In Focus This Week
Exit Interviews
John Gale, Ruth Johnson and Wayne Williams
By M. Mindy Moretti
electionline.org
From implementing the Help America Vote Act in the early days, to tackling the never-ending battle of election security to dealing with a statewide recount for a presidential election, Nebraska’s John Gale, Michigan’s Ruth Johnson and Colorado’s Wayne Williams have seen a lot in their combined 30 years as secretaries of state.
All three will be leaving office in the coming days to pursue other opportunities or to enjoy time with family and friends in retirement. Before they close the door on their offices one last time, we sat down to talk with them about their experiences, good and bad, as secretary of state and what are their thoughts about elections in the future.
We reached out to all the departing secretaries of state for an exit interview. Arizona’s Michele Reagan and Ohio’s Jon Husted declined our offers and we received no response from Georgia’s Brian Kemp, Kansas’ Kris Kobach or South Dakota’s Shantel Krebs. If we hear back from any of them in the coming weeks, we’ll be sure to post it as soon as possible.
Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale
John Gale was first appointed secretary of state in 2000 and then was elected for the first time 2002 with re-elections in 2006, 2010 and 2014. Gale was active in the National Association of Secretaries of State and is the past chairman of NASS’ Business Services and International Relations committees.
What will you miss most about being secretary of state?
Having managed a modern, uniform, reliable, transparent and accountable election system for 18 years; adopting online voter registration in 2015; acting as goodwill ambassador on behalf of our state for over 5,000 foreign visitors to our State Capitol; initiating multiple student civics programs that reached hundreds of thousands of Nebraska students; maintaining modern and progressive business services to our businesses and banks, helping Nebraska be a leader in business regulatory climate; and, a great sense of fulfilling and positive public service.
What do you feel was your greatest accomplishment as secretary and why?
a) Maintaining a quality staff committed to our motto of “Prompt, Personal, and Professional Service”; b) Managing an agency that has been aggressive and pro-active as a leader in state government with online services; c) reaching over 250,000 students with useful and educational civics, international relations, and state history programs; and, d) meeting as Chief Protocol Officer with over 5,000 distinguished foreign visitors and creating positive personal international relationships for the benefit of Nebraska.
What was the most difficult time/issue you faced (electionswise of course) as secretary?
Adopting the mandates of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, and transitioning from a 93 county-based patch-work of election management to a statewide election management system with state ownership of election technology and a statewide voter registration system with regular maintenance of equipment and update of software provided by the state through reliable vendors, allowing a uniform, secure, well-maintained, efficient, accurate, and accountable election system, based upon paper ballots.
As an expert in the field of elections, what do you feel is the most pressing issue facing elections officials?
Protecting our election systems from cyber vulnerabilities with adequate cybersecurity resources; even with paper ballots there are still many vulnerabilities that must be addressed from state and county email systems, to any methods of electronic transmission of critical data, to secure warehousing of electronic equipment and flash drives, to rapid notification systems to provide early warnings of threats. Public confidence is vitally important and steps must be taken to assure the public that their voter registrations and their ballots are protected and preserved from corruption or hacking.
What’s next for you, besides being able to sleep in on election days?
I’ll stop wearing suits and ties every day after 60 years as an attorney and public servant! We have four grandsons in western Nebraska and Wyoming and one grandson at the Naval Academy whom we look forward to seeing more often. They all like to hunt and fish, as do I. Their dads, our sons, are great companions as well. We have a daughter and son-in-law in southern California, whom we love to visit in the winter. My wife and I also look forward to traveling around our great state to enjoy the marvels and beauties of Nebraska, well-remembered by us from our years of campaigning and my travels in the course of my 18 years as Secretary of State. The people of Nebraska are warm and hospitable people who are fun to visit with wherever you meet them, whether coffee shops, bed and breakfasts, local diners, or tourist stops.
Any parting words of advice for your successor?
Three quotes plus my comment:
Warren Buffett: “I look for three qualities when I hire, intelligence, energy, and integrity. Without the third one, the first two make no difference.”
Winston Churchill: “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
Unknown: “Leaders motivate. They model hard work and integrity, and inspire others to lead.”
John Gale: “You are the constitutional officer for the whole state. You may have been the candidate of a political party, but you must provide the whole state with quality, fair, and non-partisan service. Don’t lose your connection with the people. Answer their emails and letters. Listen to their complaints and address them. You take an oath of office; take it seriously and remember it. We live by the rule of law. Let the law instruct you in your policies and you’ll keep a steady course. Political values may influence your decisions, but the scope of the law must be your proper boundary.”
Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson
Ruth Johns
on was first elected to the secretary of state’s office in 2010. Due to term limits she was not able to seek re-election in 2018. Before becoming secretary of state, Johnson served as the Oakland County clerk/register of deeds from 2004 to 2010.
What will you miss most about being secretary of state?
