification. This lower level of scrutiny only requires the government to show that its means were “substantially related” to their interests. The appeals court ultimately rejected the plaintiffs’ freedom of association claim but remitted the freedom of speech claim back to the district court, despite the defendants’ argument that free speech was not engaged. The court found the prefilled applications to be speech under the First Amendment in part because of the fact they have words on a page written by VPC, which indicates a strong presumption that free speech is engaged.

Michigan: Haoxiang Gao, a 19-year-old University of Michigan student from China, was arraigned November 8 in Washtenaw County District Court on charges that he voted illegally in the presidential election. The Michigan Secretary of State’s Office and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Oct. 30 that a student who wasn’t a U.S. citizen had cast a ballot at an early voting site in Ann Arbor. The announcement came six days before Election Day and drew the attention of national political figures, as there was no way for local election officials to prevent Gao’s ballot from being counted after it was entered into a tabulator. Michigan authorities didn’t identify Gao as the individual who allegedly cast the ballot until he was arraigned in the 15th District Court in Ann Arbor. Gao is facing felony charges of perjury — making a false statement on an affidavit for the purpose of securing voter registration — and of being an unauthorized elector who attempted to vote. The standard penalty for perjury in Michigan, the most serious of the two allegations, is up to 15 years in prison.

Mississippi:  Pro-voter organizations have asked the full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a three-judge panel’s decision that invalidated a Mississippi law allowing election officials to count timely postmarked mail-in ballots for up to five business days after an election. The request follows an Oct. 25 ruling from a trio of Trump-appointed 5th Circuit judges who unanimously endorsed the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) argument that Mississippi’s five-day post-election ballot receipt deadline effectively “extended” Election Day in violation of federal law.  A lower federal court had previously rejected the RNC’s legal bid, concluding that the state’s deadline — which was enacted in 2020 with bipartisan support — comports with federal election law and the U.S. Constitution. Although the 5th Circuit panel’s October ruling struck down the mail-in ballot receipt statute, it did not immediately require Mississippi to stop counting late received mail-in ballots for the 2024 election. Instead, the appellate judges sent the case back down to the district court for further proceedings, which have not yet commenced.  In a petition filed Friday, two advocacy groups — Vet Voice Foundation and the Mississippi Alliance for Retired Americans — argued that the entire bench of active 5th Circuit judges should rehear the case and ultimately affirm the district court’s rejection of the RNC’s lawsuit.  The groups underscored the importance of post-election ballot receipt deadlines in protecting overseas and military voters from disenfranchisement, while also noting that the practice of counting late-arriving ballots postmarked on or before Election Day is commonplace across the country.

Nevada: The American Center For Law and Justice (ACLJ) announced they filed an amicus brief  in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, joining an appeal filed last May by Attorney and Republican National Committeewoman Sigal Chattah. Last year, Chattah, representing four plaintiffs, sued Governor Joe Lombardo (R) and Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar (D) challenging the legality of Senate Bill 406 known as the Election Worker Protection Bill. In October 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Cristina D. Silva dismissed Chattah’s  lawsuit based on standing, but provided the plaintiff’s opportunity to amend the complaint. The plaintiffs maintain that an “election official”, cited in Chapter 293 of the law, is broad, undefined and relies on “absurd” subjective complaints of threats and intimidation which would result in a Class E felony of the accused. Furthermore, they allege that the law may conflict with the current Nevada law that provides the general public, poll watchers, and volunteers to observe polling places and ballot locations, such as tabulation areas and warehouses. The ACLJ agrees and contends that key terms in the bill are undefined and “impose vague and overbroad criminal penalties that threaten to undermine the ability of Nevadans to freely participate in the electoral process as poll workers, poll watchers, and engaged citizens.” In her temporary ruling, Silva cited that the plaintiffs do not have standing as they failed to allege a threat of “imminent, credible harm” and have failed to demonstrate “that there exists a credible threat of prosecution.” “A plaintiff’s subjective and irrational fear of prosecution is not enough to confer standing,” Silva wrote. The ACLJ disagrees and argues that the plaintiffs have standing, arguing that “when First Amendment rights are threatened, these individuals have standing to protect their constitutional rights.”

