electionline Weekly

electionline Merch

You’ve asked for it, well now you’ve got it! Just in time for all of your holiday gift-giving. We’ve opened up an electionline merch store using Bonfire. Currently we’re offering a couple of different t-shirts, a long-sleeve t-shirt and a hoodie.

Upcoming Holiday Schedule Changes

During the upcoming holiday season, electionline–both the Daily and the Weekly–will be making some temporary changes to their schedules. Here’s what we’ve got for now! 

Electionline Daily News: The Daily News will NOT publish December 24-26, December 31 or January 1, 2026. From December 17-January 2, 2026 the Daily will post by 10am Eastern. 

ElectionlineWeekly: The Weekly will not publish on December 25 or January 1, 2026. It will however publish on Tuesday, December 30 and feature our always much anticipated In & Out List. 

Election News This Week

Voter Data Update: NPR has a story this week about how some U.S. citizens are getting caught up in states’ review of data provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE database. According to NPR, more than 47 million voters have been run through SAVE. States that have announced their results so far have not identified large numbers of suspected noncitizens casting ballots. Louisiana found 79 likely noncitizens voted in elections going back to the 1980s, Tennessee referred 42 potential noncitizens who cast ballots to the FBI, and Indiana said it found “at least 21” noncitizens who voted. “We’ve checked 47.5 million voter records, we have found 260,000 plus dead people enrolled,” said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon in a video released last week. “And finally that there are several thousand noncitizens who are enrolled to vote in federal elections.” NPR asked both the DOJ and USCIS whether the numbers Dhillon cited were confirmed noncitizens, or potential noncitizens. DOJ declined to comment and USCIS did not respond to that question. The Brennan Center has created a Tracker of Justice Department Requests on Voter Information. The tracker has an interactive map that shows which states have been contacted based on public reporting and public records requests made by the Brennan Center. Summaries of the correspondences are also included. 

Election Readiness: This week, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the launch of the Ohio Election Readiness Training Institute, a new statewide training platform offering improved, interactive instructional content designed to better educate Ohio’s election officials. The Institute features a modernized menu of course material focused on the legal requirements and standard operating procedures for administering elections. Each training module provides participants with interactive presentations that have been proven to increase knowledge and retention. “Continuous learning and improvement are core concepts of readiness in the military, and we’re applying that same approach to the way we prepare for elections,” said Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. “We’re responsible for running a statewide operation that impacts millions of people, not only throughout the year but especially on the designated days we open up the polls to vote. Readiness for that kind of logistical effort requires an immersive and ongoing learning experience, from execution to evaluation. That is what this new institute is designed to provide.” New members, directors and deputy directors of an Ohio county board of elections must complete six training credits within six months of appointment, plus an additional eight credits in their first full year. Incumbent or reappointed board members, directors and deputies must complete at least eight credits of continuing-education training each calendar year.

Youth Vote: There’s news on several fronts on the youth vote this week. The Jackson County, North Carolina Board of Elections voted 3-2 along party lines to remove an early voting site at Western Carolina University for the 2026 primary elections. However, because the vote was not unanimous it now moves to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, which can endorse the vote to close the site, reverse the vote or implement its own plan, according to NC state law. “ WCU students, staff and community members across Jackson County all find use and need for this polling location,” said Zacharia Hoppes, a student at WCU. “Taking away this location will turn into a logistical nightmare real fast. There will be a better voter turnout if you keep the WCU polling location.” Out of 21 speakers at the board of elections meeting, only one was in support of removing the campus precinct. In Hampton, Virginia, the city council voted unanimously this week to add a polling place to the campus of Hampton University. “Hampton University students are here, we are present, we are ready to make our voices heard at the ballot box,” said sophomore Kevin Jones, one of more than 20 speakers who urged council members to support the change. Students previously had to take a shuttle to Phoebus High School to vote, creating long lines and often forcing them to miss classes or dining hall hours. During a presentation before the vote, city staff outlined how the proposed precinct meets legal requirements and how it would be set up on campus. The request will now be sent to the Virginia Attorney General’s Office for approval. If authorized, voters will be notified of the precinct change. Meanwhile in Fairfax County, Virginia, home to George Mason University, following a youth vote research experiment, the George Mason precinct was the only precinct in the county to increase turnout from the 2024 presidential election. 

Podcast News: High Turnout Wide Margins recently traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the 2025 summer convening of the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions [PLEJ], and spoke with election officials from across the county — and world — about the elections work they are doing in their communities. In this episode, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Eduardo Repilloza Fernández. He’s the Director General of Transparencia Electoral, an election organization in Latin America that is working to promote and protect democracy through election observation, research and training. They spoke about the work of the organization, the focus the organization has placed on data privacy for individual voters and about how the work of the organization is important to the security of democracy in the region. In the latest episode of The Voting Booth from the American Enterprise Institute, co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Michael A. Carvin, retired partner at Jones Day to take an inside look at Bush v Gore. In the latest episode of The Election Science Office Hours Podcast host R. Michael Alvarez talks with three experts on military and overseas voting, Casandra Hockenberry, Paul Lux, and Hilary Rudy. We talk about the hurdles that military and overseas voters face when they try to receive and return their ballots. We also discuss the procedural and technological solutions that help mitigate and resolve these hurdles. State and local elections officials across the country are preparing for a variety of ways the Trump administration could interfere with the 2026 midterm elections. In a recent episode of NPR’s Politics Podcast, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and senior political correspondent and editor Domenico Montanaro discuss the risks and what tactics the president and his allies have suggested.

