In Focus This Week
A users group for local, state, and federal election data analysts
As number of analysts grows, so does value of creating a professional community
By Charles Stewart III
MIT Election Data and Science Lab
Elections are awash in numbers. In the late nineteenth century, state and local governments started releasing boatloads of data to document registration statistics and precinct-level election returns, all in the name of transparency and election integrity. More recently, as computers have taken on a growing role election administration functions, what was already a deluge of election-related data has become a tsunami.
Political scientists have long taken advantage of the availability of election data for their work, as have campaigns and citizen groups. Federal, state, and local election agencies have climbed aboard the bandwagon in recent years, using election data not only to judge the outcome of elections, but also to manage elections and to communicate with the public about the changing landscape of election administration. Unlike other groups, however, agency employees who are responsible for helping to corral election data don’t have a peer group to associate with — a space for them to share tricks of the trade, professionalize rookies, and develop a distinct professional identity. Until now.
To help fill this gap, the MIT Election Data and Science Lab is coordinating the creation of a user group for data analysts who work for federal, state, and local election agencies. The group doesn’t have a name yet — maybe that will be its first order of business — but it does have a listserv. I invite anyone who is interested to either e-mail me or go directly to the listserv information page and enter your e-mail address to join.
The idea behind this user group is based on my observation that election agencies are increasingly hiring employees to provide data analysis in support of election administration. More and more frequently, I have found myself sharing e-mails with these employees and meeting them at state election official conferences. Sometimes, they hold a full-time position with a job description that specifically emphasizes data and policy analysis. In other cases, they have a more traditional non-data focus, but find themselves increasingly writing data-driven reports for their boss as well. Some come from data science or policy analysis backgrounds. Others have fallen into the position with no formal training in data analysis.
As the number of people providing data analysis to election agencies grows, so does the value of creating a professional community of election administration data analysts. Such a community brings benefits to its members: learning from peers, working out puzzles, contributing to the development of this field, and sharing the joys and frustrations of the job —just to name a few.
As I have shared my idea for this user group with a number of election officials around the country, at all levels of government, I’ve heard a great deal of enthusiasm about the concept. Before getting too far down the road with future plans, though, Step One is identifying who is interested in joining. That is why I am asking people to self-identify and agree to join the group (and the listserv).
Step Two will be seeing what these founding members want to do. I can imagine at least two directions this community could go. First, it could exist purely as an online community organized around the listserv. The model here would be something like the election law mailing list that Dan Lowenstein (UCLA) and Rick Hasen (UCI) manage.
The second direction could be to give it a more face-to-face component. One possible model for this is the annual State Certification Testing of Voting Systems conference, which has been held for nearly a decade now. (I call this the election geek’s Merlefest, after the conference’s founding soul, Merle King.)
Others will certainly have other notions. I hope the listserv will become a place for active discussion of those ideas.
One last point: Some will notice that although I am suggesting that this be a community confined (at the moment) to employees of election agencies, MEDSL itself is not such an agency. I recognize the irony. Still, one of the missions of MEDSL is to encourage collaborations between election officials and academics, and to encourage the spread of scientific approaches to election administration wherever we can. I am happy to use our resources to jump-start this effort. Once it gets going, MEDSL can step away, if that’s the will of the group.
For now, the important thing is to start.
Questions? Interested in joining? E-mail Charles Stewart (cstewart-AT-mit.edu) or go directly to the (distinctly utilitarian) listserv homepage and sign up: http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/sl-election-analytics.
Charles Stewart III is the Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science at MIT, the founding director of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, and the co-director of the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project.
Election News This Week
No, this isn’t a plot for the latest Neflix thriller. According to the Lincoln Journal Star, elections officials in Lancaster and Douglas counties in Nebraska were questioned by the FBI about two international election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Officials questioned by the FBI told the paper, agents wanted to know if anyone was offered a pen as a gift. The officials were show schematics of pens that could also be used as a listening device. It’s essentially something you would see in a spy movie,” one of the people shown a blueprint of the device by the FBI told the paper. An FBI spokeswoman told the Journal Star it was the agency’s policy to neither confirm nor deny an investigation, but the paper spoke to a half-dozen people who met with the observation team in mid-October and said they were later contacted by federal agents.
