In Focus This Week
VotingWorks to scale Colorado’s risk limiting audit software to all 50 states
Tool set to help states confirm and secure elections
By M. Mindy Moretti
electionline.org
The common thinking used to be that all you needed to audit an election was a pencil, some paper and basic grasp of 5th grade math. But like many things, common thinking changes over time.
In 2017 Colorado became the first state legally mandated to conduct a post-election risk limiting audit (RLA) and it became clear that a good No. 2 pencil and some scratch paper wasn’t going to cut it.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office invested in the development of an open-source RLA tool designed around the cast vote record (CVR) from Dominion Voting Systems and the ballot-comparison method for conducting the audit. The state spent $300,000 of their own money and received a $350,000 grant from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. The original code was written by Free & Fair with the help and input of subject matter experts that were part of an advisory group. The staff in the secretary of state’s office, according Colorado Elections Director Judd Choate, spent thousands of hours working on the project.
Realizing that they needed more help, Colorado turned to Democracy Works to create a more user-friendly interface for the tool and other enhancements.
“In 2017, Colorado approached us with an urgent need to complete this project before the 2018 midterm elections,” explained Kathryn Peters, co-founder of Democracy Works. “We worried that if we did not take it on, the entire momentum behind RLAs might stall out nationwide.”
Now, after several successful RLAs and with more states considering RLAs, Colorado and Democracy Works are turning the keys over to VotingWorks to make the tool customizable by state, voting system and types of audits.
“The RLA tool we’re currently contributing to is an open-source tool, and we are proud to have made significant contributions on top of the work that Free & Fair did before us,” Peters said. “We’re excited to welcome VotingWorks into the field, share what we’ve learned with them and remain supporting partners in the ecosystem as VotingWorks takes on a leadership role with RLAs.”
Choate said that it was always Colorado’s hope that the RLA software would work for other jurisdictions. He noted that voter confidence in election outcomes is central to a functioning democracy and the Colorado secretary of states’ office believes a risk-limiting audit is the best way to ensure that confidence.
“Monica Childers and Democracy Works did a great job creating a polished version of the RLA code,” Choate said. “Colorado is excited to partner with VotingWorks as they adapt the base code to function for both central and precinct count states and localities.”
Jennifer Morrell, a consultant for the Democracy Fund, has been working with states to implement RLAs while exploring possible solutions for a universal RLA tool. She is excited that VotingWorks has agreed to take on this role and feel like it will be a catalyst for other election audit tools.
“This is a big win for the election community beyond the usefulness to RLAs,” Morrell said. “All of this work around the creation of an RLA tool, from the first version used in Colorado to the forthcoming development done by VotingWorks, represents exactly what we need to solve other challenging problems in election administration. It is a model that embraces technology while focusing on collaboration to create a tool that can be used by everyone to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the work being performed. I think that is something everyone can get behind!”
VotingWorks is a non-partisan nonprofit which started in November 2018 to build secure and affordable voting equipment. Although it’s a young organization VotingWorks founders Ben Adida and Matt Pasternack have years of experience. Adida has been in the election world for 20 years and received his PhD in election security from MIT. Pasternack is an experienced public sector executive, who previously worked with school districts across the country in secure software deployment.
According to Adida, states performing a risk-limiting audit need to coordinate the actions of many stakeholders in a precisely choreographed process—and software is the key to that coordination.
“As more states sought access to [Colorado’s RLA] tool, we offered to help scale the tool by applying our expertise building scalable, reliable, and secure enterprise software,” Adida said. “Because scaling the tool to these new use cases requires a significant software development effort, Democracy Works realized that if VotingWorks took on the RLA tool, Democracy Works could then focus on the more voter-centric aspects of election administration they specialize in.”
Adida said VotingWorks is ready to hit the ground running by consulting broadly with election officials looking to pilot RLAs in the near future. He noted that ultimately, the next generation of RLA tools is going to succeed only if they’re developed in close concert with all stakeholders.