New York: The state Supreme Court in Orange County struck down a state law intended to prevent local officials from enacting rules that might suppress people’s voting rights because of their race. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, named after the late civil rights activist who represented Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, was passed by the New York state Legislature in 2022 and aims to bring back a version of what was known as “preclearance” that was gutted from the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2013. Under that provision, states and counites with a record of suppressing the rights of Black voters once had to seek U.S. Justice Department approval before changing voting rules. The state law, in a similar fashion, mandates that local governments or school districts with a record of discrimination in New York must gain approval from state officials in order to pass certain voting policies. The court, in their decision, said the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits a state from depriving “any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Since federal statute is supreme to any state law, the court ruled to strike down the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act in its entirety. “When New York enacted the strongest voting rights law in the country, we knew there would be challenges. I disagree with the court’s legal reasoning and expect this decision will be overturned on appeal,” state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, chair of the state Senate Committee on Elections who authored the legislation, said in a statement.

Ohio: Glenford Edwards of East Cleveland has been indicted on seven counts of Illegal voting, according to Cuyahoga County court records. Edwards is also charged with false voter registration. The court records say he voted illegally on or about November 3, 2020, November 8, 2022, August 8, 2023, November 7, 2023, and March 19, 2024. The alleged false voter registration happened on or about April 22, 2024, according to court records.

South Carolina: Horry County Judge William H. Seals Jr. ruled this week that the town of Atlantic Beach will hold a special election to elect a new mayor and resolve a yearlong dispute over whether John David or Josephine Isom will be the town’s next leader. Seals issued the ruling on Tuesday affirming the Municipal Election Commission’s decision in April to invalidate the results of the November 2023 election. “In sum, the Court having determined that sufficient factual evidence exists justifying the MEC’s Decision to invalidate the mayoral election and finding no error of law that would justify disturbance of the MEC’s ruling, the Decision of the Atlantic Beach Municipal Election Commission is AFFIRMED,” Seals wrote in his ruling. Recently appointed interim Town Manager William Booker told News13 that no date has been set for a new election. He said town leaders are talking with the South Carolina Election Commission to work out the details. 

Texas: Officials are planning to challenge a judge’s ruling voiding the Nov. 5 special election, arguing the court had no jurisdiction to interfere in the process while nullifying citizens’ votes. On Nov. 4 in Cameron County’s 197th state District Court, visiting Judge Michael Garcia handed down the ruling voiding the election following two weeks of early voting, citing a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act. “The city disagrees with the judge’s decision to void the election and plans on taking any and all action necessary to fully protect the rights of its citizens to vote and the legitimate outcome of the votes cast by the citizens of San Benito,” city officials said in a news release. On Wednesday, City Commissioner Tom Goodman claimed Garcia’s action meddled with the Democratic process. “The citizens’ right to vote should not be determined by a judge,” he said in an interview. “That would interfere with the Democratic process. The people have voted. Why not accept their answer?”

U.S. Virgin Islands: Superior Court Judge Yvette Ross Edwards has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes against the Board of Elections and its members, who had voted to include candidate Ida Smith on the ballot for delegate to Congress. The court’s decision, issued on Nov. 8 and leading to the dismissal on Nov. 12, underscores the limitations of authority for government officials acting independently within their roles. Fawkes initiated the lawsuit after disqualifying Smith’s candidacy in June, citing failure to meet residency requirements due to dual voter registration in New York and the Virgin Islands. However, the Board of Elections overruled this disqualification on Sept. 4, following a legal opinion from Attorney General Gordon Rhea, who asserted that eligibility criteria for delegate to Congress fall under federal jurisdiction rather than local law. The court found that Fawkes, as a government employee, lacked the authority to sue independently without explicit statutory authorization or the enforcement backing of the attorney general. Ross Edwards stated, “a lawsuit by the Supervisor of Elections against the Board, both in their official capacities, is a suit by the Government against the Government.” Additionally, the court determined that Fawkes could not proceed as a taxpayer plaintiff, as she failed to demonstrate an injury to a substantial right. The ruling also emphasized that she had no statutory authority to retain private counsel for this matter.