There’s another story of lost and found ballots this week, this time in Ohio. In late December the Ohio secretary of state’s office notified the Miami County board of elections that November election results were out of line with historic voter participation. According to the Dayton Daily News, a review discovered that 6,288 early ballots cast on a voting machine in the county elections office were not counted. The discrepancy occurred on election night when voting equipment did not pull all of the vote total data. It went unnoticed until the state review according to the paper. Reportedly no vote totals were changed. The board of elections has fired director Beverly Kendall and will conduct a full investigation into what happened, and why it happened. Representatives from the secretary of state’s office are in the county to investigate.
There is always a learning curve when new folks come on the job and that is being felt in an interesting way by the city of Craig, Colorado and Moffat County. It seems that no one in the Moffat County Clerk and Recorder’s office is trained in the secretary of state’s SCORE System, which is the state’s voter registration system and is necessary to conduct an election. Craig, which has always had the county conduct their elections, has a municipal election fast approaching in April and new County Clerk Tammy Raschke said no one in her office will be trained in time to conduct the election. “This has never happened before,” Craig Mayor John Ponikvar told the Craig Press. “We’ve always contracted with the county to do our elections.” The secretary of state’s office said that it’s working to get the county staff trained but may have to help the city conduct the election on contract. “We’re going to do everything we can to expedite training and make sure she (Raschke) has access to other people who have the knowledge to get this election back on track,” Communications Director Serena Woods told the paper.
While it didn’t quite come to pistols at high noon, but Ford County, Kansas has agreed to open two polling sites in Dodge City for future elections following a lawsuit filed by the ACLU. In November 2018 Dodge City, which has about 13,000 registered voters had only one polling site about a mile outside the city limits. The ACLU sued Ford County Clerk Deborah Cox siting among other things that the average Kansas polling site has 1,200 voters assigned to it. The two new sites are the Hoover Pavilion and the Knights of Columbus Hall. According to The Hutchinson News, Dodge City Transit said it will provide temporary bus stops in front of the polling places on Election Day.
According to the Des Moines Register, Iowa House Republicans are ending their review of a contested House race which is separated by nine votes, but with 29 rejected mail-in ballots still outstanding. The committee is scheduled Thursday afternoon to recommend to the full House that the ballots not be opened or counted. It’s unclear when the chamber will vote on the issue.
The Illinois State Board of Elections voted 8-0 to remove the state from Crosscheck. Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich said the main reason Illinois is withdrawing from the Kansas-administered Crosscheck is to create a new data sharing agreement with Indiana.
Personnel News: Luke Burton is the new Licking County, Ohio board of elections director. Brent Henschen has been appointed to serve on the Auglaize County, Ohio board of elections. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has ordered John Meyer, director of the Marion County board of elections since 2015, to be removed. CarolAnn Cardone has been named Democratic commissioner for the Oneida County, New York board of elections. Palm Beach County, Florida Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher has been suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Wendy Sartory Link has been appointed to replace Bucher. Heidi Burhans has been appointed Iowa’s Administrator of Elections. Whatcom County, Washington Auditor Debbie Adelstein is not seeking re-election. Former Miss America Heather French Henry has filed paperwork to run for Kentucky secretary of state. Former Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Auditor Ken Kline is retiring from his latest job as deputy election commissioner for the state.
Research and Report Summaries
The Southern Political Science Association (SPSA) held its annual conference in Austin last week. The program included several papers on election administration topics, a handful of which are summarized below. Additional SPSA papers will be highlighted in the coming weeks.
- Examining the Impact of Early Voting on Local Elections by Gayle Alberda, Fairfield University. The paper examines whether in-person early voting increases turnout in local elections. Using data from Ohio from 2001 to 2017, the study finds a significant negative relationship on municipal voter turnout suggesting that in-person early voting laws alone may not be an adequate policy solution to the low voter turnout problem found in American elections.