“We know one important thing that won’t change: the source code for the tool and any follow-up tool we build will remain free and open-source,” Adida said. “We’ll be consulting with states to determine a long-term sustainability plan, but that won’t start until we hear from states that the tool has become useful to them and is worth sustaining.”
So what is an RLA and how does the RLA tool work?
Risk limiting audits provide statistical evidence that an election outcome is correct. While there are varying definitions, generally an RLA means officials hand count and review a statistically meaningful sample of the votes cast.
The audit software, Morrell explained, is essential for conducting an RLA at any level. The tool calculates the appropriate number of ballots to audit, assists with the random selection of those ballots, and determines when the audit can stop or if it should be expanded.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, three states—Colorado, Rhode Island and Virginia— have a statutory requirement to conduct RLA. Ohio and Washington counties have the option to run RLAs (or other types of post-election audits) and beginning in 2020 California counties will also have the option to conduct RLAs.
NCSL’s election legislation database indicates there are nine bills pending in six states (Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Virginia) specifically about risk limiting audits and 48 bills in 19 states that have post-election audits as a topic, which is an increase from 2017 but on par with 2018.
If your state is considering undertaking an RLA—or the state Legislature is requiring election officials to do so—Adida recommends you reach out to Jennifer Morrell at jmorrell@democracyfund.org.
VotingWorks would also like to hear from election officials about how they want to use the tool and what they want from it in the future. They can be contacted at rla@voting.works.
“We’re very interested in hearing how you want to use the tool and what you’ll need from it in the future,” Adida said.
(Editor’s Note: We’re taking a brief break from our series on effective communications in elections to cover some “breaking” news over the next couple of weeks. We’ll be back March 21 with more on communications pieces. In the meantime, catch up with our stories in the series: Communications 101 and What makes an effective elections website.)
VVSG Public Comment
VVSG available for public comment
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) four sitting Commissioners unanimously voted to publish the proposed Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 (VVSG) Principles and Guidelines in the Federal Register for a 90 day public comment period, after which comments and feedback on the proposed document will be compiled and presented to the Commissioners for discussion and consideration.
“Today’s unanimous vote demonstrates the Commissioners’ shared commitment to taking this next important step in consideration of the proposed VVSG 2.0 Principles and Guidelines. The EAC looks forward to holding hearings on these Principles and Guidelines soon and we encourage the public to provide their feedback on the proposed guidelines,” said EAC Chairman Thomas Hicks, who joined Vice Chair Christy McCormick, Commissioner Ben Hovland and Commissioner Donald Palmer in supporting the measure.
The proposed VVSG 2.0 Principles and Guidelines will be published in the Federal Register in accordance with sections 222(a)(1) and 222(d) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. They will appear in the Federal Register for a period of 90 days. Separately, upon the completion of the VVSG 2.0’s accompanying Requirements developed by NIST and the EAC, those accompanying Requirements will also be subject to public review and comment, including distribution to the EAC’s Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC), Standards Board and Board of Advisors. This review and comment period will take place prior to consideration and implementation by the Commission.
VVSG are a set of Principles, Guidelines and Requirements against which voting systems can be tested to determine if the systems meet required standards. Some factors examined under these tests include functionality, accessibility, accuracy, auditability and security capabilities.
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 mandates that EAC develop and maintain these requirements as well as testing and certifying voting systems. On December 13, 2005, the EAC unanimously adopted the 2005 VVSG, which significantly increased security requirements for voting systems and expanded access, including opportunities for individuals with disabilities to vote privately and independently. The 2005 guidelines updated and augmented the 2002 Voting System Standards, as required by HAVA, to address advancements in election practices and computer technologies. These guidelines were again updated by the EAC’s Commissioners on March 31, 2015. These guidelines are voluntary. States may decide to adopt them entirely or in part prior to the effective date.