The thing I will miss the most is all of the incredible people that I have had the privilege to work alongside for the past eight years. This includes my excellent staff and the many local and county clerks across Michigan who are on the front lines of our democracy and delivering services. They all do a fabulous job of helping to protect the integrity of our elections. I will also miss my role as an advocate for voters, but will continue to promote transparency and security in elections as I move to the Michigan Senate.
What do you feel was your greatest accomplishment as secretary and why?
In the area of elections, I am most proud of our statewide rollout of new, modern voting equipment in every jurisdiction across our state. We planned ahead and were able to use HAVA funds to cover the vast majority of this cost. Along with a state appropriation, this enabled us to provide the new equipment with the latest cybersecurity features to local units of government at no cost (including covering the first 5 years of maintenance costs). I believe the paper ballot optical-scan systems that my administration chose will help to ensure secure and transparent elections and serve voters and election administrators well over the next decade. Particularly with new cybersecurity concerns, I feel strongly about having a paper backup so that ballots can be manually recounted when necessary. I always say we want a “belt and suspenders”, so we have the most up-to-date equipment and cybersecurity measures, but also we have a way to do a manual recount if needed.
What was the most difficult time/issue you faced (elections wise of course) as secretary?
The statewide presidential recount in 2016 was an incredible challenge. Election officials across Michigan had not conducted a statewide recount in more than 60 years and we had the eyes of the world on us. But this is where planning pays off. The “belt and suspenders” philosophy of hoping for the best, but planning for the worst. We have procedures ready for power outages, natural disasters, and anything else that might impact our elections process, and we had procedures ready for a statewide recount too. I was so proud of our Bureau of Elections staff and of clerks across the state who successfully met the challenge head on with teamwork and professionalism at all levels.
Also, cleaning up our Qualified Voter File was an arduous task. When I took office we had about 102.5 percent of eligible people on our Qualified Voter File. I’m not a mathematician, but I certainly understood this was a problem. Since then we have removed over 1.2 million people, including hundreds of thousands of voters who had died or had moved and were voting in another state. We have also removed 3,505 non-citizens, most of whom probably registered by accident and could face revocation of their legal status if they had voted. A clean qualified voter file is the basis for integrity in elections and prevents opportunities for fraud. At the same time, I am immensely proud that Michigan was named best in the country by USA Today for registering eligible voters through our motor vehicles division (which in Michigan it is very helpful that I also oversee as Secretary of State).
As an expert in the field of elections, what do you feel is the most pressing issue facing elections officials?
Election security, and especially cybersecurity, continues to be a top priority. Michigan’s new election equipment, as well as our rollout of a new qualified voter file system, have been great security upgrades, but we must stay vigilant to remain a step ahead of those who might wish to undermine our democratic processes. As part of our efforts, Michigan is now also piloting risk-limiting audits and has strengthened relationships with state and federal cybersecurity, law enforcement and homeland security agencies. As Secretary of State, our office now has a seat at the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center – our state level law enforcement command center and threat assessor. I think this is a reflection of the times we are living for election administrators.
What’s next for you, besides being able to sleep in on election days?
I am unable to serve again as Secretary of State due to term limits, but was honored to be elected by the people of northern Oakland and southern Genesee counties in Michigan as their State Senator, so I look forward to continuing to serve in this new capacity. In the Senate, I will continue to be an advocate for election integrity and to fight against fraud.
Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams
Wayne Williams was first elected to the Colorado Secretary of State’s office in 2014. Prior to that he served as El Paso County Clerk f
rom 2011 to 2015. Williams was the first sitting county election official to be elected as secretary of state.
What will you miss most about being secretary of state?
Working with the great team at my office and with Colorado’s county clerks and their employees and judges. Visiting the counties and ensuring we were providing the support they needed was always a highlight of the week.
What do you feel was your greatest accomplishment as secretary and why?
Establishing the nation’s safest voting system. This required the adoption of new voting standards, helping 60 counties to purchase machines using those standards, and establishing the nation’s first complete risk limiting audit. This new system resulted in increased voter confidence and record turnout in the 2016 general and the 2018 primary and general elections.
What was the most difficult time/issue you faced (electionswise of course) as secretary?
Establishing new voting standards. I was questioned by the legislature and county commissioners, sued by vendors, and sued by counties. Knowing some of what I would face by taking this step, my staff questioned whether I should take the risk. I said it was worth it.
As an expert in the field of elections, what do you feel is the most pressing issue facing elections officials?
Ensuring voters’ confidence in the integrity of our voting systems.
What’s next for you, besides being able to sleep in on election days?
Hopefully saving on gas and time commuting without the daily three-hour roundtrip from my home in Colorado Springs to the office in Denver. Since my wife (and newly elected county commissioner) Holly vetoed the house husband idea, I’m reviewing several possibilities.
Any parting words of advice for your successor?
As Secretary of State, you represent everyone, not just those who voted for you. Seek to work with folks from all points of view and across the state.