- Surveying Local Election Officials in the United States: Methodological Considerations by Evan Crawford, University of San Diego; Paul Gronke, Early Voting Information Center and Reed College; and Paul Manson, Early Voting Information Center and Portland State University. The paper explores lessons learned from a recent large-scale survey of local election officials in the U.S., highlighting the difficulties in assembling a valid survey population and in obtaining responses in a time of increased concern about elections and cybersecurity.
- Privatized Democracy: How Election Services Vendors Influence the Voting Experience by Nadine Suzanne Gibson, University of Texas at Austin. The paper investigates the impact of four categories of vendor service packages (Election Day support, project management, training, and voter outreach programs) on individual-level election performance indicators in 14 states. Examining survey data from in-person voters in 2016, the study suggests that county purchases of election support and training courses from election vendors have a negligible effect on improving voter experience.
- Uncovering implementation problems in voter registration: The case of youth pre-registration in Florida by Thessalia Merivaki, Mississippi State University. The paper examines the impact of implementation of Florida’s youth pre-registration laws on “on hold” voter registration applications prior to the 2008 Presidential election. Using Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties as a case study, the study finds evidence of inconsistent implementation at the county level which appears to result from a gap in the effective date of Florida’s more expansive pre-registration law, thus leaving 16- and 17-year-old applicants more vulnerable to having their voter registration applications rejected.
If you would like your SPSA paper highlighted in electionline Weekly, please submit share it with us via the content submission web-form.
(Research and Report Summaries are written by David Kuennen.)
Legislative Updates
Arizona: Arizona is the only state that does not include explicit language granting the right vote in its constitution and now a group of lawmakers are hoping to change that with a constitutional amendment, the Arizona Voters Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights would include the ability to register to vote unhindered, equal access to the ballot and guarantee that every vote is counted.
Florida: Legislation has been introduced that would protect the private data—phone numbers, addresses, birth dates—of 16- and 17-year-olds who have pre-registered to vote.
Georgia: Senate Bill 30 would allow absentee ballots for persons living overseas or serving in the military be returned by fax or email.
Indiana: The House Elections Committee appears poised to support House Bill 1217 that would revamp how elections are administered in Porter County. Under the proposed legislation, election directors will be chosen by the county clerk and subject to the bipartisan approval of the five-person election board.
Kansas: The House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Correction are each considering legislation that would revoke the authority of the secretary of state to prosecute people for voter fraud.
Minnesota: A bill to authorize Minnesota to access federal funds for election security is on the fast track at the Capitol and could be the first major proposal to pass in the 2019 legislative session. The proposal passed through two House committees this week and a key Republican lawmaker is leading the effort in the Senate.
New Hampshire: A bill, which has the backing of Secretary of State William Gardner would forbid future candidates for the secretary’s office from forming political committees to fundraise. “Our duty is to keep that position non-partisan. And when there’s money thrown around it becomes very partisan,” said Rep. David Love (R-Derry).
New Mexico: A bill being reviewed by a House committee would allow felons to maintain their voting rights even after they are convicted.
Other pieces of election reform legislation moving through the Legislature include a bill that would enter New Mexico in the National Popular Vote pact, a bill implementing automatic voter registration and same day registration.
Oklahoma: Senate Bill 363 would require any state senator or representative who resigns, is removed from office or expelled to use any remaining funds from their campaign funds to help defray the costs of special election.
Pennsylvania: A package of election reform bills is being championed by Democrats. The bills include proposals to allow early voting, vote-by-mail, Election Day holidays, same-day registration and automatic voter registration.
Tennessee: Sen. Brenda Gilmore (D-Nashville) has introduced a bill that would allow ex-felons to have their voting rights before they have cleared any financial debt, although they would have to show they are on payment plan. The legislation would not apply to anyone convicted of sex crimes or crimes using a gun.
Virginia: House Bill 2034 would require local electoral boards to remove registrars through the court system instead of the current system which allows two of the three electoral board members to decide to oust a registrar.