The structure of the new VVSG reflects modifications proposed by the election community, EAC, NIST and the TGDC, which is comprised of election officials, voting system manufacturers, disability experts, cyber security experts, technology experts, and other key election stakeholders. The new guidelines are a high level set of principles that will be supplemented by accompanying documents that detail specific requirements for how systems can meet the new guidelines and obtain certification. The supplemental documents will also detail assertions for how the accredited test laboratories will validate that a system complies with those requirements.
Last Spring, the EAC convened its advisory boards to review and comment on the adoption of the newest version of the voluntary guidelines, VVSG 2.0. Both Boards recommended that the EAC adopt VVSG 2.0. Today’s unanimous Commissioner vote occurred less than two weeks after a quorum of Commissioners was restored at the EAC.
Election Security Updates
According to The Hill, Christopher Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), testified before the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on homeland security that the agency’s new “Protect 2020” initiative will focus on making sure that state and local officials are prepared for the upcoming presidential election.
In his testimony, Krebbs said the focus of the project will be on “broadening the reach and depth of assistance to state and local officials” in addition to mphasizing the need to audit elections, patch vulnerabilities in election systems and develop cybersecurity priorities for state and local election officials.
Election News This Week
Starting this spring, voters in the largest election jurisdiction in the largest state in the union will be able to vote at any polling place they want to. Texas Secretary of State David Whitley has approved an application from Harris County to participate in the state’s countywide polling program. “The voters of Harris County have made it clear that a countywide polling place program would have a positive impact on elections and I am confident that the transition to a countywide polling place program will be successful,” County Clerk Diane Trautman said in a statement. According to the Houston Chronicle 50 of Texas’ 254 counties are currently participating in the countywide polling program.
NC9: While most (all) of the attention has been focused on the North Carolina 9th District Congressional race, other races in Bladen County were also impacted by the election fraud case and will have to be conducted again. In addition to the 9th Congressional District, Bladen County Commissioner District 3 and Bladen County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. All other races have been certified. New elections for the two Bladen County races will be held on May 14 in conjunction with the new District 9 race. One local official, Richmond County Manager Bryan Land is protesting the cost of conducting a new election noting that it would cost the county at least $125,000. “I realize we are required by federal law to hold a special election if it is deemed necessary and we are also required by law to pay for all of the associated cost that accompany this election. However, it seems extremely unfair to me that Richmond County is being penalized for the collusion and illegal activities that took place in Bladen and Robeson counties,” Land wrote To Sen Tom McInnis and Rep. Ken Goodman. “The election in Richmond County was certified and no collusion took place within our county. Furthermore, I find it extremely odd that the District 9 race is the only race that is being challenged. If collusion took place in these Counties, would it not be fair to say that ALL races were affected?” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has issued subpoenas for the North Carolina State Board of Elections and former candidate Mark Harris. This week, the State Board of Elections recommended changes to the states absentee ballot laws, including consideration of paid postage for return ballots.
While legislation is making its way through the state house that could automatically restore the voting rights to ex-felons, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is making things easier in the meantime. The governor’s office recently unveiled a new one-page rights restoration request (replacing a three-page document) and now former incarcerated felons will no longer have to provide their own documentation for the status of their fines because state officials will be able to look that up online. “Restoring voting rights is more than a trip to the ballot box,” Reynolds said according to Iowa Public Radio. “It really resurrects dignity and begins re-entry into life as a contributing member of our communities.”
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) has replaced all three members of the State Board of Elections. The new members are Bob Brink, an aide in former Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s administration and former Democratic member of the House of Delegates from Arlington County; lawyer Jamilah D. LeCruise of Norfolk and former Del. John O’Bannon, R-Henrico.
Personnel News: Paulette Hankins has been appointed director of the Richland County, Ohio board of elections. Jane Ann Hodges has been selected as the new chairperson of the Watauga County, North Carolina Board of Elections. Beth Klein is stepping down as the Wayland, Massachusetts clerk to become the Sudbury clerk. Mina Lusk has retired from the Gordon County, Georgia board of elections.