Sticker News: The Lincoln County, Missouri Clerk’s office sponsored its second “I Voted” Sticker Design Contest. The contest was open to all Lincoln County students in the age groups of 6th-8th grades and 9th-12th grades. To enter the contest, students submitted original hand-drawn or digital artwork. A preliminary judging panel selected the finalists, and the finalists’ designs were published online via SurveyMonkey for public voting. After public voting concluded, the winning designs were by Kendra Stille, Peyton Phillips, and Cara Thomason. The new designs will be duplicated and distributed at your local polling places through the 2026/2027 election cycle! Art students from North Woolmarket Elementary and Middle School in Harrison County, Mississippi received prizes for designing new “I Voted” stickers. More than 40 students submitted artwork for the contest. Three winners were selected, with third place receiving $20, second place earning $30, and first place winning $50. The first-place design will also appear on Harrison County’s “I Voted” stickers. Justin Wetzel, Harrison County Circuit Clerk, said the project aims to increase youth involvement in elections. “It’s been one of my goals to try and get the younger kids in Harrison County more involved in the election process and educate them a little bit,” Wetzel said. “It’s kind of like a civic duty type thing to try to get them to participate, so that’s why we reached out to the students and gave them the opportunity to create the new sticker.” Michelle Oum, a freshman at Lake Forest Academy has designed the new Lake County, Indiana “I Voted” sticker. “Our art teacher said it was a great opportunity for us to make a contribution to the larger community outside of our school,” Oum said. “Elections are a really important part of society.  I want to contribute, even though I’m not old enough to vote yet.” Oum is a recent immigrant to the United States, arriving here in August. 

Personnel News: Brittany Duke has been named the interim elections administrator for Hickman County, Tennessee. Jane Krebs has retired from the Carbon County, Pennsylvania elections office. East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana Registrar of Voters Bobbie Gayle Ross is retiring at the end of the year. Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli has announced her candidacy for secretary of state. Michelle Shields has been appointed interim elections administrator for Guadalupe County, Texas. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has announced his re-election bid. Gaea Powell is running for San Luis Obispo County, California clerk-recorder. Liz Littleton has been appointed Dickinson County, Tennessee elections administrator. Waterbury, Vermont Town Clerk Karen Petrovic has submitted her resignation. 

New Research and Resources

Voter Data: This issue brief from the Bipartisan Policy Center addresses five key questions about SAVE’s proposal to add motor vehicle data to SAVE. Election officials rely on two core processes to help ensure that only eligible voters can cast a ballot: voter registration, where eligibility is verified at the point of registration, and list maintenance, the ongoing process of reviewing voter registration lists to ensure they are up to date and accurate. Election offices have traditionally relied on self-attestation under penalty of perjury to confirm citizenship during voter registration, but policymakers are growing more interested  in how federal data sources like the SAVE system can be leveraged to support citizenship verification at scale. Operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, SAVE provides immigration and citizenship information to government agencies. Benefit-granting agencies, such as those providing unemployment insurance, have used this online service to verify applicants’ immigration statuses. Although election offices have largely been unable to use SAVE, a series of changes this year is making the system more accessible, including by removing usage fees, permitting bulk requests, and partnering with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to facilitate verification of natural-born citizens. SAVE now has an agreement in place with 22 state election offices to share information. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently proposed modifying and reissuing its system of records notice (SORN) for SAVE that would add motor vehicle data to the system for the first time. Incorporating driver’s license data could significantly expand election offices’ ability to use SAVE, as they are more likely to have a driver’s license number on file for voters than a Social Security number. However, SAVE’s ability to improve list maintenance is largely untested. Some of SAVE’s recent changes are modest adjustments within its original scope—such as removing usage fees and allowing bulk queries—while others, such as the addition of motor vehicle data, represent a significant expansion of its role. 

Election Security: About 70% of Americans voted in person in the 2024 presidential election, their ballots counted by machines called Precinct Count Optical Scanners (PCOS). Researchers at Towson University have systematically analyzed thousands of ways that PCOS machines could have process or security vulnerabilities—with the goal of helping local officials identify and mitigate those risks. Their work was presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis, held Dec. 7–10 in Washington, D.C. “In-person voting is more complex than mail voting, and that means there are more points in the process where things can go wrong,” says Natalie M. Scala, Ph.D., professor in the College of Business and Economics and co-director of the Empowering Secure Elections Lab at Towson University. Her team built custom software to map out the “what-if” PCOS threat scenarios. Their Threat Modeling Analysis Tool visualizes and evaluates over 70,000 unique vulnerability pathways during the PCOS voting process—including the setup, voting, and teardown phases. (For example, a flowchart shows how an unauthorized change could occur within a local device.) “Our model highlights each possible path in a scenario, so we can see weak spots and understand where extra protection would make the greatest impact,” says Scala. “Seeing all those routes mapped out showed us how important it is to secure every link in the process—not just the machines themselves.” A sensitivity analysis allowed the researchers to see which security issues could have the biggest effect on the integrity of the election process. “This helps local election officials focus their time and resources on the fixes that matter most,” says Scala.

