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February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023

In Focus This Week

How’m I Doin’?
An Introduction (and Look Ahead) to Program Evaluation in Election Administration

By Doug Chapin, Fors Marsh (and electionline Director Emeritus)

Ed Koch, former New York City mayor (1978-1989), was famous for greeting his constituents, on street corners or in the subway, with a simple phrase: “how’m I doin’?” It was his way of reconnecting with them and asking them to give him honest appraisals of his performance.

For the election field, that simple question must feel dangerous given how loudly (and sometimes violently) critics have been offering their own “feedback” since 2020. And yet, with federal grants for election cybersecurity and COVID-19 assistance in the field – and a growing push for regular funding for election administration – there will be a time very soon where state and local election officials and anyone else doing work in this space will have to become familiar with program evaluation: the formal process by which funding recipients tell Congress or other funding sources how I’m doin’.

To date, program evaluation has not been used in the election funding space, but it is already a well-recognized concept; indeed, many federal grants – including, for example, DHS’ State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program – include language like this:

Recipients … are encouraged to incorporate program evaluation activities from the outset of their program design and implementation to meaningfully document and measure their progress towards the outcomes proposed.

These activities are in addition to financial or progress reports, and they are designed to go beyond what a grantee did with the funds to a demonstration of what the funding did. Many agencies already do this as a matter of course, as demonstrated by Fors Marsh’s existing work with the Federal Voting Assistance Program, Internal Revenue Service and Small Business Administration, just to name a few.

Evaluation can take many forms:

  • Impact evaluations, which use sophisticated design and analytical techniques to establish direct causal impacts between grant funding and desired outcomes;
  • Outcome evaluations,  which do not establish causality but seek to establish correlations between grantee activities and their intended outcomes;
  • Process or implementation evaluations assess whether or not the process for implementing the grant-funded program is on track – and in turn can suggest topics for measuring the impacts or outcomes of specific activities;
  • Formative evaluations usually take place before a project starts and are designed to identify how a grantee will track and measure resource inputs, process steps and outcomes (anyone familiar with “logic models” will recognize this type); and
  • Descriptive studies are background work done to survey the field for relevant examples, practices, etc. that set the stage for both the program itself and evaluation of its progress.

The methods used in each of these evaluations vary widely based on the project, ranging from quantitative analysis on complex experiments to qualitative research based on in-depth interviews or textual analysis – and every mixture in-between. However it’s done, the overall goal is to tell the story of how grant funding did (or didn’t) achieve policymakers’ desired aims.

While some of this work can be done retrospectively on work that is complete or in progress, more often than not program evaluation works best when it is built into the process from the outset. Given the increasing bipartisan demand at the federal level for evidence-based policymaking (as evidenced by a 2018 law of the same name) it is likely only a matter of time before formal program evaluations come to the federal election grant funding arena. Offices that get ahead of these requirements will likely have the best results going forward.

Given the current fraught environment for election officials, it may seem daunting to self-report on grant progress – but it can also be a fantastic opportunity for you to tell your own story and demonstrate not just the wisdom of current federal grants but also build policymakers’ confidence in the value of ongoing financial support for the elections field.

As always, my colleagues and I at Fors Marsh are happy to assist – and help you be ready to answer that very important question: How’m I doin’?

Doug Chapin, one of electionline.org’s founders, is a Senior Elections Fellow in Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis at Fors Marsh – a B Corp based in Arlington, VA working with the public and private sector to build research and evidence in support of efforts to build a better world.

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Election News This Week

2023 Elections: The 2023 election season is well underway and this week voters headed to the polls in several states for primaries and special elections. Wisconsin held a statewide Supreme Court election and turnout was just over 20% which was actually higher than in previous Supreme Court elections. One polling place in Dane County was forced to move to a back-up location after shots were fired outside of the original polling place. Voting was delayed for about an hour and a half in the Village of Brooklyn after sheriff’s deputies locked down a community building that served as the village’s sole polling site, according to Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell. A 75-year-old man was arrested two and a half hours after the incident was reported and charged with disorderly conduct while armed. Some polling places in Madison saw shortages of pre-printed ballots, but Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell stressed no voters were turned away due to a lack of ballots. The Town of Middleton Board added a polling place and electronic check-in books to make voting more efficient during the 2023 Spring Primary. In addition to the new polling place, the board used American Rescue Plan Act funding to purchase 14 Badger Books which poll workers can use to check-in voters digitally. Chief Election Inspector Bob Betzig said the change is much needed after some voters waited more than two hours to exercise their right to vote during the November 8, 2022, Election. “What you don’t want to do is discourage anyone from coming in and voting which I’m sure there were people who went home last time out of need,” he said. “They had to get back to watch their kids or do something. That’s not right.” It was a family affair in the Town of New Haven where Cheryl Coon, her daughter Kim Musiedlak, and her granddaughter (Kim’s daughter) Maya all worked the Feb. 21 primary election. “Nowadays with all the talk of election fraud and such it is really an honor to have people come forward to serve as poll workers,” said New Haven town clerk Kenneth Crothers. “Cheryl Coon is a long-time and trusted poll worker and member of the community.” “He gives us way too much credit,” said Coon lightheartedly of Crothers. “We only do a good job because he is so organized and gets everything prepared for us and we just follow his direction.” In Virginia there were a couple of special elections including one in Prince William County for the Gainesville District seat on the county board. Election morning got off to a bumpy start after it was discovered that ballots were too wide to fit into ballot scanners. According to local media, the ballots were about 1/16 of an inch too bid. Eric Olsen, Director of Elections in Prince William County said his office was notified as soon as polls opened and staff worked to reporting ballots. New ballots were printed at both the precincts and the main office of elections. The ballots printed at the precincts were used until the main office could print a larger number of ballots and deliver them where needed. “Regarding the few ballots that were unable to scan in the early hours of the day, our officers followed protocol with securely collecting those, and they will be hand-counted at the end of the night as part of final reporting procedures,” Olsen said in a statement. According to Olsen, most precincts only received about five of the wrong-sized ballots before replacement ballots were printed and delivered.