In Memoriam: Kenneth “Kenny” Brown, Boone County, Kentucky clerk has died. He was 53. Brown, a Republican, was first elected in 2010. On Election Night 2018 Brown suffered a heart attack while overseeing the counting of ballots. “He was very principled,” Sen. John Schickel told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “He was used to swimming upstream, but he enjoyed a good political fight.” Phyllis Sparks told the paper Brown’s legacy is his devotion to his community by bringing live election results and a customer-first friendly atmosphere to the clerk’s office. Chief Deputy Clerk Sandy Helmer said Brown was a thoughtful person and boss. “He had a big heart,” Helmer said. “Kenny wanted everybody to be happy and enjoy life like he did.”
Shirley Johnson, former Orange County, New York Elections Commissioner has died. She was 82. According to MidHudsonNews.com, Johnson served as Republican elections commissioner until her retirement in 1999.
Legislative Updates
Federal Legislation: U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) and Representative Ben Ray Ljuan (D-New Mexico) have reintroduced the Native American Voting Rights Act. The legislation would enact key measures, such as increasing Native access to voter registration sites and polling locations, and authorizing tribal ID cards for voting purposes. The bill would also bolster Native voter registration, education, and election participation efforts in tribal communities by authorizing a first of its kind Native American Voting Rights Task Force. Finally, the bill addresses the effects of Shelby County v. Holder by prohibiting states from undertaking discriminatory actions without Department of Justice agreement and government-to-government consultation.
California: Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) has introduced AB 1044 that would authorize the secretary of state’s office to require entities applying for voter registration data to complete a free educational course on data security.
Connecticut: Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-North Brandford) had proposed a bill that would allow schools, when used as polling places, to mandate photo ID for entry into the building if such a requirement is already part of their policy.
Delaware: Legislators are considering a bill that would include Delaware in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
Florida: Sen. Linda Stewart and Rep. Geraldine Thompson have each filed a bill (Senate Bill 1802 and House Bill 1365) would, among other things, make Election Day a state holiday for all state agencies and forbid other employers from denying employees time off with pay to vote on Election Day.
Georgia: The Senate has approved House Bill 316, an omnibus voting bill that would not only tweak state code, but also authorizes the state to purchase new ballot-marking voting equipment. The measure was approved 35-21 along party lines.
Illinois: State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) has introduced two bills, HB 2633 would add Illinois to Crosscheck and HB 2632 would enhance criminal penalties for filing more than one vote and make it a felony to vote in different states.
Kentucky: A House committee advanced a bill that would set up an automatic recount if a legislative election’s margin is within 0.5 percent. After the recount, a candidate still contesting the election could take his or her grievances to court. The automatic recount also would apply to statewide constitutional races and Kentucky’s contests for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.
Maryland: House Bill 423 and Senate Bill 934 would allow students and teachers at public and private high schools who meet the requirements of voter registration to do so at their schools.
Missouri: There are two competing absentee voting bills in the Legislature. Under House Bill 29, a copy of a photo ID would be required when applying by mail for an absentee ballot. Under House Bill 992, voters would no longer need to provide an excuse in order to cast an absentee ballots.
Nebraska: Sen. Megan Hunt has introduced LB163 that would do away with the population lid to conduct vote-by-mail elections and would give election commissioners in all of the state’s 93 counties more flexibility.
New Hampshire: The House has voted to reverse two new voter registration laws although neither have fully taken effect and both are facing court challenges. One of the overturned laws requires voters to provide additional documentation when registering within 30 days of an election and the other related to the difference between domicile and residency. Both now move to the Senate along with a bill allowing for no-excuse absentee voting.
North Carolina: Senate Republicans have introduced a bill that would delay the implementation of the state’s new voter ID until 2020. The House has also approved the bill and it now heads to the desk of Gov. Roy Cooper.