NSCIG First-Year Report
NSGIC Releases First-Year Report for Geo-Enabled Elections Project
Report includes first draft of best practices for implementing GIS in elections
National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) has released the first-year report of phase one of its Geo-Enabled Elections project, highlighting the project’s accomplishments in the first twelve months. These include completing a baseline assessment of how far states have come, to date, in terms of integrating geographic information systems (GIS) with electoral systems, as well as assembling a team of leaders and experts to help guide the project. The project team has also facilitated conversations with a wide range of stakeholder groups, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of using geospatial technology to increase reliability and accuracy in elections.
“During this first year, we’ve been encouraged to learn that while most voter data across the country is still kept in ‘address file’ tables, many state election directors are interested in the benefits that GIS can bring. Additionally, since most state governments have a geographic information officer (GIO) or equivalent on staff, the prospects for strengthening elections through the integration of GIS into electoral systems are very good.” says Dan Ross, NSGIC President and GIO for the State of Minnesota.
As part of the Geo-Enabled Elections project, NSGIC has been able to help build stronger connections between state officials responsible for the electoral system and state-level GIS subject matter experts, a critical first step towards the successful implementation of GIS in elections.
The organization, which is quickly becoming recognized as the center of expertise for how GIS can be deployed to strengthen electoral systems, also released the first draft of its best practices for how states may go about enhancing election accuracy using GIS. The five identified best practices are, in headline form:
- Convene a Team of Specialists
- Collect and Sustain a Statewide Voting Unit GIS Layer
- Adopt and Implement a Statewide Geocoding Strategy
- Assemble and Provide Best Available Contextual GIS Layers
- Define and Implement Data Validation Processes
These draft best practices will be put to the test and further refined in five state-wide pilot studies taking place during the project’s second year. The best practices can be viewed in full as part of the first-year report.
NSGIC’s report also outlines the work that lies ahead for the project, as well as opportunities to impact geo-enabled elections in phase two of the project (pending funding).
The Geo-Enabled Elections project, phase one, runs from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2019, with the aim to help strengthen electoral systems by supporting states in the adoption of GIS. Concretely, this means encouraging state governments to replace non-spatial ‘address file’ systems with election precinct and voter data in a GIS format, leveraging that format’s inherent visual and analytical advantages.
The Geo-Enabled Elections project is partly funded by the bipartisan Democracy Fund Voice.
Federal-State Updates
According to The Washington Post, Democrats will include some version of election security legislation in H.R. 1, the major legislative package they plan to introduce in the first days of the next Congress. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), incoming chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee also intends to hold public hearings with administration leaders and state and local election officials focused on how they’re hardening election systems in the lead-up to the marquee 2020 contest. The committee will further seek to hear from top voting machine manufacturers, which have had a contentious relationship with congressional watchdogs.
Election News This Week
The Pew Research Center is out with a new survey of voters this week and the news is good. In the lead up to the 2018 midterms, only 44 percent of those who planned to vote said they expected the process to be easy. Following the election, the new survey found that more than three-quarters of voters who cast ballots in November (76 percent) said that voting was “very easy.” Prior to the election, fewer than half of Americans (45 percent) were confident that elections across the U.S. would be secure from hacking and other technological threats; 55 percent said they were not too confident or not at all confident that elections would be secure. After the election, a majority of Americans (64 percent) say they are confident that the elections were secure from hacking, though about a third (35 percent) still have little or no confidence in the security of the elections. The national survey by Pew Research Center, supported by a grant from the Democracy Fund, was conducted Nov. 7-16 among 10,640 adults, including 8,579 who say they voted in the midterm elections. This survey compares attitudes about the elections and voting process with a survey conducted before the elections (Sept. 24-Oct. 7).
It’s the election that keeps going and going and going…a recount was ordered this week in a Georgia House election that was actually a legally ordered do-over election because it was discovered that voters received the wrong ballots. After all votes were tallied including absentee and some outstanding provisionals the margin of victory was two votes. The losing candidate requested and will receive the recount. Following the recount the margin of victory stands at two votes. The losing candidate, State Rep. Dan Gasaway is going to court to contest the election.
The ACLU of Kansas recently published an analysis of the state’s recent elections and found that convenience plays as important a role in voter participation as political issues and that Kansas’ counties have such varied policies that it influenced turnout in 2016 and 2018. “In far too many ways, the health of our democracy — and the extent to which an individual citizen’s vote counts — is based on the county in which one lives,” the report said.
What once was lost now is found, part two. Officials in Bonner County, Idaho discovered 396 uncounted ballots in a locked filing cabinet when they were working to balance the number of registered voters against the number of ballots counted. “I wish I had an explanation, but I don’t,” Senior Elections Supervisor Charlie Wurm told the Spokesman Review of how the 396 ballots were missed. “It was about 2 percent of our voters.” However, the newly discovered ballots did not change the outcome of any elections.