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Alabama: Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen is backing legislation introduced by Representative Jamie Kiel that aims to strengthen voter data privacy and establish clearer standards for the cost and use of the state’s voter list. House Bill 67 proposes keeping the personal information of registered voters confidential by restricting which data may be released. The bill also sets a cap of $1,000.00 for the purchase of Alabama’s voter list and prohibits using voter information for commercial purposes. According to Secretary Allen, the measure is designed to reinforce long-standing efforts to protect sensitive voter data. “HB 67 prohibits the release of voters’ driver license numbers, voter identification numbers, email addresses, month and day of birth, and phone numbers,” Allen said. “Protecting the personal data of Alabama voters has been a top priority since day one of my Administration. HB 67 furthers this objective in a significant way.” Under current regulations, Alabama’s voter list is sold at a rate of one cent per voter record, with a minimum charge of $1.00. Allen noted that HB 67 seeks to update the fee structure while bringing Alabama more in line with surrounding states. “HB 67 is rooted in government accountability and transparency. Its passage will establish a clear standard by statutorily aligning the maximum cost for purchasing Alabama’s voter list with our neighboring Southeastern states,” he said.

Arizona: Rep. Alex Kolodin (R-Scottsdale) prefiled House Bill 2022 for the upcoming legislative session. His measure would permanently move the primary date to the last week of July while also allowing county party chairs to designate observers at voting locations. “This is another commonsense measure that recent election cycles have demonstrated is critical to clean elections in Arizona,” Kolodin said in a statement. “The bill ensures that Arizonans will not be disenfranchised by Congress’ mistakes and clarifies that independent observers are permitted at all voting locations.” Jen Marson, executive director of the Arizona Association of Counties, told the Arizona Capitol Times that the counties have not yet taken a position on whether to include the ballot observer language in the bill. The counties plan to run their own mirror bills through both House and Senate election committee chairs, Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff; and Rep. John Gillette, R-Kingman, Marson said. Those bills were not drafted to include the language about ballot observers. Kolodin’s bill for the 2026 legislative session would also change the amount of time voters have to correct any problems with their mail-in ballot signatures from five business days to five calendar days, which was also implemented in the 2024 measure. Some Democrats opposed going to five calendar days because they believed it could disenfranchise voters who rely on public Wi-Fi and public transportation which have reduced service on weekends. Marson said the counties requested that change because it helps give election workers enough time to gain days before federal deadlines if a recount is triggered. 

Georgia Rulemaking: The State Election Board rejected a proposal defining when hand-marked paper ballots could be used in place of the state’s touchscreen voting machines. Opponents said the rule would have overstepped the board’s legal authority and could have created an escape hatch for widespread use of paper ballots when state lawmakers mandated the use of the ballot-marking devices. Janice Johnston, the board’s vice chair, seemed to agree, saying, “This really is the duty and the job of the legislators.” The proposed rule failed on a 2-2 vote after a debate in which proponents contended that use of the current machines at least sometimes violates the law because voters can’t read their ballots’ QR code to ensure it matches the paper ballot, and because machines don’t afford enough privacy to voters. “You have both the duty and the responsibility for the conduct of legal elections in Georgia,” said Jeanne Dufort, a county Democratic official and a co-author of the bipartisan proposal. Hand-marked paper ballots are Georgia’s backup when the machines can’t be used because of an “emergency.” The proposed rule would have listed qualifying circumstances that define when the use of machines is “impossible or impracticable.”

Gallatin County, Montana: The Gallatin County Commission unanimously passed a resolution to appoint an Election Administrator and establish a dedicated election department. This change will take effect following the end of incumbent Clerk & Recorder/Election Administrator Eric Semerad’s term on December 31, 2026. In 2027, Gallatin County will become the ninth Montana County to appoint an Election Administrator whose duties are exclusively focused on conducting elections. During the hearing, the Gallatin County Commissioners agreed that professionalizing the role with oversight of three elected officials would improve the election system, insulate the office from political turmoil and ensure the same level of public participation and civic engagement. “Moving (these duties) from one elected office to another doesn’t remove the ability for the public to chime in and make their voice heard…” said Commissioner Scott MacFarlane. Both Semerad and former Clerk & Recorder Charlotte Mills, who originally proposed the resolution in 2017, supported the resolution during the hearing. They cited complexity and scale of elections, coupled with management of multiple departments and employee retention, amplifies the need for an appointed election administrator. “This move to professionalize the election department and have a qualified person with a job description and requirements, is the right investment to make to ensure this continues,” said Commissioner Jennifer Boyer about Gallatin’s successful election administration.

New Jersey: Assemblyman Joe Danielsen announced that he has partnered with Sen. Andrew Zwicker to introduce legislation that would establish ranked-choice voting (RCV) for primary and general elections across New Jersey. Danielsen said the proposal comes at a time when elections in the state are becoming increasingly competitive, with more candidates entering races and splitting the vote. Under the current system, he noted, it is increasingly possible for candidates to win elected office with less than a majority of votes cast. While several municipalities have passed resolutions supporting RCV, no major New Jersey elected officials have publicly taken a position against it in the past year. Danielsen said he plans to advocate strongly for the measure, calling the reform an important step to strengthen voter confidence and improve the state’s democratic processes. More information about the bill is expected as it moves through the legislative process.

Wisconsin: Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed an elections administration-related bill. Voters currently can file a complaint to the Wisconsin Election Commission if they allege an election official serving the voter’s jurisdiction has failed to comply with certain election laws or has abused his or her discretion with respect to the administration of such election laws. A voter who doesn’t agree with a WEC decision can appeal to a court, though currently courts are only allowed to take up an appeal if voters have suffered an injury to a legally recognized interest as a result. That requirement was established in a 2025 state Supreme Court decision. SB 270 would have eliminated that requirement, and Evers said he objected because it “would open the floodgates to frivolous lawsuits that not only burden our courts, but our election systems as well.” 