EAC Local Leadership Council: This week,  U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) Local Leadership Council (LLC) approved the committee’s initial Bylaws during its virtual meeting. The LLC Bylaws establish the guidelines for the conduct of the council members, meetings, and subcommittees. They also cover several topics, including the process for calling and conducting meetings, the establishment of committees, the structure of the Executive Committee, the makeup of Regional Committees, and the process of holding elections.  The passage of the LLC Bylaws marks an important milestone that will help to propel the committee’s vital work forward,” said Christy McCormick, Vice Chair of the EAC and Designated Federal Officer of the LLC. “Our membership comprises local leaders and officials who administer elections. By hearing directly from those who serve on the front lines of U.S. elections, the EAC can create even more impactful resources as the national clearinghouse on election administration.”  LLC members provide recommendations and feedback to the EAC on a range of topics such as voter registration, voting system user practices, ballot administration (programming, printing, and logistics), processing, accounting, canvassing, chain of custody, certifying results, and auditing. The EAC appoints two members from each state to the 100-member LLC after soliciting nominations from each state’s election official professional association. Members of this advisory board, which was established in June 2021, must be serving or have previously served in a leadership role in a state election official professional association when appointed. The LLC is currently comprised of 89 appointed members. A recording of the February 21 LLC meeting, which also included discussion on the committee’s organizational structure and the logistics of the LLC annual meetings, can be found on the EAC’s YouTube channel.

NASS Award: The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) has presented the 2022 Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award for political courage posthumously to Miguel H. Trujillo for championing Native American voting rights. The award was accepted by Trujillo’s granddaughter, Patricia Abeita, in a ceremony held during the NASS 2023 Winter Conference. Over 70 years ago, Trujillo initiated a court challenge to a provision in New Mexico’s constitution which barred Native Americans from voting. In 1948, a District Court sided with him by deciding it was unconstitutional. This important action expanded voting rights to all Native Americans in New Mexico. “As a World War II veteran, educator and Isleta Pueblo tribal member, Miguel Trujillo lived a life of service and purpose. His work to expand voting rights to New Mexico’s Native American pop­ulation was a significant contribution to our democracy. NASS and our members admire his ef­forts, and it is our tremendous privilege to bestow our highest honor on him,” said NASS Presi­dent and New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way. Trujillo was nominated by New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. “Miguel Trujillo’s selfless efforts to expand the franchise are a high mark in the fight for voting rights in the United States,” said Toulouse Oliver. “Though less known than other civil rights pio­neers, the consequences of Mr. Trujillo’s actions have had an enormous impact on expanding the most fundamental of our civil rights. The legacy of Miguel Trujillo is one of dignity, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to furthering the civil rights of Native Americans and I’m proud to see him recognized as the recipient of the 2022 Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award.”

Personnel News: Felicia Dell, Mark Derr and Christy Fawcett have been appointed to serve on the York County, Pennsylvania board of elections. John Camardo is the new Democratic elections commissioner in Cayuga County, New York. Snyder County, Pennsylvania Elections Director Elizabeth Canfield has resigned after six months on the job. Brenda Arp has been named the new elections administrator in Brown County, Texas. Rochester, Massachusetts Town Clerk Paul Dawson announced that he will not seek re-election.

In Memoriam: Dorothy Yarborough, head of the Alamance County, North Carolina Board of Elections and a long-time local civil rights leader, has died. According to a local publican, Yarborough had been in declining health. Yarborough was appointed to the board by Gov. Roy Cooper in 2019, and she has served as chairman of the five-member board during most of that time; Yarborough appointed her as chairman of the board in July 2021. Yarborough had been active in both the NAACP and the Committee on Civic Affairs, which she headed for many years. She was a giant in this community,” Michael Graves, a former chairman of the local NAACPsaid.  While acknowledging Yarborough’s role as both a Democratic party leader and a civil rights leader, Graves said Yarborough’s motivation “was not a party thing, it wasn’t a race thing.  It was a human being thing. She cared for everybody.”

Legislative Updates

Alabama: One state lawmaker is working to codify some of Alabama’s election rules into law. The first election-related bill from Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R- Prattville) would require paper ballots for all elections. The second prohibits any vote county machines from connecting to the internet. The current administrative code already has those rules in place. Chambliss said these bills would cement them into law. “If there is a problem, say a lightning strike or computer failure or something like that, we always have a paper trail to go back and to make sure that we have the count exactly right,” Chambliss said.  New Secretary of State Wes Allen supports the proposals. He said even though Alabama has secure elections, strengthening the current rules is important to voters. Montgomery County Probate Judge JC Love said these bills wouldn’t impact election operations in his county. “No, it doesn’t change anything that we do,” Love said. “It just puts it into law.”  He said the county uses paper ballots already and none of the voting machines connect to the internet or modem technology.

Arizona: The House passed a bill along party lines that would make it illegal for state secretaries of state to oversee and confirm the results of elections in which they are also candidates. The bill passed 31-29 and now heads to the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans. Its primary sponsor is Republican Rep. Rachel Jones. It would require secretaries of state to recuse themselves from overseeing their own elections and to publicly appoint others who would do the job, instead. The bill was initially introduced when Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, was secretary of state while she was running for governor last year. The House passed the bill after its Municipal Oversight and Elections Committee passed it last month alongside three other election-related bills sponsored by Republicans. Jones at the time described the bill as “one more step toward a transparent election process” in the state.