Well this is a Pleasant surprise. The Shelby County, Tennessee voted unanimously to name the county’s Election Operations Center after longtime Election Commissioner O.C. Pleasant Jr. Pleasant, who died last week, served on the county election commission from 1979 to 2009. “It means the world to me and my family,” his son Darryl Pleasant told The Commercial Appeal. “We knew how much he loved working there. That was the joy of his life. He always wanted things to run right and run fairly.”
It might be too late to add this to your Christmas wish list, but summer beach reading is just around the corner! E. Randall “Randy” Wertz, former Montgomery County, Virginia general registrar and past-president of the Voter Registrars Association of Virginia has written a new book called Overworked & Underpaid: The Life of an Election Official. The book is available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.
Congratulations to Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea! The American Leaders honored Gorbea with the 2018 New American Hero Award for her work in improving access to the ballot box. Each year the nonpartisan organization, which is focused on bringing New Americans into the political process, honors elected officials from diverse backgrounds who have gone above and beyond in their contributions to building a more welcoming and inclusive nation. “I am honored to receive the 2018 New American Hero Award and want to thank New American Leaders for their efforts to help a diverse selection of leaders take their next step in public service,” Gorbea in a released statement. “Our best public policies are created when there is a diversity of opinions and backgrounds at the policymaking table. As Secretary of State, I will continue to work on making government more inclusive and accessible.”
Personnel News: Anoka County Elections Manager Cindy Reichert retired on December 14. Cindy was with Anoka County since 2009 and had been in elections for 20+ years, having previously worked for the cities of Minneapolis and St. Louis Park. John Wells, Cliff Edler, Scott Moseley and Amanda Loveday have all been appointed to the South Carolina election commission. Macon County, Illinois Clerk Steve Bean is retiring after 28 years on the job. Incoming Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has appointed Gail Fenumiai to oversee the state’s Division of Elections. Fenumiai had previously served as elections director from 2008 to 2015. David Whitley has been appointed Texas secretary of state. Karen Medeiros has been chosen as the Edgartown, Massachusetts clerk. Christie Webb is retiring after 24 years as the Tazewell County, Illinois clerk. Virginia “Susie” Oberdahloff has been named the interim Pike County, Missouri clerk. Congratulations to Joyce Raley, the office manager for the Vigo County, Indiana clerk for receiving a lifetime achievement award for her service to the county. Carrie Phillips has resigned as the Kootenai County, Idaho elections manager after nine years on the job. Jordan Fuchs has been appointed deputy secretary of state for Georgia.
Legislative Updates
California: Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) introduced Senate Bill 57, which would allow individuals to opt-in for voter registration instead of automatically being registered to vote or having to opt-out of the program.
Maryland: State Sen. Cheryl Kagan and Del. Eric Luedtke have proposed a bill for the General Assembly that would allow Montgomery County to move to a ranked choice voting system.
Michigan: In a 6-3 vote, the House Elections and Ethics Committee passed a bill that proponents say would create enabling language needed to implement Proposal 3, which would allow for same-day voter registration, straight-ticket voting, no-reason absentee voting and regular election audits.
New York: This week Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) introduced his legislative agenda for 2019. The agenda including a number of voting reforms including automatic voter registration, early voting, consolidating federal, state and local primaries, vote-by-mail and the bit that got the biggest reaction was calling for a designated state holiday on Election Day.
North Carolina: Gov. Roy Cooper (D) has vetoed a bill that would require voters to show a photo ID after voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the Legislature to move forward with the ID measure. In his veto message, Cooper said the problem is not with voter impersonation, but “votes harvested illegally through absentee ballots, which this proposal fails to fix.” On Tuesday the Senate and the on Wednesday the House voted to override the veto.
Oklahoma: Two bills are already for the upcoming legislative session including one that would eliminate the state’s straight-party voting option and another one that would expand a law that requires employers to give employees two hours paid time off to vote on Election Day.
South Dakota: Of the dozens of pre-filed bills for the 2019 session, legislators will consider a bill that would allow clothing and buttons expressing support or opposition to a candidate, issue or ballot question to be worn inside a polling place and within 100 feet of the voting site.
Wisconsin: Outgoing Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) signed legislation into law that will limit the state’s early voting period to two weeks.
Also in Wisconsin, Milwaukee City Council has approved a resolution requiring the city’s election commission to implement a program to train and certify all city employees who interact with the public to register residents to vote.
Legal Updates
Florida: Suspended Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes has filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott and Senate President Bill Galvano. According to the Daily Commercial, in the suit Snipes argues that her due-process rights are being violated.
Illinois: Newly elected DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek has withdrawn her lawsuit against the DuPage County Election commission that had sought to obtain the serial numbers of the optical scan voting machines the agency received as part of a settlement with the former vendor.
Maine: U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not require whichever congressional candidate receives the moves votes, or plurality, be declared the winner thus ruling in favor of Maine’s ranked choice voting system. Losing candidate U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin has filed an appeal.