Legal Updates

Arizona: The Arizona Court of Appeals has dismissed a legal challenge to the state’s 2023 Election Procedures Manual that had been brought by the Republican National Committee, the Arizona Republican Party and the Yavapai County Republican Party. Every two years, the secretary of state is tasked with creating a new EPM, outlining procedures and rules for county elections officials to implement state election laws when they conduct elections in the state. The manual carries the force of law, and must be approved by the governor and attorney general — offices both currently held by Democrats — before it’s published. Republicans heavily criticized the 2023 manual and the not-yet-finalized 2025 version. They said that multiple guidelines and rules added by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, conflicted with state law. In February 2024 when they filed the lawsuit, the RNC said that the 2023 EPM was “designed to undermine election integrity in Arizona.” In May 2024, a trial court dismissed the RNC’s arguments that Fontes violated the Administrative Procedures Act. The RNC appealed that decision, and in March 2025, the Court of Appeals overturned it. Fontes appealed the March decision, and the Arizona Supreme Court overturned it in October, agreeing that the Administrative Procedures Act didn’t apply to the creation of the EPM.  The high court sent the case back to the Court of Appeals to determine whether any of the eight specific EPM provisions that the RNC challenged in the suit violated state law.  On Dec. 5, the Court of Appeals ruled that the RNC, AZGOP and Yavapai County Republican Party didn’t have legal standing to challenge the EPM provisions because they couldn’t point to specific, concrete harms that the provisions caused them.  “Here, the RNC has failed to explain how the challenged EPM provisions ‘make the competitive landscape worse’ for it or its candidates than it would be without the provisions,” Judge Lacey Stover Gard wrote in the unanimous decision. She was joined by Chief Judge Christopher Staring and Judge Christopher O’Neil.

Colorado: Scott T. Varholak, chief magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court of Colorado dismissed former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters’ petition for a writ of habeas corpus, one of several long-shot legal maneuvers Peters’ attorneys and allies in the election-denial movement have sought to use to secure her release from state prison. Peters is serving a nine-year sentence for her role in a breach of her office’s election systems, part of an attempt to find evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. She has appealed her August 2024 conviction in state court, arguing that her imprisonment violates her First Amendment right of free speech, and separately filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court, seeking her release on bond while the state appeal is pending. Varholak wrote in a 12-page order that Peters had raised “important constitutional questions concerning whether the trial court improperly punished her more severely because of her protected First Amendment speech.” But in dismissing her petition, he sided with arguments made in the federal case by the Colorado attorney general’s office, which cited longstanding precedent against “federal court interference with state court proceedings.” “Because Ms. Peters’ appeal remains pending in state court, where she argues that the trial court violated her First Amendment rights by punishing her based upon her speech, any First Amendment error can be corrected through the state appeal,” Varholak wrote. “Because this question remains pending before Colorado courts, this Court must abstain from answering that question until after the Colorado courts have decided the issue,” he added. Peters’ petition was dismissed without prejudice.

Michigan: Former Adams Township clerk Stephanie Scott appeared in court this week to plead “not guilty” to multiple felony charges stemming from the 2020 election. Scott and Stefanie Junttila (Lambert), an attorney she hired to investigate alleged fraud following the 2020 presidential election, were formally arraigned Dec. 8 in Hillsdale County’s 1st Judicial Circuit Court. Scott and Junttila face multiple felony charges filed by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, centered on allegations of election interference and breaches of election security. 

Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj is suing several city officials, alleging they retaliated against her for trying to expose the city’s “ongoing election integrity issues.” Faraj has been on leave since Nov. 10, days after 37 ballots cast in the 2025 municipal election were initially misplaced in her office. Faraj’s lawsuit alleges that she was put on leave as a way to satisfy city officials who had a grudge against her “after being falsely accused of meddling with the election.” The lawsuit also provides more alleged details about the circumstances that led to the 37 ballots not being counted. The ballots may have been decisive in Hamtramck’s nonpartisan mayoral race, which was separated by only 11 votes after a recount last week. Faraj’s suit, filed this week in Wayne County, underscores the degree to which the relationship between city leadership and election officials has deteriorated in one of Michigan’s most prolifically troubled cities for voting. The suit names the city, its outgoing mayor, all six members of the city council, and the interim city manager as defendants.

Mississippi: Bobbie Peoples of Leflore County says she did nothing wrong when she visited senior citizens with absentee ballots at assisted-living facilities to help them vote in the 2023 Democratic primaries. But a judge convicted Peoples under Mississippi’s ballot harvesting law, sentencing her last week to a six-month suspended sentence and a $2,718 fine. Her attorney, Jeffery Harness, told the Mississippi Free Press on Dec. 9 that Peoples will appeal the decision, arguing that “the fix was in from the jump” following Peoples’ Nov. 6 trial in Leflore County Justice Court. “They want to parade this misdemeanor—one misdemeanor ballot harvesting offense—as if people are doing it all over the country, all over the state, which is bullsh-t,” said Harness, a Democratic Mississippi House representative from Fayette. Peoples was charged under a 2023 law that prohibits people from collecting and submitting an absentee ballot on behalf of another person, except for a family member, household member, caregiver, an election official or member of the U.S. Postal Service. Leflore County Justice Court Judge Jim Campbell issued Peoples’ sentence on Nov. 27.