Arkansas: A bill that would ban absentee ballot drop boxes in Arkansas gained approval from a Senate committee. Members of the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committee passed Senate Bill 258 sponsored by Sen. Tyler Dees, R-Siloam Springs, with only one lawmaker, Sen. Clarke Tucker, voting against it. Tucker, a Democrat from Little Rock, said he didn’t understand the argument that ballot drop boxes create a higher potential for voter fraud. “Where you drop mail at the post office, that’s not manned. You can stuff as many items into a drop box at a post office as you want, they can be mailed to the circuit clerk,” Tucker said. “So how does the risk for fraud exist in a drop box that does not exist with sending items through the mail?” Dees responded that the goal of the bill is to make it harder for bad actors to submit fraudulent absentee ballots. “Each drop box across the country acts as a beacon of mistrust for voters. I do believe it increases the potential for fraud… there’s the potential for someone to do the same things that we’re talking about with drop boxes through the mail, but by allowing drop boxes, it only intensifies the opportunity,” Dees said. Currently no counties in Arkansas have used unmanned ballot drop boxes for elections. Absentee voters are required to mail in their ballots or deliver it personally or by a designated bearer to their county clerk’s office. The bill passed the committee on a voice vote and now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

A new bill filed in the Arkansas house would make all poll watchers go through the same training courses. One of the bill’s primary sponsors Kim Hammer says there were disparities in the way poll watchers were trained during the last elections.  “One situation is the location of where a poll watcher can be,” he said. “How close to the proximity of seeing somebody vote. Whether or not they can handle the paper ballot. Even down to what they’re allowed to wear.” Under this bill, the state board of elections would develop a training course. People would have the choice of doing it online.

A state Senate committee advanced a bill which would require the state Board of Election Commissioners to conduct an election integrity review of election-related documents and records following each election cycle in the odd-numbered years after an election. Under the bill, the counties selected to participate in the election integrity review would be chosen at random in a public meeting of the state Board of Election Commissioners; designated by a two-thirds vote of the board if information obtained through the complaint process or by a certified election monitor indicates that a substantial violation of election or voter registration laws may have occurred in that county; or designated by the Legislature’s Joint Performance Review Committee. The board would be required to pick 15 counties by designation or by random selection by Jan. 31 of the odd-numbered year to participate in the election integrity review, starting Jan. 1, 2025. The board may conduct an election integrity review of election-related documents and records prior to Jan. 1, 2025, as a pilot program. The election integrity review would include not less than 15 counties and no more than 20 counties in an odd-numbered year under SB272.

Georgia: A bill introduced in the Georgia Senate would make the printed words on ballots the official vote instead of bar codes that are unreadable by the human eye. State election officials urged caution before lawmakers change Georgia’s voting system and impose new costs on taxpayers. The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Max Burns, said that he wants voters to know that their choices are counted correctly rather than having to trust votes encoded in bar codes, also called QR codes. “The intent is to make sure that the voter has confidence that what their paper ballot indicates is what was actually counted,” Burns said of Senate Bill 189. “If you look at the QR code, that gives some people concern because they can’t read it.” The secretary of state’s office has previously evaluated a different way of removing bar codes. Ballots could be printed with ovals next to candidate names, and then the ovals could be read by scanning machines. “The system that the Legislature directed to be acquired is serving Georgia voters well and we have seen rising confidence,” Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs said. “Any changes should look to enhance the voter experience and be responsible with both state and county tax dollars. The current proposal doesn’t take these into account and would cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Idaho: The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted along party lines to pass a bill that would remove student IDs from the list of types of identification accepted to vote at Idaho polls. Rep. Tina Lambert, R-Caldwell, sponsored House Bill 124, saying it would help prevent fraud at the polls — without citing any specific instances in Idaho where student IDs were used to commit voter fraud. “The problem with student ID cards is that they are not secure,” Lambert said on the House floor. “Proof of identity is not required in order to get one. Some are going to say that this bill will prevent young people from voting. That is certainly not the goal. The goal is simply to ensure that only qualified people are voting in Idaho elections.” Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, debated against passing the bill, saying removing student IDs basically amounts to a poll tax by forcing students — particularly young people who don’t drive or have a driver’s license  — to obtain another accepted form of identification to cast their ballots. If the bill removing student ID cards is passed into law, the only acceptable forms of identification for voting in Idaho would include: An Idaho driver’s license or ID card issued by the Idaho Transportation Department; A passport or photo ID card issued by the U.S. government; A tribal photo ID card; or a license to carry concealed weapons or an enhanced license to carry concealed weapons. House Bill 124 passed 59-11, with every Democrat voting against it. The bill heads next to the Idaho Senate for consideration.

The Senate State Affairs Committee moved three voting bills forward on Monday, all supported by Secretary of State Phil McGrane. Senate Bill 1078, would add candidates to the state’s existing voting guide. Currently, the state only provides a pamphlet including information on referendums, initiatives and ballot questions, not candidates. The bill would add to the Secretary of State’s voter’s guide for the primary and general elections. House Bill 11 also sailed through Senate State Affairs after passing the House of Representatives unanimously. The bill would prohibit the state from accepting private money to pay for elections. Senate Bill 1048 passed the committee and will move to the Senate floor. That bill amends existing law regarding post-election audits. The bill creates an exemption for precincts that had a close race and are already within the legal margin for a free recount.