West Virginia: A voter in Mingo County filed a lawsuit after the wrong Democratic candidate for state Senate was mistakenly printed on ballots for early in-person voting. Jeff Disibbio became the Democratic state senate nominee for West Virginia’s 6th District in August after the primary winner, Randy Fowler, did not file required campaign finance reports and was disqualified. According to the lawsuit, during West Virginia’s early voting period Oct. 23-28, Fowler was still listed as the candidate on the ballot in Mingo County — leading to 678 voters casting incorrect ballots.  The error was discovered Oct. 28 by the ballot printing vendor and the county issued corrected ballots for the rest of the early voting period and Election Day. The lawsuit alleges that Mingo County Clerk Larry Croaff never told voters who might have been impacted by the error, but told local press that voters could vote again with a provisional ballot. West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner (R) later clarified that this solution wouldn’t work, since in-person voting is anonymous in the state and therefore there’s no way to identify affected ballots and replace them with new, corrected ballots. Because of the error, the plaintiff alleges that Croaff’s mistake is part of a pattern of disenfranchising Democratic voters in Mingo County. The lawsuit asks the court to order Mingo County to hold a special election for constituents to cast their vote for the sixth state Senate district.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Election integrity | Ranked choice voting, II, III | Voting system | Well done election | Poll workers | Voter fraud, II | What’s next?

Alabama: Early voting 

Arizona: Poll workers

Florida: Election security 

Hawaii: In-person voting 

Idaho: Successful election

Illinois: Poll workers 

Kansas: Same day registration 

Kentucky: 2026 

Maine: Ranked choice voting

Nevada: Ranked choice voting | Signature verification 

New Jersey: Poll workers 

New York: Poll workers 

North Carolina: Ballot cure 

Ohio: Voter purge | Poll workers | Voting system 

Oklahoma: Turnout | Voter registration 

Oregon: Ranked choice voting 

Pennsylvania: Berks County 

Utah: Utah County

Washington: Local election dates 

Wisconsin: Voting system 

Upcoming Events

Call for Papers: The Caltech 2024 Election Integrity Project Information and Misinformation in Elections: 2025 Conference is fast approaching.  If you would like to attend the conference and present your research, please submit a 250-500 word abstract to lcssp@hss.caltech.edu. Deadline: November 20. 

2024 Elections Summit: In an electoral landscape unlike any other, how can we harness this period of rapid change to support the Americans at the front lines of our democracy and build a more resilient electoral system for generations to come? Register and join BPC at our 2024 Elections Summit on Wednesday, December 4, to reflect on the state of U.S. elections with experts from across the country. Hear from practitioners, policymakers, thought leaders, and journalists, who will share lessons learned from 2024 and advance ideas to further strengthen and secure our democracy. This event is co-hosted by BPC and BPC Action and has been designed to meet Congressional Ethics guidelines for a widely attended event. When: December 4, 8am to 5pm Eastern. Where: Online and Washington, DC. 

Administering the 2024 Election: Join the National Association of Counties (NACo) for Administering the 2024 Election: County Roles, Intergovernmental Partnerships and Lessons Learned at NACo HQ. Where: Washington, DC. When: December 17, 9-11am Eastern.

Joint Election Officials Liaison Conference (JEOLC): Save the date! Notional agenda and information on CERA class offerings coming soon. Where: Arlington, Virginia. When: Jan. 8-12, 2025. 

Caltech 2024 Election Integrity Project Information and Misinformation in Elections 2025 Conference: We plan a two-day conference at the California Institute of Technology on January 16-17, 2025, to discuss research regarding information and misinformation in the 2024 U.S. elections.  Research topics may include how campaigns used innovative new approaches to target and persuade voters, how social media influenced voters, what the electorate knew (or did not know) about the candidates and issues, misinformation in the election, election rumors and denialism, rhetoric about election integrity, disinformation dissemination and impact on the election, and conspiracy theories regarding the candidates and the administration of the election. While we will likely focus on research from social sciences and computer science, we welcome research from all disciplines and methodologies.  Our main focus will be on the 2024 U.S. elections, but we welcome research proposals from previous elections or elections in other nations. Where: Pasadena, California. When: January 16-17, 2025

Job Postings This Week

electionlineWeekly publishes election administration job postings each week as a free service to our readers. To have your job listed in the newsletter, please send a copy of the job description, including a web link to mmoretti@electionline.org.  Job postings must be received by 5pm on Wednesday in order to appear in the Thursday newsletter. Listings will run for three weeks or till the deadline listed in the posting.