New Hampshire: U.S. Department of Justice lawyers suing New Hampshire officials to gain access to the state’s voter file are now seeking to block a group of New Hampshire residents from entering that lawsuit. According to the New Hampshire Bulletin, in a legal memo submitted Friday to the U.S. District Court of New Hampshire, attorneys for the Justice Department said the residents do not meet the legal requirements to be added as intervenors.  In September, the Justice Department brought a lawsuit against New Hampshire Secretary of State Dave Scanlan, seeking to compel Scanlan to hand over the state’s voter file so federal officials could check it for ineligible New Hampshire voters. Scanlan has refused to provide the file despite multiple requests this year, citing state law that prohibits most disclosure. The file contains the full name, date of birth, residential address, driver’s license number, and Social Security number for each registered voter.  Days after that lawsuit, a bipartisan group of residents requested to the federal court to be added as intervenors, arguing the Trump administration’s actions would violate their privacy rights as voters, as well as the ability for some of them to recruit voters who may not want to be added to the list. The group, including former Republican state Rep. Neal Kurk, Portsmouth attorney Christopher Cole, former Democratic state Rep. Bob Perry, and liberal activist Louise Spencer, appealed to the federal court to be added as an intervenor.  If granted, the intervenor request would give those residents a status similar to co-defendants and allow them to make their own arguments in favor of dismissal of the lawsuit.

New Jersey: The outcome of Parsippany’s tightly contested mayoral race is now heading to court, as Mayor James R. Barberio has filed a formal legal challenge questioning the certification of the November 4th election results. The verified complaint was submitted late Friday afternoon in Superior Court in Morris County and centers on what Barberio and his legal team describe as significant discrepancies in the vote-by-mail process. Democrat Pulkit Desai was certified the winner on November 17th by an 80-vote margin. According to attorney John M. Carbone, county records raise “deep concern” about the accuracy of the vote-by-mail count. Carbone pointed to an initial report showing 3,198 vote-by-mail ballots tallied on election night. The complaint alleges that later official records reflected 3,789 vote-by-mail ballots counted, despite only 3,565 being logged as received by the statutory November 10th deadline, a reported discrepancy of 224 ballots. The filing outlines what Barberio contends are violations of several New Jersey election statutes, including claims of “illegal votes received or legal votes rejected” and errors by the Morris County Board of Canvassers. The complaint further argues that more than 700 ballots are potentially in question, a figure far exceeding the 80-vote margin between the candidates. Barberio, the Republican nominee, is asking the court to review a range of ballots, including overvotes, undervotes, and late-arriving mail-in ballots. The suit names the Morris County Clerk, Board of Elections, Superintendent of Elections, and the Parsippany Municipal Clerk as respondents.

Pennsylvania: John Courtney Pollard, 63 of Philadelphia, who threatened to skin a Pennsylvania election official alive in 2024 pleaded guilty in federal court last week. Pollard pleaded guilty to making interstate threats against a poll watcher in the Western District of Pennsylvania, officials said.  On Sept. 6, 2024, the election official, who was working as a regional election integrity director, posted online that they were recruiting volunteers to help “observe polls” on Election Day.  Pollard then sent the poll worker four texts, including three that were threats, according to officials. The first text Pollard sent said he was interested in being a poll watcher. Then, within 10 minutes, he sent three more threatening texts. “Election workers, including volunteers and poll watchers, must be able to do their jobs without fear of threats and intimidation,” First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti said in a statement. “Unfortunately, online threats are increasing, as individuals appear to believe that they can hide behind their keyboards. We are committed to using all of our law enforcement tools to investigate and prosecute these offenders to the fullest extent of the law.” Pollard is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2026. He could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Leeson Jr.,  overseeing a criminal double-voting case in Pennsylvania, appeared open to the defendant’s argument that a pardon from President Donald Trump should apply to him. According to Votebeat, the defendant, Matthew Laiss, is accused of voting for Trump twice in the 2020 election — once in person in Florida and once via mail in Pennsylvania. At a hearing Monday in federal court, he argued that Trump’s Nov. 7 pardon of allies who attempted to overturn his 2020 loss should also apply to his alleged crimes. While Trump did not directly name Laiss in the pardon, his attorneys argued it covers his case because of its broad language. The Department of Justice argues the pardon does not apply to Laiss, a view it says is shared by the U.S. pardon attorney. “The pardon lays out how people not named in the pardon might get relief,” said Katrina Young, an assistant federal defender representing Laiss. Young pointed out that the pardon said it applied to “all United States citizens for … voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential electors, whether or not recognized by any State or State official, in connection with the 2020 Presidential Election.” Laiss, she argued, is a U.S. citizen, and his alleged crime is voting for a slate of electors, meaning he is covered by the plain language of the pardon. Leeson will rule on the applicability of the pardon in time, but he did not indicate on Monday when he will make his decision. “This is a very interesting case,” Leeson said. “We’re going to take the matter under advisement and get a decision out.”

A group of five independent voters filed a lawsuit this week asking a Pennsylvania court to end the commonwealth’s bar against independent voters participating in primary elections. Under Section 2812 of the Election Code, people who are not registered as members of the two major political parties cannot vote in partisan primaries. The group, which also includes David Thornburgh, chairman of Ballot PA Action and son of former Gov. Dick Thornburg, argues the provision is unconstitutional.  It violates the right “to cast an equally weighted vote” and to “have an equal opportunity to translate votes into representation,” enshrined in the Free and Equal Elections Clause of the state Constitution, the lawsuit claims. “After 88 years of being treated as second-class Pennsylvania citizens, 1.4 million independent voters will finally get our day in court,” Thornburgh said in a statement.