A bill has been introduced to a House committee that would pre-emptively ban ranked choice voting.

Indiana: Hoosiers applying to vote by mail would have to show some kind of voter ID under legislation approved by the House. Under current law, if you mail in your application to get a vote-by-mail ballot, you prove your identity by signing that application. The signature is then matched against the signature on file with your local election administrator’s office. Rep. Tim Wesco’s (R-Osceola) bill, HB1334, asks those voters to include the last four digits of their Social Security number and either their driver’s license number, their state ID number or their voter registration number. Wesco said they can include only one of those numbers but it could delay their application from being approved if the numbers don’t match with their voter registration file. Alternatively, Hoosiers could send in a photocopy of voter ID (such as a driver’s license) with their vote-by-mail application. Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) said the bill seeks to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. “And if it makes it harder for any one person to vote, especially the elderly, it’s voter suppression,” Pfaff said.

Kansas: The Senate debated four election bills banning use of ballot drop boxes, setting a tighter deadline for mail-in advance voting, permitting candidates for local nonpartisan offices to add party affiliation to ballots and compelling write-in candidates to affirm their candidacy three weeks before an election. In its original form, Senate Bill 208 would have rationed ballot drop boxes in Kansas to a maximum of one per county, whether that was Johnson County with more than 600,000 residents or Greeley County with 1,200 people. The bill was crafted so the lone box for advance ballots would be placed inside the county election office. That box would be continuously monitored by two people of different political parties during office hours. Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, offered an amendment banning use of drop boxes statewide. It passed 22-16, with Republicans and Democrats voting against it. Under Senate Bill 209, the three-day grace period for mail-in advance ballots would be repealed. That state law creating that buffer was adopted in 2017 by votes of 40-0 in the Senate and 123-1 in the House. It was a response to service changes by the U.S. Postal Service that were expected to slow mail delivery. The Senate bill would set a hard deadline for all advance ballots at 7 p.m. Election Day, Thompson said. If the same provision had been in statute during the 2020 election, it would have blocked counting of 32,000 ballots statewide. The objective of Senate Bill 210 was to nullify city ordinances and county resolutions forbidding candidates for nonpartisan offices from including their party affiliation on ballots. Passage of the bill would let candidates for school board or city offices voluntarily have their political party membership displayed on ballots after July1. Under Senate Bill 221, write-in candidates for state and local elections would be required to file an affidavit before the election to confirm interest in seeking nomination and election to that office. Write-in votes wouldn’t be counted if candidates for the Legislature, state Board of Education, district or magistrate judge, district attorney, county offices and first-class city offices failed to submit an affidavit at least three weeks from Election Day. It wouldn’t apply to township elections

Kentucky: Vacant seats on Louisville’s Metro Council would primarily be filled through special elections rather than appointments under a bipartisan bill that cleared the House. House Bill 191, sponsored by Republican Rep. Jared Bauman of Louisville, passed 99-0 and now heads to the Senate. The measure gives voters in Metro Council districts the power to cast ballots for their representatives weeks after vacancies, changing a process that now lets the council choose who will hold empty seats between scheduled elections. “This appointment process has long been considered undemocratic and undesirable across the council, across the county and across this General Assembly,” Bauman said in a floor speech. HB 191 requires a special election 60 days after a seat becomes vacant. A special election would not occur if the vacancy happens less than three months before a scheduled November election for a term set to expire in January; in that case, the council president would appoint someone to finish the term. If a vacancy happens within three months of an election and the term won’t expire in January, the winner of the November election would serve the remainder of the term. Each special election would cost an estimated $50,000, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill.

Minnesota: The Senate passed a bill 35-30 to restore voting rights to people still on parole or probation. The bill now heads to Gov. Tim Walz, who’s said he’ll sign it. “People in our communities are being taxed without being able to vote on their own representation,” said Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park. “It undermines the very concept of our union of the United States.”  More than 50,000 Minnesotans would regain the right to vote if the bill (HF28) is signed into law. Minnesota law currently allows formerly incarcerated people to vote after finishing all of their sentence, including probation, parole or any form of supervised release. Minnesota has one of the lowest incarceration rates in the country but some of the longest probationary periods of any state.  Restoring the right to vote is part of the Democratic push to expand voting rights, as Republican states across the country have sought to restrict voting by eliminating ballot drop boxes and shortening early voting periods. Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, introduced a litany of amendments to restrict people who have committed various crimes from voting, including violence, sex trafficking and child rape. Republicans said the amendments would support victims. All of the amendments introduced by Senate Republicans — which were similar to the amendments introduced by House Republicans — failed to pass.

Nevada: Senate Bill 162 (SB162) would require county clerks to work with sheriff’s departments “to establish one polling place in each county jail and city jail exclusively for prisoners in the jail who are registered voters in the county to vote in person on the day of a primary election, presidential preference primary election or general election.” Senator Melanie Scheible, a Democrat representing District 9 in the southwest Las Vegas valley, is the chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Her bill spells out details related to voting, including a provision that restricts election observers at jails unless the sheriff accommodates those visitors. “With certain exceptions, the provisions of election law apply to the polling places established in jails, voting at such polling places and registering to vote on the day of the election at these polling places,” the bill states.

Asm. Greg Hafen, R-Pahrump, has introduced Assembly Bill 88, which would narrow the acceptable forms of ID in-person voters would need to show to cast a ballot. They include a driver’s license or identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, or tribal voters, one issued through their federally-recognized tribe. Hafen has said the measure is about fighting election fraud and restoring election integrity. The bill would also require mail-in ballots to be returned with not only a signature, but the last four digits of a voter’s Social Security number, as well as their driver’s license or ID card number.