New Hampshire: Michael L. Lewis, 45, of Miami, Florida has been indicted on charges that he voted in Hooksett despite not being a qualified, registered voter.
Texas: Judge Romeo Flores has blocked the Palmview city council from ordering a special election. According to The Monitor, Ordering a new election would have been in line with an opinion from the Texas Secretary of State’s office that advised them to call for a new election. However, the lawsuit states that the opinion from the secretary of state’s office was non-binding and incomplete.
Wisconsin: Voting rights advocates have asked U.S. District Judge James Peterson to overturn parts of the recently signed lame-duck legislation on the state’s requirement to show ID at the polls and limiting early voting.
Tech Thursday
Vendor News: The California Secretary of State’s Office recently announced that it has certified the Verity Voting System from Hart InterCivic. Designed to support California Voter’s Choice Act requirements such as by-mail voting and Vote Centers, Verity advantages for California counties include: best-in-industry security protocols; easy-to-use system; high return on investment; and cost-savings. “This latest certification of our proven Verity system demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the State of California,” President and CEO of Hart, Phillip Braithwaite said in a statement. “Hart has provided voting system solutions to California counties since 2006, and the needs of the State’s evolving election administration landscape are native to Verity’s design. Late this week, the New Jersey Department of State also certified the Verity system.
California: The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles reported last week that had discovered 589 records of people “who may have attempted to vote but whose vote may have been rejected” because of transmittal errors from the DMV to the secretary of state’s office. According to The Tribune, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto told Secretary of State Alex Padilla the mistake was a delay in transmitting information between their two offices prior to the close of the Oct. 22 registration deadline. Shiomoto will be replaced effective December 31.
Maryland: The Maryland State Board of Elections has decided to cut ties with ByteGrid, the tech firm that operates the state’s voter registration database, election management system and election night results website. A spokeswoman for the SBOE told WUSA that the state does not yet have a new vendor.
Opinions This Week
National Opinions: Election fraud | Open primaries| Voter fraud | Election security | Ex-felon voting rights
California: Napa County | Ballot counting
Florida: Broward County | Ex-felon voting rights, II | Instant runoff voting | Voter fraud;
Idaho: Ballot harvesting
Illinois: Macon County
Iowa: Mail ballots | Ex-felon voting rights | Election dispute
Louisiana: Secretary of state, II
Maine: Ranked choice voting, II, III
New Hampshire: Secretary of state, II
New York: Election reform, II, III
North Carolina: Election fraud, II | Voter ID | Election redo | Vetoes
Ohio: Paper ballots | Lucas County
Oklahoma: Ranked choice voting | Polling place staffing
Pennsylvania: Voting machines, II
South Carolina: Vote by mail | Voter fraud
FVAP Update
New voter registration/ballot request and back-up ballot forms on Federal Register now
The current draft Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) forms are available for review and comment on the Federal Register until January 22 at regulations.gov.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requires that the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) prescribe two standard federal forms. Both forms require review and public comment every three years. The FPCA (SF-76), can be used to register to vote, request an absentee ballot and update contact information, while the FWAB (SF-186) serves as a backup ballot if the voter doesn’t receive a requested ballot in time.
FVAP leveraged feedback from voters and election officials to update the forms to clarify their use and requirements.
The revised forms simplify instructions for voters and include:
- Clarification of National Guard classification for use of the form.
- Alterations to the list of states requiring additional information.
- Clarification of registration and ballot request instructions.
Form usability is an essential part of the redesign process. To help ensure the form is easy and intuitive from a voter’s perspective, please download and complete it as if you were registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot or voting the FWAB. Provide usability comments via the links below.
To view the FPCA Federal Register Notice:
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOD-2018-OS-0092-0001
To view the Draft FPCA Form:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=DOD-2018-OS-0092
To view the FWAB Federal Register Notice:
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOD-2018-OS-0091-0001
To view the Draft FWAB Form:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=DOD-2018-OS-0091
To submit comments and suggestions online: Comments and usability feedback should be submitted on the Federal eRulemarking Portal using the links above or https://www.regulations.gov by January 22, 2019.
Submit comments and usability feedback by mail at the address below by January 19, 2019:
Department of Defense
Office of the Chief Management Officer
Directorate for Oversight and Compliance
4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24 Suite 08D09
Alexandria, VA 22350-1700
Please do not send comments directly to FVAP.
Upcoming Events
International Association of Government Officials — IGO’s 2019 mid-winter conference “Educate-Elevate-Energize-Engage” theme underscores the critical importance of IGO’s ongoing commitment to its members. The opening Keynote Speaker will be Frank Kitchen and his “I LIVE FRESH!” The Five Step Recipe for Being a Difference Maker and Life Changer presentation as well as a joint workshop, “IT’S OK TO PLAY” Gaming Your Way to a Positive Culture. We will once again offer CPL educational courses, division specific education, joint education sessions, committee meetings, team building activities and business partner workshops. Where: Irvine, California. When: January 6-10, 2019
Joint Election Officials Liaison Conference (JEOLC) —The Election Center’s Joint Election Officials Liaison Conference (JEOLC) will be held in Arlington, Virginia, January 10-11, 2019. Watch this space for more details and agendas.