Rhode Island: The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island and the state’s Common Cause chapter jointly filed a motion this week to intervene in the lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in Rhode Island federal court on Dec. 2, citing a need to halt a “potential misuse of voters’ sensitive data.” “Privacy is essential — especially as related to a right as fundamental as voting,” Steven Brown, executive director of the ACLU of Rhode Island, said in a statement. “The Department of Justice has no need for voters’ personal information.” In suing Amore, the DOJ states it aims to “ascertain Rhode Island’s compliance with list maintenance requirements,” according to the 10-page complaint. But the ACLU and Common Cause argue in their filing that the federal government does not have a proper purpose under the law for requesting the personal data of Rhode Island’s electorate. “This dangerous directive puts our sensitive information at risk simply so the Trump Administration can spread election lies,” John Marion, executive director for Common Cause Rhode Island, said in a statement. The groups’ motion to intervene also includes voters who have agreed to testify over their concerns over how the Trump administration may use their data, including a recently naturalized resident originally from Brazil.

South Carolina: A new lawsuit challenges provisions of South Carolina’s election law, claiming they infringe on federal voting rights for people with disabilities. The NAACP and three South Carolina voters with disabilities filed the lawsuit in federal court in Columbia. The plaintiffs currently live in nursing homes and say existing state law will impede their ability to vote by mail in 2026 elections. The ACLU of South Carolina is representing the plaintiffs in the case against the state’s attorney general and election commission. Among the provisions challenged is a prohibition on voting assistance outside voters “who are unable to read or write or who are physically unable or incapacitated from preparing a ballot or voting.” The lawsuit also challenges provisions that restrict who can help disabled voters request or return an absentee ballot and limit the number of voters a person can assist with absentee ballots. Plaintiffs argue the restrictions conflict with federal law and are asking a judge to block the state from enforcing them. The court has given defendants 21 days from the time they’re served with the lawsuit to respond.

Texas: Texas can use its new, GOP-friendly congressional map while a legal challenge plays out, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, temporarily pausing a lower court ruling that had blocked the map from going into effect. With the Dec. 8 candidate filing deadline fast approaching, the high court’s decision likely means Texas’ new map will be used for the 2026 midterm elections. Justice Samuel Alito ruled that it was “indisputable” that Texas’ motivation for redistricting was “pure and simple” partisan advantage, which the court has previously ruled is permissible. A federal judge had previously ruled that the state likely engaged in racial gerrymandering, a claim Alito rejected. The three liberal justices dissented. Earlier this month, two federal judges barred Texas from using the new map for 2026, saying there was evidence state lawmakers had racially gerrymandered in redrawing the lines. Galveston District Judge Jeffrey Brown, a Trump appointee, authored the opinion ordering Texas to return to its 2021 map, while 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jerry Smith vociferously dissented. The state asked the Supreme Court to overturn Brown’s ruling entirely, but that could take weeks or months to proceed through the court system, especially if the justices decide they want to hear arguments in Washington, D.C. With last week’s ruling, the justices have temporarily paused Brown’s ruling while that longer legal process can play out.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Redistricting | Native American voting rights | Ranked choice voting | Bush v Gore, II 

California: Voter ID 

Connecticut: Election reform 

District of Columbia: Ranked choice voting  

Georgia: 2020 election 

Hawai’i: Ranked choice voting 

Indiana: Election security

Kansas: Voter data

Michigan: Federal oversight

Ohio: Election legislation 

South Carolina: Charleston County 

Tennessee: Voting Rights Act 

Washington: Voting rights

Available RFPs

Request for Proposals
Practice-Oriented Research to Improve Voter Registration and List Maintenance

Maintaining secure, accurate, and accessible voter registration rolls is an ongoing challenge that has come under increased political scrutiny in recent years. Recognizing that challenge, the MIT Election Data + Science Lab (MEDSL) is pleased to announce that we are seeking to award $500,000 in grants to support research projects that aim to improve the security, accuracy, and accessibility of voter registration systems and list maintenance practices.

Through this new program, we seek to improve understanding of how the voter registration system currently operates, encourage innovation in adopting new approaches to list maintenance, and equip policymakers, administrators, and the public with reliable information about the system. We aim to inform practitioners and policymakers about current issues and close practice gaps. The program will focus on achieving immediate impact, examining practices that could be implemented quickly and illuminating current issues faced by policymakers and the public. 

As part of our dedication to improving policymaking, practice, and understanding in this area, we are looking for projects that include a strong partnership component, aligning the goals of the research with the needs of election practitioners. More information about the program, as well as selection criteria and proposal guidelines, can be found in the full request for proposals on our website here. 

While not required, we encourage those interested in applying to submit a brief letter of intent to medsl-grants@mit.edu by December 15, 2025. Proposals are due January 16, 2026. If you have any questions about the program or grant process, please contact us at medsl-grants@mit.edu. 

Upcoming Events

JEOLC 2026: The Election Center will host the 2026 JEOLC conference at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City, Virginia from January 6-10. One CERA renewal class will be offered. When: January 7-9. Where: Arlington, Virginia.

Southern Political Science Association 2026 Conference: Experience Southern’s Hospitality at the 2026 SPSA Conference in New Orleans! The 2026 SPSA Preliminary Program is available HERE. Updates will be made periodically to the program, so please refer to this page for the most updated version available. When: January 14-17. Where: New Orleans

iGO Midwinter Conference: The International Association of Government Officials will hold its Midwinter Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico from January 19-23, 2026. Please visit the iGO website for more information and to register.