New Hampshire: A former New Hampshire Supreme Court justice wants to eliminate the affidavit process that allows Granite Staters to vote without an ID on Election Day, but the legislation is facing skepticism at the State House. In New Hampshire, voters registering at the polls on Election Day without an ID sign an affidavit attesting that they are domiciled in the state and then cast a ballot. Former state Supreme Court justice turned state Rep. Robert Lynn, R-Windham, has filed legislation to stop that. Democrats said the bill is a solution in search of a problem. They pointed to the exhaustive investigations of voter affidavits by the state attorney general’s office, which roots out voter fraud and prosecutes it. They also question whether the restriction on who can vote is legal under the constitution. While the bill could prevent some cases of fraud, election officials said it could make obtaining a ballot more difficult for qualified voters as well. “We had voters who have always voted in the same ward, and two elections in a row, their name’s not on the list,” said Elizabeth Corell, Concord Ward 5 supervisor of the checklist. “Now try telling them they don’t have the right documentation to vote. I mean, really, if you want to see anger, that’s where you’re going to see it.”

New Jersey: Four more bills reforming New Jersey’s elections administration cleared the Assembly State and Local Government Committee, including one notable bill that would require county clerks to update election results and uncounted ballot tallies every day following an election. Currently, every county clerk in New Jersey reports initial results on their websites on Election Day, but in the following days some clerks neglect to update the results frequently or at all, and there’s no mechanism for determining how many votes remain uncounted. That causes a lack of transparency in close races where late-counted votes mail-in or provisional ballots could shift the final outcome. “In recent years, we have seen how inconsistent reporting can lead to voter confusion and, unfortunately, faster conspiracy theories online,” testified Micauri Vargas of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “This bill will help address those issues.” Two other bills that were approved, A5175 and A5177, concern a wide array of primary and general election deadlines related to filing petitions, printing ballots, conducting recounts, and more. “[These bills] are a result of some unintended consequences that arose from a bill the legislature passed back in June of 2022,” Committee Chair Anthony Verrelli (D-Hopewell) said. “As anyone who deals with these types of matters knows, when you change one election deadline, there is a potential for that to have a ripple effect on deadlines in various other statutes.” Finally, one bill would require county clerks to provide accessibility-oriented mail-in ballots for voters with disabilities and allow those ballots to be returned electronically in some cases. The bill drew a large number of supporters, many of them from the blind community, who said that voting should be made far easier for people with disabilities.

New Mexico: The Senate approved SB 43 which makes the act of intimidating election officials a fourth degree felony. The bill was approved on a 38-0 vote and now the bill goes to the House for committee approval. Under our current law, if someone seeks to intimidate a voter or challenger or watcher at the polls, by threatening force or violence or economic retaliation for the purpose of interfering, interfering with them voting for them, or preventing them from impartial administration of our election code that is a fourth degree felony,” bill sponsor Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, said. “What this bill does is it also extends the same protections to the people who are actually putting our elections on: our election workers, everyone from Secretary of State to county clerks to municipal clerks as well as their employees and agents.” The bill came following threats against election officials in recent elections.

A bill prohibiting firearms at polling places passed the Senate and now heads to the House for consideration. SB 44 was passed on a 28-9 vote. “(SB 44) prohibits the carrying of a firearm within 100 feet of a polling place during an election, with an exception for peace officers,” bill co-sponsor Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said. “This puts in place the same rule that already exists when a polling place is at a school. Currently, when a polling place is at a school, you cannot have a firearm. This bill creates the same standard for other polling places, not at schools. I think given where we are in our political discourse, I would say that elections and firearms really don’t mix. And so this bill simply creates a level playing field for our polling places.” The bill was approved after two floor amendments failed and after about 45 minutes of discussion.

Independent voters would no longer have to sit out primary elections under a bill the Senate approved this week. Senate Bill 73, which now heads to the House for consideration, would allow unaffiliated voters to select a major party ballot and vote in a primary election without having to change their registration status. Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, an Albuquerque Democrat, joined nine Senate Republicans voting against the measure, saying it takes responsibility out of voting. “I just see this as a kind of Generation X kind of thing where we don’t really want to have any responsibilities for helping to raise money for a candidate or work for the candidate or the party. We don’t want to have to make phone calls for the party. We don’t have to want to do anything but just show up and vote,” he said.

The House of Representatives voted to pass a bill expanding voting rights in New Mexico 41-26 following three hours of a far-reaching debate. HB 4 seeks to expand automatic voter registration, restore released convicted felons’ right to vote, create a voluntary permanent absentee voter list and enact the Native American Voting Rights Act. The legislation would: Phase in automatic voter registration during some transactions at Motor Vehicle Division offices, such as when a person presents documents proving citizenship while applying for a driver’s license; Newly registered voters would be told they’ve been added to the voter rolls and that they’ll get a postcard in the mail allowing them to decline the registration; Allow voters to sign up once to get absentee ballots before every election; Restore the voting rights of felons when they leave custody rather than after they complete probation or parole; Make Election Day a school holiday; Enact a Native American Voting Rights Act to better coordinate access to the polls on tribal land; and Require each county to have at least two secured, monitored boxes for people to drop off absentee ballots.

North Dakota: The House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill to ensure physical polling places, similar to legislation that failed in 2021, brought in the wake of North Dakota’s all-mail June 2020 election. House Bill 1167, by Rep. Steve Vetter, R-Grand Forks, passed unanimously and now goes to the Senate. The bill states: “The governor may not issue an executive order that suspends or amends a provision in a statute, order, or rule relating to a state or local requirement regarding minimum number of physical polling places.” Rep. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, said the bill guarantees a physical polling place in every county and would ban an all-mail election. “This is an important election integrity bill for those constituents who like to vote in person,” Cory told the House.