Campaign Manager/Director, Supreme Court Reform– The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve our systems of democracy and justice. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to court reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving constitutional protections in the fight against terrorism. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting-edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them — in the courts, in Congress and the states, and in the court of public opinion.The Brennan Center’s Kohlberg Center on the U.S. Supreme Court was established in 2024 to advocate for reform of the Supreme Court to prevent ethical abuses, reduce partisanship and extremism, and ensure that the Court plays a more  balanced and appropriate role in our constitutional democracy. Building on the Brennan Center’s long-standing work, including in support of Supreme Court term limits and ethics reform, the Kohlberg Center promotes research and policy development, pursues policy advocacy, and engages in broad public education. Salary: $90,000-$140,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Cybersecurity Junior Analyst, Palm Beach County, Florida– The Cybersecurity Junior Analyst is responsible for monitoring the organization’s log aggregation tools and triage suspicious activity or detection alerts generated by the security controls implemented within the Supervisor of Elections Office network environment. Additionally, this position will serve as the first line of defense and response for identified security events in accordance with the Information Security Policy, and cybersecurity procedures. Candidate must be organized and personable with a great attitude, be able to work well in a team environment, calmly respond to identified security incidents, and meet deadlines under pressure. Excellent work ethic, including consistent performance, integrity, reliability, and attendance, is a must. Candidate must be detail-oriented and understand the importance of security and safety for all. Must be available 24/7 365, be able to handle simultaneous projects, be a self-starter, and remain informed on emerging threats and technologies. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Deputy County Clerk, III, Boone County, Missouri– This position provides general supervision in the voter registration department, manages the recruitment, training, payroll, and assignment of election judges for polling places and early voting in Boone County, and provides election information to the public. Join the Boone County team and Make a Difference! Boone County Government offers a competitive benefits package that includes comprehensive health/dental/vision insurance on day one (with options for medical/dental with NO employee premium!), a pension plan, two matching deferred compensation plans, 14 paid holidays, generous sick and vacation leave, and no-cost disability and life insurance options. Boone County is a Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness qualifying employer. Visit our website and apply at: www.showmeboone.com/HR. Columbia, MO is a thriving college town and the cultural hub of mid-Missouri, hosting popular events such as the True/False Film Festival and the Roots N Blues BBQ Festival and a diverse art, music, and restaurant scene. Columbia is the fourth most populous and fastest-growing city in Missouri with an estimated 126,254 residents in 2020. Resting upon the forested hills and rolling prairies of Mid-Missouri near the Missouri River valley, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the surrounding Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Mark Twain National Forest, and Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, in addition to hiking over 278 miles of our local trails! Many popular destinations are a short drive away, including the Capitol of Jefferson City, the Lake of the Ozarks, Saint Louis, and Kansas City all within a two-hour drive or less. Salary: $18.04 – $27.06 per hour. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Deputy Director-Dem, Delaware County, Ohio– The Delaware County Board of Elections is looking to fill the position of Deputy Director/ Democratic Party.  This position is responsible for overseeing, directing and managing the Board of Elections staff; managing operation procedures; devising, recommending and adhering to the annual budget; conducting fair and impartial elections; implementing changes required by the Ohio Revised Code, federal legislation, and other rules regarding conducting elections or election procedures; implementing policies of the Board of Elections; and reporting to the Ohio Secretary of State.  Salary: $125,000 to $130,000  Deadline: November 30.  Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Election Judge Supervisor, Boone County, Missouri – This position provides general supervision in the voter registration department, manages the recruitment, training, payroll, and assignment of election judges for polling places and early voting in Boone County, and provides election information to the public. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, preferably with concentration in English, history, or political science; or equivalent combination of education and experience; demonstrated interest in local government; and previous supervisory/managerial experience. Strong interpersonal skills and familiarity with computer software programs. Registered voter of Boone County or become registered within 60 days of hire. Salary Range: $18.04 – $27.06 per hour. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Operation Manager, Boone County, Missouri– This position is responsible for the inventory and maintenance of voting equipment and warehouse operations, including polling place support and supervision of temporary workers. Join the Boone County team and Make a Difference! Boone County Government offers a competitive benefits package that includes comprehensive health/dental/vision insurance on day one (with options for medical/dental with NO employee premium!), a pension plan, two matching deferred compensation plans, 14 paid holidays, generous sick and vacation leave, and no-cost disability and life insurance options. Boone County is a Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness qualifying employer. Visit our website and apply at: www.showmeboone.com/HR. Columbia, MO is a thriving college town and the cultural hub of mid-Missouri, hosting popular events such as the True/False Film Festival and the Roots N Blues BBQ Festival and a diverse art, music, and restaurant scene. Columbia is the fourth most populous and fastest-growing city in Missouri with an estimated 126,254 residents in 2020. Resting upon the forested hills and rolling prairies of Mid-Missouri near the Missouri River valley, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the surrounding Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Mark Twain National Forest, and Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, in addition to hiking over 278 miles of our local trails! Many popular destinations are a short drive away, including the Capitol of Jefferson City, the Lake of the Ozarks, Saint Louis, and Kansas City all within a two-hour drive or less. Salary: $20.92 – $31.38 per hour.  Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