2026 NASS Winter Conference: The National Association of Secretaries of State will hold its 2026 Winter Conference in Washington, DC from January 28-31. Please refer to the NASS website for more information about the event and to register. 

2026 NASED Winter Conference: Twice a year, National Association of State Election Directors members gather to discuss the latest developments in election administration. Members of the public are welcome to attend at the non-member registration rate. Please refer to the NASED website for information about the 2026 Winter Conference. When: Feb. 1-3, 2026. Where: Washington, DC. 

2026 NACo Legislative Conference: The National Association of Counties will hold its 2026 Legislative Conference in Washington, DC from February 21-24, 2026. Please visit the NACo website for more information about the event and to register.

Election Center February Workshop: Focusing on interaction and sharing of practices selected by members to receive People’s Choice Awards, the February Workshops formalize those critical conversations that happen at conferences during meals, in the hallways, & the hotel lobby. The agenda augments the award-winning member presentations with applicable research and resources.Two CERA core courses and one renewal will be held following the workshop.  When: February 25-27. Where: Jacksonville, Florida. 

Election Center April Workshop: In April, the focus is on state associations and state trainings both by modeling conference formats, facilitation techniques, and potential content resources.  The Coalition of Election Association Leaders (CEAL) guides state groups in their maturation process with mentorship and networking opportunities. When: April 22-24. Where: Chicago. 

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.

Certification Project Manager, VotingWorks– Your goal is to assist the Head of Compliance and Government Partnerships and the VotingWorks team in achieving Federal – and state – certification. Certification in the election space refers to testing voting systems – and sometimes other election technology – to a standard identified by the EAC (currently the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0) and/or additional requirements identified by a state. For federal certification, we work with a federally accredited Voting System Test Laboratory and the US Election Assistance Commission to gain certification. For states, there is some variability in certification programs, but those that require certification have a process and requirements set out that we would need to meet. The successful candidate will be extremely detail oriented, but also be able to see the forest from the trees, be a strong project manager, and also be able to build rapport with stakeholders, both internal and external. Salary: $104,000 – $150,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy Director, Geauga County, Ohio– The Geauga County Board of Elections is seeking applicants for the position of Director or Deputy Director. The applicant must be registered as a Republican voter in Ohio and be a resident of Geauga County within 30 days of being hired. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS available here (section 2.04). Successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check. Deadline: Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and Secretary of State Form 307, no later than 4:00 p.m., December 22, 2025. Application: Mail to: The Geauga County Board of Elections 12611 Ravenwood Dr., Suite 004 Chardon, OH 44024 or email: mlane@geauga.oh.gov.