Ohio: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Ohio state Senator Theresa Gavarone introduced Senate Bill 71, a new election-reform bill. The election reform law is called “The Data Act,” and the idea is to pull data from the County Board of Elections to make election cycles more clear-cut. Larose issued the directive this, week saying it would help with transparency in the election cycle. He said this bill would take away the headache from counties during ballot cycles on how they report to the Secretary of State’s office. This would change workflow by taking ballots that are cast and electronically streamlining it to the Secretary of State’s Office. It would instruct all of Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections to immediately implement the reforms required under House Bill 458 for the May 2023 primary election. LaRose said that under this senate bill his office would be able to draw the data out and send it directly to the Secretary of State’s Office. Gavarone and LaRose say it could get rid of any election fraud, and give voters confidence that a better election system in place.

Oklahoma: Legislation approved by the Senate would keep noncitizens from voting in Oklahoma elections. According to officials, Senate Bill 377, authored by Senator Brent Howard, R-Altus, was approved to assist county election boards in removing noncitizens from the state’s voter registration rolls.  “Voting is our greatest freedom as U.S. citizens, and we must ensure that our elections are not disrupted by illegal voting,” Howard said. “This is an easy way to help county election boards identify noncitizens who may be registered to vote and remove them from the rolls. County court clerks are already required to submit monthly notifications of felony convictions to the county election board secretaries, so this will be a similar process.” Sen. Howard says the bill would make the cancellation of voter registration necessary for anyone excused from jury duty for not being a U.S. citizen. It was also require county court clerks to create a list every month of everyone who falls under this category and hand that information over to their county election board secretary. According to Howard, the bill would then require the secretary to cancel the registrations of those people and report them to the district attorney as well as the U.S. attorney for that county. The measure will now move to the House for further review.

Oregon: Despite some conservative opposition, the state Senate has approved a resolution supporting county elections officials who’ve faced a wave of threats and violence across the country, including in Oregon. Senate Resolution 1, proposed by Shemia Fagan, Oregon’s secretary of state, condemns violence against election workers and applauds them for “their professionalism and dedication to upholding fair and safe elections.” In written testimony, Fagan called Oregon’s 36 county clerks the state’s “unsung heroes.” All 17 Democrats and five Republicans, including  Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp of Bend, voted for the bill. Seven Republicans voted against it along with independent Sen. Brian Boquist of McMinnville.  A few opponents, including Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, said they support Oregon’s election workers and condemn violence but oppose the resolution because it doesn’t address issues like “ballot harvesting” – when political operatives collect ballots and turn them in – or alleged votes by dead people. The resolution now heads to the House for consideration.

South Dakota: The House Local Government committee is advancing a bill that changes absentee voting procedure and shortens the early voting window.  House Bill 1217 hardens requirements to vote absentee in South Dakota. It’s presented by Rep. Scott Odenbach. The Spearfish Republican argued most voting should be done on election day. “Now we have what many have described to me as election month, or election quarter,” Odenbach said. “Absentee voting goes on too long, increasing the burden on our auditors to staff and maintain voting centers, and in the future could provide opportunities for fraud as it goes on and on. A third concern was the ballot drop boxes, which are so rife for fraud and abuse, and I think is something we should stop before it becomes another thing we take for granted as another part of our elections.” The bill, along with making ballot droboxes illegal, would shorten the early voting period from 45 days to 30. Despite the intention to lessen workloads for election workers, the bill faced opposition by county auditors themselves. That includes Susan Kiepke from Davison County. “I would just like to say that auditors across the state run their elections with the utmost integrity,” Kiepke said. “We’re talking about our reputations. We don’t want our reputations tarnished and we take elections very seriously. I will never be in favor of shortening the absentee voting time. It is not a burden on auditors. It’s part of our job.” Auditors from Davison, Harding, and Pennington Counties also spoke against the bill.

Texas: A bill was filed in the Legislature on last week that would prohibit polling locations on college campuses throughout the state. State Rep. Carrie Isaac (R) of Wimberley filed House Bill 2390, one of over 100 election-related bills that have been filed this session. Voting rights advocates say the bill is a targeted attack on the political power of young voters. Alex Birnel, advocacy director for MOVE Texas, a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on increasing voter engagement said House Bill 2390 has no clear purpose other than to decrease young voter turnout. “The bill text is so short that it doesn’t illuminate any further why this bill would be filed other than to directly target places where universities have large enough voting populations to flip the county, like we saw in Hays County back in 2018,” he said. House Bill 2390 is, however, only one of a slew of wide-ranging election bills this session, several of which aim to make voting more accessible to young people. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D) of Austin introduced House Bill 644 in November which would require colleges with 8,000 students or more to have at least one polling location — essentially the opposite of House Bill 2390. Also in November, State Rep. Erin Zwiener (D) of Hays County filed House Bill 75, which would make student ID’s acceptable identification for voting, as they are in most other states. Currently, Texas recognizes concealed handgun carry licenses, but not student ID cards, as acceptable voter ID.

Virginia: Speaker Todd Gilbert and senior House of Delegates Republicans killed a measure to let Virginians have their say on automatically giving people convicted of a felony the right to vote once they leave prison. The measure if passed would have started the multistep process of amending the state constitution. “This isn’t giving them the right to vote, it is saying the voters of Virginia should decide,” said state Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton. “I’m going to keep coming back and keep coming back on this,” she said. Virginia and Kentucky are the only states that say everyone convicted of felony is permanently barred from voting. The proposed amendment would restore rights once a person convicted of a felony leaves prison—an approach in line with what happens in 21 states, from liberal California to conservative Utah.