A Practical Guide to Risk-Limiting Audits — With the spotlight on election security, election administrators need tools to provide voters with confidence in all stages of our electoral system. Join election officials, cybersecurity experts, policy makers, and others for a practical overview of cutting-edge post-election audits, which provide statistical confidence in election outcomes. As election officials across the country continue to look for opportunities to make their systems and procedures more secure before the 2020 election, what should election officials know about risk-limiting audits? What are they? What tools are necessary? How do they work in states with different voting systems? How much do they cost? We’ll tackle these topics and more. Sponsored by Microsoft, Brennan Center For Justice, Common Cause, National Election Defense Coalition, and Verified Voting. Where: Washington, DC. When: January 31.
National Association of State Election Directors — The NASED Winter Conference will be held in Washington DC, February 1-4, 2019. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.
National Association of Secretaries of State — The NASS Winter Conference will be held in Washington, DC, February 1-4, 2019. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.
The Voting Experience: 2018 and the Future— Please save the date as the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Democracy Fund analyze key moments in election administration during the 2018 midterm elections, and look ahead to what steps can be taken to improve the voting experience for all Americans in 2020. Where: Washington, DC. When: February 14.
Election Center Special Workshop — The Election Center will hold a special workshop that will include: Course 7 (Facilitating Voter Participation); Course 8 (Implementation of New Programs); and Renewal Course 31 (Election Storytelling ). Where: Birmingham, Alabama. When: February 25-26.
Election Center Special Workshop —The Election Center will hold a special workshop that will include: Course 9 (Enfranchisement, Enhancement, Enforcement ); Course 10 (Constitution, Courts & Cases to 1965); and Renewal Course 14 (Crisis Management). Where: Virginia Beach. When: April 24-28.
International Association of Government Officials — IGO’s 2019 Annual Conference will be held in Houston, Texas, July 11-17. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.
National Association of Counties — NACo’s 2019 Annual Conference will be held in Clark County (Las Vegas), Nevada July 11-15, 2019. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.
National Association of State Election Directors — The NASED Summer Conference will be held in Austin, Texas, July 14-16, 2019. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.
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.
Administrative Assistant, Center for Election Innovation & Research— the Administrative Assistant will work full-time and play a critical role in managing the day-to-day effectiveness of CEIR, including our program operations, finance, and human resources functions. This person will collaborate in developing and implementing systems that increase the effectiveness and efficiency of our work, supporting our ability to grow and expand our impact. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated and detail-oriented individual who wants to make a substantial impact while gaining a broad set of experiences relevant to nonprofit leadership. The Administrative Assistant will work in the Washington, DC Metro Area, usually in CEIR’s office, although sometimes working from home may be possible. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Administrative Specialist III (Ballot Collection Lead), King County, Washington — This position will provide logistical support for ballot collection, fleet, and warehouse tasks as well as lead processes, projects and temporary staff. With over 60 ballot drop box locations throughout King County, this is a work group that continues to grow and evolve. The workweek is typically 35 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is a great opportunity for a detail oriented person with warehouse/receiving experience, data entry and strong interpersonal skills. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Administrative Specialist III (Elections Specialist Lead), King County, Washington — King County Elections is recruiting for two Administrative Specialist III (Elections Specialist Lead) positions in Ballot Processing and Voter Services. These positions will lead processes, projects, and people which will include leading, coaching, mentoring, and training temporary and regular staff. Leads may also provide assistance and/or participate in long-term cross-training in multiple work areas to meet organizational agile efforts. The workweek is typically 35 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is a great opportunity for a customer service oriented person with strong communication and interpersonal skills. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Certification Manager (Denver, CO) – Dominion Voting Systems — Dominion Voting Systems is seeking a Certification Manager to join our team in Denver, CO! This position is a cross -functional leader playing a key role in managing certification efforts for Dominion Voting products. In this role, you will act as a representative of the company with State and Federal certification officials, test labs, and other key internal and external stakeholders throughout the certification process. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Chief Departmental Operations, San Diego County Registrar of Voters, Voter Services Division — The County of San Diego, Registrar of Voters (ROV) invites résumés from qualified candidates for Chief, Departmental Operations to fill a vacancy in the Voter Services Division. The Chief, Departmental Operations is an unclassified management classification reporting directly to executive management and oversees a major functional area or several small programs including creating program policy and supervision of staff. This position provides leadership and oversight over the functions and activities of the Department’s Voter Services Division. The primary responsibilities are to direct the processing of voter registration affidavits; maintenance of voter registration records; verification of State and local petitions (i.e. initiative, referendum, recall and nomination); organization of call center functions; management of mail ballot program and mail ballot voter records, including preparation, mailing, verification, and processing of mail ballots; coordination with external organizations including United States Postal Service and ballot printing and mailing contractor; ensuring State and federal reporting requirements are completed; and coordination of San Diego County Employee Retirement Association Board Member Elections. The Chief, Department Operations provides leadership, supervision, and management of staff responsible for voter service activities. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Deputy Director, Center for Election Innovation & Research — the Deputy Director will report to the Executive Director and have a broad range of responsibilities designed to support CEIR’s mission. In this position, the Deputy Director will play an integral role in the development and execution of CEIR’s programming, strategic communications, and continued growth as an organization. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and highly motivated individual who wants to make a substantial, positive, nonpartisan impact on elections and American democracy. The Deputy Director’s primary workplace will be CEIR’s Washington, DC office. The Deputy Director also must be available for business travel as needed. CEIR believes that working alongside and understanding the diverse mix of people who are affected by elections and American democracy is key to achieving our mission. That’s why we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse, non-discriminatory work environment. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Specialist-Ballot Processing, Pierce County, Washington— the Auditor’s Office is currently recruiting for an Elections Specialist position that is assigned to the Ballot Processing area. This position is located at the Pierce County Elections Center in Tacoma, WA. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. An employee in this class is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating the activities of an assigned election area. This is a working specialist position. Work involves planning, distributing, assigning work to accommodate work fluctuations and changes; monitoring work compiled; taking corrective action to maintain acceptable quality standards; and training election workers assigned to work in their particular areas. Specialists perform day-to-day assignments specific to their assigned area. Employees are expected to perform work in all election areas as assigned including customer service and voter registration. Salary: $29.51-$37.33/hour. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Technician Supervisor, San Joaquin County, California — The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voter’s Office is looking to fill two vital Elections Technician Supervisor positions within the department and to create an eligible list which may be used to fill future vacancies. This is a fast-paced elections office with a vibrant staff and diverse electorate. In 2019 we anticipate installing a new voting system and upgrading many of our operations. There are three areas the Elections Technician Supervisor may be assigned: Precinct Operations, Voter Registration and Candidate Filing & Campaign Services. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Field Sales Director, Hart InterCivic — the Field Sales Director works primarily on the road and from a home office when he/she is not on business travel. The Field Sales Director is responsible for creating news sales with prospects and existing clients in a defined region. Today, this role is a single contributor and does not directly manage people. This position will report to the VP of Sales. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Full Stack Architect / Senior Software Engineer, Clear Ballot— Clear Ballot is looking for an accomplished, Boston MA based Architect/Senior Software Engineer who wants to bring their technical and leadership skills to bear on a hugely consequential problem: Bringing transparency to democratic elections. The successful candidate will implement new products and features under tight deadlines. You will be using primarily Python and MySQL that interface with front-end web applications implemented in JavaScript and HTML5. The ideal candidate should have strong technical and leadership skills and a good working knowledge of the latest concepts in security, performance, and resilience. You will be working with a small team of highly skilled individuals to build and enhance a platform that is changing the elections industry. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Full Stack Software Developer, Clear Ballot — The successful candidate will build and enhance enterprise-level, highly available applications using primarily Python and MySQL that interface with frontend web applications implemented in JavaScript and HTML5. The ideal candidate should have strong technical skills and a good working knowledge of the latest concepts in performance, security and resilience. One of the hallmarks of our system is its emphasis on new visualization techniques made possible by sophisticated data structures that enable high-performance in a multi-user environment. You will be working with a small team of highly skilled individuals to build and enhance a platform that is changing the elections industry. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
General Counsel, Campaign Legal Center— CLC’s General Counsel provides advice and guidance regarding legal issues involving the organization’s work and operations. This includes advising on best ethics practices, legal compliance with applicable laws and advising on risk management. CLC’s General Counsel will also serve as a senior litigator in the Voting Rights & Redistricting programs which engage in litigation around the country, both to ensure the constitutional implementation of existing laws and to defend new reforms against legal challenges. CLC also participates in trial and appellate cases through friend-of-the-court briefs, engages in educational efforts (such as know-your-rights trainings) and provides legislative drafting assistance to legislatures and organizations seeking to improve election law. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