Director of Election Information Technology, King County, Washington– King County Elections (KCE) seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as our Director of Elections Information Technology (Division Director – Technology). The Director of Elections Information Technology will report to the elected Director of Elections, serve as a member of the Department’s Leadership Team, and lead and support a highly skilled team to achieve excellence in election technology, security, and administration. This role will play a key part in developing departmental goals, strategies, and initiatives, driving the adoption of new technologies within KCE, and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. This is a unique opportunity to inspire and empower a team, drive the adoption of new technologies within KCE, identify opportunities to bring innovation to the forefront of our operations, and significantly impact the future of election administration in one of the most populous and diverse counties in the United States.  This is a hybrid position that performs work remotely and on-site. As a leadership team member, this position is expected to work on-site frequently during active elections. Salary: $166,509 – $211,060. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Election Administrator, Victoria County, Texas–Performs vital work planning, organizing, coordinating, and managing federal, state, and local elections plus all facets of voter registration processes in accordance with the Texas Election Code, and other applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulations, including administrative direction from the Texas Secretary of State. Ensuring smooth elections operations including inputting and maintaining voter registration databases, training and supervising poll works, preparing staffing and logistics for voting, administering early voting by mail and in-person, supervising balloting & tabulation, and preparing final canvassing reports. Coordinating closely with political party chairs in conducting primary, runoff, and general elections while guaranteeing impartiality. Preserving voter registration applications, official election documents, and candidate campaign filings/disclosures. Salary: $61,494 – $76,868. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Director, New Hanover County, North Carolina– New Hanover County, located on the North Carolina coast with a population of over 240,000 and approximately 183,400 registered voters, is seeking an Elections Director to become part of a dynamic, professional county organization with a clear vision as a vibrant, prosperous, diverse coastal community, committed to building a sustainable future for generations to come. The Elections Director will be responsible for planning and directing overall operations of the office of the New Hanover County Board of Elections in the preparation for and execution of all federal, state, and municipal elections in New Hanover County. The next Director will possess extensive knowledge of electoral procedures and policies as set forth in the NC General Statutes and will demonstrate critical thinking skills along with analytical and problem-solving abilities. Salary: $79,291 – $134,795. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Manager, Kalamazoo County, Michigan–The purpose of this job is to manage and supervise all election operations within Kalamazoo County under the direction of the County Clerk and Chief Deputy Clerk. The Elections Manager ensures compliance with federal, state, and local election laws while coordinating with various jurisdictions to conduct fair, accurate, and transparent elections. This position is responsible for leading all phases of election planning, execution, and post-election auditing, supervising division staff, and serving as a liaison to election-related boards, commissions, local clerks, and the State of Michigan. Salary: $81,744- $95,638. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy Director, Surrey County, North Carolina– The County of Surry is accepting applications for the full-time position of Deputy Director of Elections. This position assists the Elections Director with managing the daily operations of the Board of Elections office and with the preparation and conduct of elections in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. The Deputy Director also serves as Acting Director in the Director’s absence. Key responsibilities include planning, preparing, and conducting all elections; supporting candidate filing, ballot preparation, absentee and early voting, and election-day logistics; overseeing the testing, maintenance, and certification of voting equipment; assisting with reconciliation and post-election reporting; maintaining the voter registration database and conducting list maintenance; supervising and training precinct officials; coordinating polling places and election supplies; preparing training materials and forms; and ensuring compliance with election laws and security protocols. The position also requires excellent customer service to voters, candidates, political parties, and the public, along with representing the department at trainings and community events. Other duties may be assigned as needed. Salary: $41,508 – $69,124. Application For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Election Operations & Workforce Manager, Charleston County, South Carolina–  The Board of Voter Registration and Elections is an award-winning organization dedicated to excellence in electoral processes. Our mission is to daily serve the Charleston County voting constituency with Vigilance, Objectivity, and Transparency in a manner that promotes due diligence Excellence in all aspects of Elections Management. We are committed to continuous improvement, innovative practices, and exceptional service to our community, ensuring every voter’s voice is heard.   Are you driven by a passion for democracy and civic engagement? Join the Board of Voter Registration and Elections as the Election Operations and Workforce Manager and play a critical role in delivering seamless, fair, and accessible elections. Key Responsibilities: Poll Worker Recruitment and Management; Polling Location Management; Liaison and Community Engagement; Support for Election Operations on Election Day and Early Voting; and Team Leadership. Salary: $68,140 – $89,252. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Legislative Director, Finance, Pensions & Intergovernmental Affairs (FPIGA), NACo – We are seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as the Legislative Director for Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs (FPIGA). This position also serves as NACo’s liaison to the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC). This position is responsible for developing and executing advocacy strategies, analyzing legislation and regulations, and engaging with federal officials and member counties on a portfolio including tax, finance, municipal bonds, public pensions, intergovernmental relations, and local governance legal issues. The Legislative Director will ensure counties have a strong voice in key federal fiscal and intergovernmental decisions and lead NACo’s engagement in legal advocacy through the LGLC. Salary: $100,000-$110,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Organizer, Minnesota– We are looking for a creative and collaborative Organizer to join the Common Cause team in Minnesota. This is a key role supporting our organizing and outreach programs and promoting civic engagement across the state. This is a full-time role reporting to the Executive Director, Minnesota and is based in Minnesota, with a preference for candidates located in Olmsted County or St. Cloud, with an expectation to travel around Minnesota at least 2 days per week, with a maximum of 5 days a calendar week during the legislative session, and peak summer engagement season. This is a termed position, starting on November 1, 2025 and ending October 31, 2027. Salary: $63,860 – $80,340 a year. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Regional Sales Director – Pacific West, Runbeck–The Regional Sales Director is responsible for leading high-value sales efforts, managing key client relationships, and driving revenue growth through strategic account development. This role requires a seasoned sales professional with a proven record of exceeding sales targets, developing new business opportunities, and nurturing long-term client partnerships. The Regional Sales Director acts as a trusted advisor to clients, aligning solutions with their business objectives while contributing to the company’s overall sales strategy and success. Territory will cover California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Remote Sales Director, SOE Software– SOE Software is seeking a driven Sales Director to expand our modernization and transparency solutions for state and local governments. In this full-cycle sales role, you’ll own the process from lead generation through contract signing. You’ll represent SOE at conferences and events, confidently starting conversations and building lasting relationships with government officials. By connecting our technology to outcomes like transparency, accessibility, and public trust, you’ll help election offices and public agencies better serve their communities. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Senior Director, Legislative Affairs, Common Cause– We are seeking a strategic, experienced, and mission-driven Senior Director, Legislative Affairs to lead our federal legislative advocacy work and our strategic approach to advocacy within our states to strengthen our democracy by holding power accountable. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and executing a dynamic federal lobbying strategy, managing high-level relationships with lawmakers and key partners, and building strategic alignment across Common Cause’s policy pillars and state teams. You will serve as a key thought partner in our cross-department campaigns and media efforts that include federal legislative components. This is a full-time role reporting to the Senior Vice President, Policy & Litigation; this role is based in Washington, DC, with an expectation to work in-person at least two days per week, up to five days per week during peak legislative periods, and travel at least four times per year. Salary: $128,750 – $144,200 a year. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Training Program Manager, Charleston County, South Carolina– Democracy works best when every election runs flawlessly—and that starts with exceptional training. As Training Manager for the Board of Voter Registration and Elections, you’ll empower our poll managers and staff to deliver elections that are fair, accessible, and trusted by every voter in Charleston County. The Board of Voter Registration and Elections is an award-winning organization dedicated to excellence in electoral processes. Our mission is to daily serve the Charleston County voting constituency with Vigilance, Objectivity, and Transparency in a manner that promotes due diligence Excellence in all aspects of Elections Management. We believe that people are the foundation of successful elections. That’s why training is not just a task—it’s a core function of our mission. When our teams are prepared, voters can be confident that their voice will be heard, and their ballot counted. As Training Manager, you are not simply teaching procedures—you are building trust in the democratic process. You will design and deliver training that helps every poll manager, staff member, and Board member understand the importance of their role, perform it with confidence, and meet the highest standards of service to our voters. Salary: $68,140.00 – $82,000.00 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Marketplace

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