West Virginia: County clerks and commissions in West Virginia would be given greater discretion to consolidate voting precincts under a bill proposed by the state Secretary of State’s office advancing in the state Legislature.  The proposal greenlit by the Senate Judiciary Committee would increase the maximum number of voters that can be served by precincts in urban areas from 1,500 to 2,500. Current statute allows for the combining of precincts with polling places within a one-mile radius of each other. The bill under consideration by lawmakers would increase that distance to five miles. Donald Kersey, general counsel and deputy secretary of the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office, said the bill came at request from county officials. It’s intended to increase voter convenience and allow local governments to save money on voting machines and poll workers, he said.

Wyoming: The Senate passed a bill to codify provisions for electronic voting machines. House Bill 47, sponsored by the ​​Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, would require electronic voting machines used in Wyoming to be certified by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. The commission was established in 2002 by the Help America Vote Act. Sheridan County Clerk and Recorder Eda Schunk Thompson said her office already follows rules that would be codified by the bill. “(The bill) would require that electronic voting systems used by county clerks be certified and meet certain standards, which has all been followed to this point,” she said. Beginning during the 2020 election, each Wyoming county used a commission-certified electronic voting system that met the criteria laid out in HB 47. HB 47 also requires voting system vendors to acquire a certificate of good standing from the secretary of state and EAC certification for any new electronic voting systems. Schunk Thompson said she and fellow county clerks are in favor of the legislation following a committee amendment. The amendment removed text from the bill that would have allowed a state entity to make decisions on the county-owned electronic voting systems without county input. Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, and Sen. Brian Boner, R-Douglas, proposed amendments on the Senate floor that would have replaced all or a portion of the bill text removed by the committee. Both amendments failed. The Senate passed the version of the bill that Wyoming county clerks were in favor of by a vote of 24-7.

A bill that would prohibit crossover voting for a specified period before primary and general elections has cleared the Senate Revenue Committee on a 4-1 vote after being recalled from the Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee on a failed 1-3-1 vote. The Senate voted to withdraw House Bill 103 from the Corporations Committee on a close 16-14 vote on Feb. 14 per that chamber’s rules that allow for bills to be reintroduced in another committee, though this isn’t a regular practice. Sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Haroldson (R-Wheatland), the bill has been touted by Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray who claims that crossover voting has tainted the integrity of the state’s elections. The bill would prohibit voters from changing parties before the first day on which an application for public office may be filed. It would also impose a 14-day blackout period before a general election that would prohibit party switching and disallow voters to cancel their registration during these periods with the objective of preventing those seeking to re-register with a new party affiliation.

Senate File 120 would fully restore civil rights to those convicted of certain non-violent felonies has cleared the Senate and is on its way to being debated in the House. It passed the Senate on a 24-7 vote on Feb. 2 and passed the House Judiciary Committee on a 9-0 vote on Feb. 21 before being referred to the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 22. “This is a bill that’s been actually on my heart and on my mind for my entire tenure in the Wyoming Legislature, 10 years of [my] tenure,” said Sen. Eric Barlow (R-Gillette), the sponsor of the bill. “And it comes from going door to door and going to those doors, when you knock on the door and they say, ‘Don’t worry about me. I can’t vote.’” The bill would allow for the restoration of rights for those not convicted of “violent felonies.” Those convicted of murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, sexual assault in the first or second degree, robbery, aggravated assault, strangulation of a household member, aircraft hijacking, arson in the first or second degree, aggravated burglary, multiple domestic battery charges, or bodily injury on a peace officer wouldn’t qualify for any restoration of their civil rights. It would also allow for the restoration of second amendment rights on the state level that are taken away after being convicted of or pleading guilty to a felony charge(s).

Legal Updates

Arizona: The state Court of Appeals rejected Kari Lake’s latest bid to overturn results of the 2022 election for governor. In a 12-page opinion, Judge Kent Cattani said Lake’s legal arguments highlighted various Election Day “difficulties.’’ “But her request for relief fails because the evidence presented to the superior court ultimately supports the court’s conclusion that voters were able to cast their ballots, that votes were counted correctly, and that other basis justifies setting aside the election results,’’ he wrote for the three-judge panel. And in doing so, the appellate judges rejected Lake’s contention a new vote is required based on the mere possibility that whatever occurred on Election Day could have changed the results. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson dismissed eight of her claims as being outside the scope of what Arizona law permits in election challenges, or for other reasons. That left her contention that Maricopa County officials, either negligently or intentionally, altered on-site ballot printers. Some machines printed out ballots with a 19-inch format rather than the standard 20 inches. That made them unreadable to the tabulators at vote centers. Cattani said there was “ample evidence’’ the problem resulted from mechanical malfunctions that were ultimately remedied. In a Twitter post, Lake said she told supporters she would take the case all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Florida: Another inmate has been sentenced for election-related crimes stemming from a voter fraud investigation in Alachua County. Records show Xavier Lavell Kevon Artis, 23, accepted a plea agreement from the State Attorney’s Office and was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 13 months with credit for 277 days. Artis won’t serve any additional jail time, as his sentence will run concurrently with the five years he received in August 2020 on burglary and weapon charges. Court records show Artis is scheduled to be released from state custody on Aug. 22, 2024. Artis is the sixth of 10 inmates to be adjudicated guilty on various crimes related to the 2020 general election following a voter drive held by the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office that occurred at the county jail after the passage of Amendment 4.