Also in Virginia, State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30th District) has introduced a bill that would allow localities to move to a ranked choice voting system for boards of supervisor and city council elections beginning in 2020.
By a 97-1 vote, the House of Delegates has approved a bill that would require all public schools to treat Election Day as a school holiday. The bill approved by the House applies only to general elections in November.
Washington: Senate Bill 5063, co-sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, and Sen. Bob Hasegawa, D-Beacon Hill, would require the state to reimburse counties for paid-postage return envelopes for ballots.
Also in Washington, the Legislature is considering moving the state’s presidential primary from the fourth Tuesday in May to the second Tuesday in March.
West Virginia: The House has unanimously approved the Ardella Miller Memorial Act that will allow emergency absentee ballots to those seriously ill or in “late-stage of life medical care” while at home.
Wyoming: Under House Bill 192, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Gray (R-Natrona Co.) would specifically mandate that anyone casting a ballot in Wyoming would need to present photo identification verifying their identity before casting a ballot. Those voting by mail would be required to submit a copy of their photo ID the first time after they register.
Also in Wyoming, a bill that would have prevented “crossover” voting failed on a 3-2 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Legal Updates
Georgia: Senior Judge Adele Grubbs of the Cobb County Superior Court dismissed a case challenging the lieutenant governor’s race. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Grubbs said while she “respected” the argument there may be some issues with the entire voting system, the plaintiffs did not prove specific problems with the recording of ballots in the lieutenant governor’s race that would alter the outcome of the election.
North Carolina: Wake County Superior County Judge Paul Ridgeway has denied candidate Mark Harris’ request to certify his victory in the 9th District Congressional race even as the investigation into election fraud is ongoing. The state elections board “has authority under (state law) to initiate and consider complaints on its own motion,” Ridgeway said. “Until a protest is resolved there is no requirement the board must certify an election.”
Tennessee: Judy Guinn, 70, of Piney Flats has been indicted for allegedly committing voter fraud in November 2016. An investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation alleges that Guinn cast an early ballot despite being a convicted felon.
Texas: A Travis County district court ruled Thursday that Austin violated the state’s open carry law by barring residents from bringing firearms into its city hall which also serves as a polling place.
Utah: Following an investigation by the Grand County Attorney’s office, County Attorney Andrew Fitzgerald chose not file criminal charges against San Juan County Clerk John David Nielson for illegally removing a candidate from the November ballot. However, San Juan County Attorney Kendall Laws has now asked another county attorney from Davis County to take another look at the case.
Wisconsin: U.S. District Judge James Peterson has ruled that laws enacted during the lame duck session of the Legislature violate a federal court order issued in 2016 that voided similar restrictions. in a five-page ruling, agreed to issue an order enforcing injunctions against time limits for in-person absentee voting, restrictions on the use of student identification cards for voting and time limits on the validity of temporary identification cards issued under a process called the ID Petition Process. “This is not a close question,” Peterson wrote according to the Wisconsin State Journal. “The three challenged provisions are clearly inconsistent with the injunctions that the court has issued in this case.”
Opinions This Week
National Opinions: HR 1, II | Voting rights | Ranked choice voting | Election reform
Florida: Ex-felon voting rights
Georgia: Chatham County
Hawaii: Automatic voter registration
Iowa; Ex-felon voting rights, II
Louisiana: Ex-felon voting rights
Maryland: Ranked choice voting
Massachusetts: Early voting
Minnesota: Approval voting
Nevada: Special election
New Hampshire: Voting rights
New York: Early voting | Election reform, II
North Carolina: Election changes | Election fraud, II
Oregon: Primary date
Pennsylvania: Polling places | Voting machines
South Carolina: Voting system
Virginia: Ex-felon voting rights
Washington: Native American Voting Rights Act
West Virginia: Judicial elections
Upcoming Events
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. Sessions on the agenda include: Engaging White Hat Hackers, Beyond Risk Limiting Audits, Engaging Minority Populations, Voter Registration Modernization and updates from Congress and the EAC. Where: Washington, DC. When: February 1-4.