IT Assistant Manager, Palm Beach County, Florida– The Assistant IT Manager plays a supportive role in the smooth operation of the IT department, ensuring that both the technical infrastructure and the team are aligned with the organization’s goals. This position involves collaborating closely with the Election Technology Director to oversee the implementation of technology solutions that meet the needs of the organization. The Assistant IT Manager helps maintain an efficient and effective IT environment. Oversee daily operations of the IT department, including help desk operations and performance, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring efficient workflow. Hold department meetings and provide weekly performance summary. Manage IT projects under the direction of the Election Technology Director, ensuring timely completion, budget requirements, and organizational needs. Enforce IT policies and procedures to ensure data security, network access, and system availability. Assist in the management of IT staff by developing skills, coaching, and communicating job expectations. Coordinate vendor renewals, assist with IT budget development, and manage grant applications. Evaluate and assist in maintaining the organization’s disaster recovery and business continuity plans for IT. Assist with IT Public Records requests research and fulfillment. Assist the Election Technology Director in all facets of IT operations. Lead projects and mentor team members. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

New Hampshire Customer Success Representative, Voting Works– The Customer Success Representative will work under the Head of Customer Success to ensure the success of all VotingWorks customers with a special focus on New Hampshire customers by maintaining customer support systems, providing remote and in-person technical support, conducting training, and providing product feedback to the hardware and software teams. If you consider yourself a solution-driven or process person with strong election administration experience, with a knack for teaching, troubleshooting, and supporting election officials, this position is for you. The ideal candidate will have a strong election administration and technical background and an interest in supporting election officials. They will be able to build trust with customers. Salary: $56-80,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Physical Security Specialist, Palm Beach County, Florida– This position is responsible for administration of the physical security programs in a manner consistent with Supervisor of Elections Office policies, procedures, quality standards, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations. These programs include conducting facility security risk assessments, assisting with access control, monitoring alarms and CCTV systems, and providing security related training. Must be organized and personable with a great attitude, be able to work well in a team environment, and meet deadlines under pressure. Excellent work ethic, including consistent performance, integrity, reliability, and attendance, is a must. Candidate must be detail-oriented and understand the importance of security and safety for all. Must be available 24/7 365, be able to handle simultaneous projects, and be a self-starter. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Voter Registration Integrity Analyst (Limited Duration), Oregon Dept. of Transportation– Join our team as a voter registration integrity analyst where you will direct efforts to review and improve all aspects of the DMV’s role in the Oregon Motor Voter (OMV) program. You will work across all levels of the department and with the Secretary of State Elections Division to take action to ensure the integrity of OMV. You will review all elements of the program from policies, rules and legislation to staff training and data quality processes as well as seek information from other states and interested parties on best practices for automatic voter registration. Apply today! This is a limited duration appointment that is expected to end on or before December 31, 2026. Limited duration appointments are benefits eligible and have a designated maximum length of service. This position has the potential to become permanent. Salary: $6,901 – $10,161. Deadline: November 20. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Marketplace

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