South Carolina: A senate subcommittee did not vote on a proposal allowing early voting for statewide primaries and general elections. The bill would require at least on early voting site in each county.
Texas: Under House Bill 935, elections in even-numbered years would be a holiday for state employees though most state offices would remain open.
Utah: The Senate Government Operations Committee voted unanimously to send SB242 to the full Senate. Under the proposed legislation, the state’s presidential caucuses would be replaced by a presidential preference primary to be held on Super Tuesday.
House Bill 259, which would eliminate straight-party voting, has passed the House and a Senate committee.
Washington: The Legislature has given final approval to the Native American Voting Rights Act that would allow tribal members to request voter registration services be provided at state and tribal facilities on reservations. Voters could register using those buildings’ addresses or register using nontraditional addresses. They will also be able to register online to vote using their tribal IDs and tribes will be able to request additional ballot drop boxes.
Legal Updates
Florida: Aida Xilomen Rodriguez de Shehab, 71 of Alachua County faces five counts of being an unqualified elector willfully voting and four counts of submitting false voter registration information.
Georgia: A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta claims that Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton and DeKalb counties did not provide enough polling places, voting machines and staff during the 2018 midterm elections. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the suit asks the court to order the counties to enact changes before the 2020 election season that would prevent voters from waiting in “unreasonably long lines” on Election Day and allow staff to more quickly process registration forms and absentee ballot applications.
Michigan: Voting system manufacturer Smartmatic has filed suit against a man living in Wyoming County claiming that the man is working with a special interest group to tarnish the company’s reputation. According to Fox17, the lawsuit alleges the group was paying the Michigan man to edit the Smartmatic Wikipedia page, providing him “false and/or one-sided” information about the company to do so.
New Hampshire: Douglas Carl Smith of Warner has been charged with voting in two different town elections on the same day in 2018.
Also in New Hampshire, the city of Concord and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement to provide accessible voting facilities for blind and visually impaired voters.
North Carolina: Wake County Superior Court Judge Vince Rozier ruled that the case against the state’s voter ID law must be transferred to a three-judge panel because the litigation filed by several voters challenges the law’s constitutionality for all voters lacking an ID.
Texas: Harris County and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement over inadequate access to polling places for voters with disabilities. According to the Houston Chronicle, under the agreement Harris County will have to make minor accessibility improvements to as many as 300 of its 750 regular voting sites, hire two outside election experts to supervise balloting and designate an in-house Americans with Disabilities Act compliance officer. The county does not have to concede it has violated the ADA in past elections.
Opinions This Week
National Opinions: Voting rights, II | HR 1, II, III, IV | Suffrage | Election reform | Voting age | War on democracy
Arizona: Obstacles to voting
California: Voting age
Colorado: National popular vote
Florida: Election reform, II, III | Voter registration
Georgia: Election legislation | Secretary of state | Voting machines
Hawaii: Election reform
Illinois: Ranked choice voting
Indiana: Paper ballots
Iowa: Vote-by-mail| Ex-felon voting rights | Election legislation
Maine: National popular vote | Ranked choice voting
Massachusetts: Ranked choice voting
Minnesota: Ex-felon voting rights
New Jersey: Ex-felon voting rights
North Carolina: Election fraud, II, III
Ohio: Young voters | Election security
Oregon: Dennis Richardson | Secretary of state
Pennsylvania: Election security | Voting system
Texas: Voting machines | Voter fraud
Virginia: Election reform
Wisconsin: Automatic voter registration
Upcoming Events
Unrig Summit 2019 — This is no ordinary conference. Unrig is fast-paced, solutions-oriented, and fun. No boring speeches — 2019’s lineup has more trainings, more workshops, more tools to power you up. Featuring America’s most powerful presenters, expert trainers, activists, musicians, artists and more, we’re bringing together the brightest minds from the right and left to build a new political future for America. 3 days. 2 nights. 1 vision: Unrig the System. Where: Nashville, TN When: Fri March 29 – Sun March 31.