National Association of Secretaries of State — The NASS Winter Conference will be held in Washington, DC, February 1-4, 2019. Sessions on the agenda include: Election Reform in the 116th Congress, 2019 State Legislative Trends for Election Reform, and Signature Verification and Processing Absentee Ballots: Methods, Postmarks, Processing and Tabulating Timetables. Where: Washington, DC. When: February 1-4.
CTCL Online Series: Cybersecurity for Elections Officials —Data breaches, ransomware, and denial-of-service attacks are becoming regular headlines in America, but election officials are uniquely positioned on the front lines to help safeguard our democracy while ensuring that each vote counts. Join election officials from around the country in our online series that will empower your election office to manage cyber threats and communicate with the public about cybersecurity in 2019. Where: Online. When: Feb. 5, 7, 12 and 14.
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 — King County Elections is recruiting for an Administrative Specialist III (Ballot Collection Lead) position. 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.
Business Development Associate, Scytl — We are looking for Business Development Associate to work hand in hand with our Director of US Sales. You will have control over your day and how you get it done but the goal each week of developing qualified leads and booking sales appointments, completing Net Promoter surveys and being the central hub of a busy sales team. Some of your daily/weekly tasks include: Generate and qualify leads through cold calling, online prospecting, and marketing campaign collaboration; Lead management and data management in Salesforce; Conduct initial sales presentations and product demos via the phone and internet; Produce activity reports by documenting all activity into Salesforce and properly communicating data to management; Net Promoter surveys; New market and project research; Event organization and coordination with marketing; and be part of something amazing. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Campus Outreach Lead, Democracy Works— As campus outreach lead, you will sustain and grow the TurboVote higher education partnerships program. You will be responsible for renewing contracts with existing higher education partners and bringing on new partners by generating leads, carrying those leads through necessary follow up tasks, and formalizing partnerships with signed contracts. In this role, you will build relationships with key stakeholders at colleges and universities, as well as with fellow nonprofit organizations that support civic engagement at colleges and universities. You’ll become an expert in the world of higher education and cultivate a passion for promoting civic engagement. Also, you will persistently navigate the bureaucracy of external organizations. Salary: $50,000 to $65,000. 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.
Chief Information Officer, Virginia Department of Elections— Are you a leader in Information Technology Services? Do you have a passion for strategic IT Operations in the public sector? The Virginia Department of Elections may have an opportunity just for you! This position will serve as the Chief Information Officer for the Department of Elections (ELECT) in an executive leadership role. Responsible for the oversight of business operations, system development, database management, IT Governance, and systems security. This position will lead the agency in the management and delivery of strategic technology services that includes disaster recovery, security, IT strategic planning, budget, application and system configuration and change. Also, this position plans, organizes, and controls all activities of Elections information services and technology to ensure the effective, efficient, and secure operations of all automated data processing systems; and provide access to election information for all internal and external stakeholders. Salary: Up to $150,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
City Clerk, Prior Lake, Minnesota — carry out the statutory functions of the position and oversee the administration of council meetings, elections and municipal licensing. Process Data Requests and maintain records. Work involves City Council and public interaction. Responsible for all election activities including: Hiring, training and scheduling election judges; Perform required ballot and equipment testing before every election, maintain election equipment and supplies; Prepare and file all required agenda reports and legal notices related to elections; Prepare state and county documents required for precinct boundary changes and polling location changes. Ensure all polling locations are available, coordinate set up and take down of election polling place equipment for each election; Conduct required public accuracy testing; Coordinate all election day activities including supply pick up, election judge meal deliveries, troubleshoot polling place issues that come up, drop off of post- election supplies, ensure all election results have been transmitted; Administer candidate filing affidavits, campaign finance report filings, and certification of filing. Deadline: Jan. 31. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Clerk of the Board/Elections Director, Santa Cruz County, Arizona — Under the direction of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and guidance from the Santa Cruz County Manager, performs statutory duties of the Clerk of the Board pursuant to ARS 11-241 and other statutory duties, to include preparing, publishing and posting the agenda for the Board of Supervisor meetings. Under limited supervision, performs work of considerable difficulty to plan, organize, coordinate, direct and manage all activities of the Santa Cruz County Elections Department in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. This is an at-will position. Plans, organizes, coordinates, directs and manages all activities of the Santa Cruz County Elections Department in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations; oversees daily operations and programing; develops and administers departmental budget and oversees expenditures, develops and administers training and education for election staff and volunteers. Develops and implements procedural and technical improvements as they relate to elections; ensures quality control of all aspects of election from ballot production to public information; manages projects, coordinates with other county/state departments and outside vendors. Salary: $69,186. 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 Clerk, Marion County, Oregon— Performs a wide variety of specialized clerical duties related to voter registration file maintenance, preparation for, and conduction of elections in a non-partisan manner. Prioritize and manage multiple tasks in compliance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations and at the direction of the Elections and Recording Manager. Works under the supervision of the Elections and Recording Manager who assigns work, sets goals and reviews work for accuracy and conformance to department standards and who provides guidance for independent judgment and decision making in accordance with laws, rules, and regulations. Salary: $1570-$21.02/hr. Deadline: Feb. 4. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Division Director, Ada County, Idaho— The Ada County Clerk’s Office is currently seeking candidates for the Elections Division Director position. The Elections Division Director collaborates with the Clerk of the District and Chief Deputy to plan, oversee, and administer elections for over 200,000 registered voters across 150 precincts. The Elections Director is responsible for ensuring all of the necessary resources are acquired and in place, poll workers are well prepared, and that Ada County’s elections are conducted in an accurate, efficient, and transparent manner that leaves Ada County voters with the upmost confidence in the elections process. A qualified candidate would have a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and prior management or event planning experience. It is preferred that candidates have experience with the election process, but is not required. Application: For more information 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.
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 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.
Support Specialist-Elections, Marion County, Oregon— Journey level classification of the Information Services series, which applies specialized knowledge in department wide, multiple software applications; conducts training sessions; assists in design of systems and applications, and recommend policy or procedural changes to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of systems; provides technical assistance in and facilitates the use of computer hardware and software for a department; and performs related work as required. Works under the general supervision of the Elections and Recording Manager who assigns work, establishes goals, and reviews work for conformance to technical standards and compliance with department goals. Salary: $21.68-$29.02/hr. Deadline: Feb. 4. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
System and Data Specialist, ERIC — 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.
Technology Support Specialist, Durham County, North Carolina — Evaluates and recommends ways to streamline and automate routine office functions for the Board of Elections; Researches technological enhancements to Board of Elections systems and processes; Creates custom reports, data visualizations, conducts research and performs data analysis as instructed by supervisory staff; Develops and maintains databases using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) or other coding systems to enhance and automate processes; Assists in auditing and maintaining the Board of Elections geocode and jurisdictional assignments database in conjunction with City/County GIS; Performs troubleshooting of office equipment, software and systems with the advice and support of the Information Systems & Technology (IS&T) department; Maintains Durham County Board of Elections databases and systems in conjunction with the State Board of Elections and Information Systems & Technology and department; Programs and performs logic and accuracy testing on Board of Elections equipment; Responsible for maintaining custody, security, troubleshooting, and maintenance of voting equipment and corresponding software; Responsible for assisting with ballot configuration, programming, and coding as it relates voting system preparation; Performs audits of voting systems to ensure functionality and accuracy; Performs reconciliation and tabulation activities; Ensures the proper creation, preparation, and distribution of electronic poll books systems used by the Durham County Board of Elections; Performs other administrative tasks as assigned by supervisory staff. Deadline: Jan. 31. Salary: $47,916-$86,248. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Marketplace
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Ballot Scanners
$500. Buyer will be responsible for pick and shipping to buyer’s location. Contact Wilfred Cochico, purchasing officer City of Lakewood: 562-866-9771 ext. 2640 or via email: WCochico@lakewoodcity.org.
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