IT Security Administrator (Denver) – Dominion Voting is looking for an IT Security Administrator to join our IT team in Denver, Colorado! We are looking for a security minded individual who can perform both day-to-day technical management and maintenance of IT security programs, and who can also strategically assess and enhance the overall IT security enterprise-wide. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Project Manager (Austin, TX) – Hart InterCivic — Hart InterCivic is looking for a project manager to work with our Professional Services Team. The project manager oversees the deployment of voting systems and training to both existing and new Hart customers. The ideal candidate has experience in the elections industry, is PMP certified, and is motivated to achieve success for our customers with initiative. Travel up to 80 percent. Reports to the Manager of Professional Services. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Regional Sales Manager, Clear Ballot— The Regional Sales Manager (RSM) position will represent Clear Ballot in a designated territory to engage prospective customers, educate them on the value of partnering with Clear Ballot, and close New Business. This position is a Hunter. The RSM will be responsible for managing and growing their assigned territory and meeting quarterly and annual sales goals. Previous sales experience in high growth organizations is a plus. RSM’s will be responsible for understanding the Clear Ballot portfolio and effectively communicating the value we bring to the market. Measures of success include: high levels of sales activity, regular and consistent reporting and communication of progress, progress toward quarterly and annual quota attainment, and overcoming obstacles to get the job done. We currently have open positions in Florida and Boston. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Sales Engineer, Clear Ballot — Our Sales and Marketing team is looking for a seasoned, hardworking and energetic Sales Engineer with proven experience and a passion for selling technology solutions. This role is responsible for being the primary technical resource for our sales force while also actively driving and managing the technology evaluation stage of the sales process. You will be required to have an in-depth technical knowledge of Clear Ballot’s Clear Vote suite and demonstrating the product capabilities to prospective customers. The ideal candidate must also be able to identify and provide reliable solutions for all technical issues to assure complete customer satisfaction. Measures of success include new customer acquisition rates, renewal rates, upselling, cross-selling, customer satisfaction and contribution to overall sales team and new customer success Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Senior Researcher, Public Policy Evaluation Research, Fors Marsh Group — FMG is hiring for a researcher on the Public Policy Evaluation team which serves to address public concerns and promote the quality of the community. This is done through a) articulating the public’s needs, b) conducting rigorous evaluation to assess how these needs are being met, and c) working with our clients to improve these programs and policies. This job is best suited for an individual who enjoys research, has experience leading research team, possesses excellent attention to detail, continuously strives to learn and develop, and prefers working in a cooperative environment. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Senior Software Developer (Toronto) – Dominion Voting is searching for an experienced and passionate Senior Software Developer to join our team in Toronto! These positions will be responsible for providing high-level technical expertise in design development, coding, testing and debugging new software or significant enhancements to existing software for our customers. You will work on a variety of our product lines and you may act as team leader on less complex projects and assists in training/mentoring less experienced software development staff. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Software Developer III (Toronto) – Dominion Voting is searching for an experienced and passionate Software Developer III to join our team in Toronto! These positions will be responsible for providing high-level technical expertise in design development, coding, testing and debugging new software or significant enhancements to existing software for our customers. You will work on a variety of our product lines and you may act as team leader on less complex projects and assists in training/mentoring less experienced software development staff. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Software Product Specialist II (Phoenix, AZ) – Dominion Voting Systems — Dominion Voting Systems is seeking a Software Product Specialist II to join our team in Phoenix, AZ! This position will be responsible for delivering a wide variety of technical and non-technical customer support services related to the implementation, operation, repair, maintenance and upgrades of Dominion Voting Systems technology products. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Staff Editor, Brennan Center for Justice— the Brennan Center seeks an experienced and confident Staff Editor to play a key role in our growing editorial team. The Staff Editor will work closely with the Director of Editorial Strategy in shaping the Brennan Center’s revamped online content strategy, ensuring that we respond quickly to news developments and helping to position us as a leading voice on the issues of democracy and the Constitution that are currently at the center of the national conversation. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
System and Data Specialist, EIRC — Using independent judgment and delegated decision-making authority, the Systems and Data Specialist performs analysis, project management, trouble shooting, problem resolution, quality assurance, and documentation concerning mission-critical ERIC functions: 1) uploading of state data and data from secondary sources to ERIC; 2) delivery of timely and accurate reports to ERIC members; 3) hosting and maintenance of ERIC data; and 4) providing consistently high quality service and support to ERIC members. This position actively participates in business continuity planning, risk assessments, security reviews, and other efforts to protect ERIC’s system and data. Salary: $80K-$95K. Deadline: January 28, 2019. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Systems Engineer, Clear Ballot — We are looking for a talented Systems Engineer who has both a technical and services/support background which enables them to quickly assess customer needs and offer value to Clear Ballot’s customers. The Systems Engineer will gain a deep understanding of how Clear Ballot’s products operate and their optimal configuration to build a streamlined installation process of the Clear Vote election system. The ideal candidate for this position can prioritize mission critical tasks and coordinate the implementation and expansion of our systems. They will be able to work directly with customers, display innovation, think conceptually and act tactically to build consensus around system installation and enhancement and meet deadlines. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Marketplace
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Voting Booths
Each aluminum briefcase contains the following: aluminum legs, privacy shield, writing base, light assembly. All units are in great shape dimensions are 22”x 18”x 3“. MFG: ESL. Election supplies Limited, Napa California. Quantity: 400 Price per unit is $50. Contact Greg Larson 408.569.1004