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.
Election Mail Forum One-Day Conference — you are invited to participate in a special one-day Election Mail Forum exclusively at the National Postal Forum, Monday May 6, 2019 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Indianapolis Indiana. Come see community leaders showcase election mail. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn and network with Postal Service Leadership, State Election Executives, and election mail preparation vendors. Learn how to Leverage USPS Addressing Products to improve voter roll quality. Come learn about Full Service, STID, IMb— an alternative for “postmark” authentication. When: May 6. Where: Indianapolis.
National Association of Secretaries Of State — The National Association of Secretaries of State will hold their annual summer conference in late June, early July in New Mexico. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registrations. When: June 30-July 3. Where: Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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.
Assistant County Clerk-Registrar of Voters, Butte County, California — the Assistant County Clerk-Registrar of Voters directs, plans, manages, and coordinates the staff and operations of the County Clerk-Registrar of Voters Division. This single incumbent position is responsible for the management, technical and operational functions of the County Clerk-Registrar of Voter’s Division and reports to the County Clerk-Recorder-Registrar of Voters. Salary: $96,720.00—$129,625.60 annually. Deadline: March 15. 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, Washington Secretary of State’s Office— this position reports to the certification and training program manager and is responsible for overseeing, reviewing and advising county auditors on the federal and state elections laws and the administration of voter registration. Serves as the lead program specialist in the required election administrator certification program; Certifies state and local election administrators following a series of classes and tests. Participates in the elections training program and county election review program; travels extensively throughout the state to conduct reviews of county elections departments. Participates in the initiative and referenda filing and clearinghouse advisories program. Provide support to Washington State counties on election processes, county WEI systems, and logic and accuracy test program. Salary: $4,275.00 – $5,745.00 Monthly. 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.
Director, Miami County, Ohio Board of Elections— The Miami County Board of Elections is seeking applicants for the position of Director. This position, in cooperation with the Deputy Director, is responsible for overseeing, directing and managing the Board of Elections Office; developing, recommending, and adhering to an annual budget; and conducting fair and impartial elections. Qualified candidates must be affiliated with the Republican Party, reside within Miami County or be able to relocate within 30 days of accepting the position. Applicants must agree to a background check. A candidate for Director of the Board of Elections must possess at least a high school diploma or its equivalency. College level education is desired, and specialized training and/or certification in the various aspects of election administration is to be favored in evaluating applicants. Salary: The base salary for the director position will be $49,899 or DOQ, plus benefits.Application: Applicants are requested to demonstrate how they meet the necessary qualifications of the job description when submitting their resume. Interested parties may receive a copy of the job description, evaluation criteria and Ohio Secretary of State Form 307 by visiting the Miami County Board of Elections website at miami.ohioboe.com. The website also has the Questionnaire for Prospective Appointment as a Member, Director or Deputy Director of the County Board of Elections (Form No. 307) on it. Any qualified registered Republican may apply by submitting Form 307, along with a current resume, to Miami County Board of Elections, Old Courthouse, 215 West Main Street, Troy, Ohio 45373, or by emailing iridgeway@miamicountyohio.gov. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Director, Voting System Testing and Certification, U.S. Election Assistance Commission— the purpose of EAC’s national voting system certification program is to independently verify that voting systems applying to the EAC program comply with the functional capabilities, accessibility, and security requirements necessary to ensure the integrity and reliability of the voting system, as established in the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. The incumbent of this position is a first line supervisor for the Voting System Testing and Certification (VST&C) Division. Salary: $96,970 to $125,967 per year. Deadline: March 20. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Deputy Director, Oregon Secretary of State’s Office— exciting career opportunity! The Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division in recruiting for elections deputy director. The primary purpose of this position is to assist the Division Director in the execution of the statutory responsibilities and general operations of the Elections Division. Collaborate with the Elections Director to develop the Division’s budget, organizational goals and objectives as well as advance the direction of the Division. As the subject matter expert, oversee and coordinate the conduct of elections at the state and local level. Perform supervisory functions including but not limited to: hiring, training/coaching, planning, assigning, prioritizing and reviewing work, evaluating performance, implementing disciplinary action and responding to complaints. Salary: $6,480-$10,024 monthly. Deadline: March 18. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Specialist, Pinal County, Arizona— Perform a variety of paraprofessional and technical functions in the administration and support of the elections functions for Pinal County under general supervision. Typical classification essential duties include: Prepare contacts, assign poll worker notices, create notices advising poll workers to which Voting Precincts they have been assigned, and review and verify that confirmation from poll worker is received by deadline. Coordinate payroll for poll workers, in-house election boards, and troubleshooters and prepare payments for poll workers. Conduct poll worker classes and update poll worker instruction manual based on changes in legislation, equipment, etc. for each election cycle. Submit agenda items to approve poll worker assignments, polling locations, canvassing, and other assignments and conduct election troubleshooter training on proper Election Day procedures. Contract with various entities for the use of buildings for polling locations, research area to be voted in, and locate facilities with adequate space for use on Election Day. Coordinate and send notices to all cities, towns, school districts, and special taxing districts advising of the dates for the upcoming year and provide a time schedule to submit requests to the department for election assistance. Draft and publish required legal notices in local newspapers. Process and submit accounts payable, federal grant reports and billing, and other various reporting to the State election division for processing. Provide basic technical support to the automated electronic voting machines and ensure voting equipment is maintained and operates properly for election. Assist with ballot creation duties including proofreading all ballot styles, sending ballot proofs to candidates and jurisdictions, working with translators for accurate translations, and creating and reviewing ballot orders. Assist with ballot tabulation duties, including election night reporting, post-election audits, hand counts, and preparation of the official election canvass documents. Assemble election supply cages for every polling place that includes voting materials and needed supplies for Election Day, and assist with delivery to and from the polling places. Assist with customer service duties via email, phone, face-to-face interactions and public records requests. Assist with candidate filings, nomination papers, financial disclosure statements along with campaign finance reports. Salary: $39,411-$44,337. Deadline: March 20. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Election Technician, Monroe County, Washington— The individual assigned to this classification provides administrative and technical duties related to the election process and voter outreach. This classification is primarily responsible for assisting in all duties required to conduct elections and maintain voter registration. This individual receives significant public contact requiring effective written and oral communication skills and service to the customers. The Auditor’s office is a small office and all staff are crossed trained in Vehicle Licensing and Recording to assist the other departments. Communicates with customers, in person, by phone, and through written correspondence, effectively in English and preferably in Spanish as well. Maintains and updates the Auditor’s Office web presence. Coordinates speaking engagements. Assists public with voter registration process. Maintains a working knowledge of the local voter registration system and ballot processing software. Assists with the election process by issuing replacement ballots, receiving incoming ballots, verifying voters’ signatures, etc. Salary: $3,042 – $3,896/monthly. Deadline: April 5. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
GIS Analyst, Yolo County, California— Yolo County ACE (Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Elections Department) in coordination with the Yolo County General Services department are recruiting for a G.I.S. Analyst. This recruitment is on-going until filled. Submitted applications will be screened continuously, and those applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will move forward to the Screening for Best Qualified process. This position will work inter-departmentally to develop and implement GIS capabilities in Yolo County ACE. GIS is viewed by County Leadership as an innovative enterprise technology that is positioned to help advance County strategic goals. Recent projects include implementing a new enterprise environment, developing an Elections Night Reporting application, developing mobile applications for polling place reporting, and a migration the ESRI Parcel Fabric. The ideal candidate for this position will be a positive, collaborative, solution-focused individual with excellent interpersonal and customer service skills and the ability to handle and manage multiple priorities. If you feel like you meet these qualifications and you would like to join a dynamic organization committed to supporting an environment where employees feel a true sense of passion, purpose and commitment to their job… Yolo County ACE is where you want to be! Our department strives to honor the public’s trust and redefine excellence through innovation and the commitment of a highly-engaged and empowered team. Check out all the exciting things ACE has going on by visiting our social media pages (Facebook: /YoloACE, Instagram: /YoloCoACE, and Twitter: @YoloCoACE). You can be the next Yolo ACE – come and join our team! Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Project Manager, Hart InterCivic— Project Managers at Hart InterCivic are highly motivated “self-starters” who are enthusiastic about providing exceptional customer service. Working with other members of the Professional Services and Operations teams, the Project Manager directs activity, solves problems, and develops lasting and strong relationships with our customers. Hart InterCivic’s unique and industry known culture of innovation, transparency, and customer-centric focus creates an environment where team members will continually grow and be challenged to develop their careers. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Product Manager, Hart InterCivic — as Product Manager, you will join a team that is charged with product planning, design, and execution throughout the lifecycle of Hart’s products, in support of the company’s overall strategy and goals. This includes: gathering, validating, and prioritizing internal and external customer needs; documenting and communicating product and technical requirements; gathering market and competitive intelligence; supporting the certification, sales, and marketing teams. The Product Manager must possess a unique blend of business and technical savvy – with experience in elections technology or other government-oriented products preferred. To succeed in this role, the ideal candidate must spend time in the market to understand its unique attributes; demonstrate competence with specialized hardware and software; and find innovative solutions for the broader market. The Product Manager plays a key role in helping others to understand the product positioning, key benefits, and target customer, as well as providing advanced subject matter expertise in using the company’s products. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Systems Software Specialist, Yolo County, California — The Elections Branch of Yolo County ACE (Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Elections Department) in coordination with the Yolo County Information Technology department are recruiting for a Systems Software Specialist. This recruitment is on-going until filled. The Systems Software Specialist class series is responsible for the design, coding, implementation, maintenance and evaluation of computer software. This includes, but is not limited to, operating systems, control systems, proprietary software packages, telecommunications software and database management software. The class also aides in solving problems and achieving the best use of available hardware and software; work with staff to design and implement network segmentation, domain addressing and routing strategies; work with technical staff to ensure effective operations of complex multiple hardware and software configurations; and act as a lead persons over other personnel and program projects and performs related duties as required. If you would like to join a dynamic organization committed to supporting an environment where employees feel a true sense of passion, purpose and commitment to their job… Yolo County ACE is where you want to be! Our department strives to honor the public’s trust and redefine excellence through innovation and the commitment of a highly-engaged and empowered team. Check out all the exciting things ACE has going on by visiting our social media pages (Facebook: /YoloACE, Instagram: /YoloCoACE, and Twitter: @YoloCoACE). You can be the next Yolo ACE – come and join our team! Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Technical Bid Specialist, Scytl — The Technical Bid Specialist is an essential member of the sales team, supporting business development initiatives as well as providing support to the Marketing department. Based in our Tampa Florida, offices, the Technical Bid Specialist is in charge of managing the coordination, completion and handover of tender proposals for our clients and prospects. This is a key position with a great deal of involvement in the sales process and a decisive influence in the achievement of each deal. To be able to perform this task, the Technical Bid Specialist needs to possess a solid technical background, outstanding writing capabilities and proven experience in pre-sales or consulting endeavors, always facing the client and having to put together complex IT proposals or projects. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Marketplace
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Excess Equipment
Pinal County, Arizona has some excess elections equipment including 19 OS machines and approximately 300 voter booths. If interested, contact Stephanie Cooper, Pinal County elections supervisor at 520-866-7552 or drop her an email at stephanie.cooper@pinalcountyaz.gov.
Ballot Scanners
Ballot reader. $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.