Georgia: Members of a Fulton County special grand jury investigating whether or not former President Donald J. Trump and his allies broke Georgia laws by meddling in the 2020 election. The final five pages of the grand jury report were released las week. Members of the special grand jury agreed unanimously that there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election as Trump and his supporters had claimed. A majority of the panel also recommended that prosecutors should pursue perjury charges against at least one witness they believe lied under oath in their testimony. No witnesses were named and no new evidence revealed. There was also no mention of the panel’s highly-anticipated recommendations for who should be charged with state crimes. Those portions are likely to be released only after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis makes indictment decisions, which could take weeks or longer. “It’s certainly not definitive on whether Trump should be charged,” said attorney Norm Eisen, who co-authored a report on the Fulton probe for the Brookings Institute. “But the declaration that they found that no widespread fraud took place in the Georgia 2020 presidential election is another nail in Trump’s coffin.” In the report, grand jurors wrote that they heard “extensive testimony on the subject of alleged election fraud from poll workers, investigators, technical experts and state of Georgia employees and officials, as well as from persons still claiming that such fraud took place.” But they said they were unanimous in finding “no widespread fraud took place in the Georgia 2020 presidential election that could result in overturning that election.”

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden has ordered the U.S. Department of Justice to turn over communications with organizations suing Georgia over the state’s voting laws, deciding in favor of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger as he tries to show that the federal government collaborated with his opponents. McFadden ruled Monday that the Justice Department must disclose documents it has withheld during an ongoing lawsuit that alleges racial discrimination in Georgia’s voting laws passed after the 2020 general election. The Justice Department’s lawsuit alleges the law illegally targeted Black voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits racial discrimination in elections. In response to the lawsuit, Raffensperger filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the Justice Department’s communications with other plaintiffs, including Democrat Stacey Abrams, Fair Fight Action, the Black Voters Matter Trust Fund and the 6th District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The department refused to disclose documents that it claimed were protected among litigants with similar interests. Raffensperger then sued.

A legal watchdog group has asked the State Bar of Georgia to discipline three attorneys who filed lawsuits challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election. The 65 Project also filed an ethics complaint against a fourth Georgia attorney for the way he represented a star witness who testified before a U.S. House committee that investigated the events that led to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The 65 Project — named for the 65 unsuccessful lawsuits filed by Trump and his supporters — says it is seeking accountability for attorneys who aided Trump. It has filed ethics complaints against dozens of attorneys in various states. The complaints say the lawsuits relied “solely on unfounded conspiracy theories, easily proven false, with no basis in law or fact.” They say the attorneys knew the lawsuits lacked merit but filed them anyway and violated several professional rules of conduct. The complaints say the attorneys should be disciplined because they “served as part of a coordinated attempt to abuse the judicial system to promote and amplify bogus, unsupported claims of fraud to discredit an election that Mr. Trump lost.” The attorneys did not respond to requests for comment.

Louisiana: Organizers behind the effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has taken legal action against the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters. They are claiming in a writ mandamus that more than 25,000 people in New Orleans are listed as active voters, but are not. They claim, in the legal filing, that 546 dead people are still listed as active voters in the city. And they say that 21,436 people are listed as active voters in the city but have moved out of Louisiana. Organizers need to secure more than 50,000 signatures to try and trigger a recall election for Cantrell. The number of active, registered voters is key to their effort as the required signatures are based on the number of active, registered voters. The Secretary of State’s Office issued the following statement regarding the voter rolls:  “Secretary Ardoin and the Elections Division have made the integrity of voting rolls their highest priority and have championed the effort to add a supplemental annual canvass period for parish registrars of voters, which passed the legislature in 2021 (HB138 by Farnum) and was later vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards. Our office supported this effort again in 2022 (HB35 by Farnum), which passed both houses of the legislature and was again vetoed by the governor.  “Parish registrars are both constitutionally and statutorily tasked with the management of Louisiana’s voter rolls. Among the many tools that are available to them are lists provided by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections and the Louisiana Department of Health. “There are a number of federal and state laws governing the requirements for registrars to remove a voter from the voter rolls, including matching data points for voters that moved to another jurisdiction, had a change in qualified status as a result of a criminal conviction, or have passed away.

Maryland: The U.S. Supreme Court this week declined to hear failed Maryland gubernatorial candidate Daniel Cox’s constitutional challenge to the state high court’s order that permitted the early counting and tabulation of mail-in ballots in the 2022 general election he lost. The justices let stand without comment the Maryland Supreme Court’s order, which Cox had argued violated a constitutional provision that leaves it solely to state legislatures to determine how ballots are counted. State courts may have no role in that determination, attorney C. Edward Hartman III wrote in Cox’s unsuccessful petition for Supreme Court review. Cox did not immediately return telephone and text messages Tuesday seeking comment on the high court’s denial of his petition. The Maryland State Board of Elections declined to comment on the denial. The board had waived its right to respond to Cox’s petition unless the justices requested a response. That request was never made.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Fox News, II | Election laws

Arizona: Election legislation

Connecticut: Election police | Early voting

Idaho: Election legislation

Illinois: Early voting, II

Indiana: Secretary of state

Maryland: Ranked choice voting

Minnesota: Ranked choice voting

New Jersey: Jail voting

Pennsylvania: Unequal election policies | Accessibility, II | Voter ID

South Dakota: Election legislation, II

Texas: Harris County lawsuit, II | Election legislation, II, III

Wisconsin: Automatic voter registration | Ballot witness address

Upcoming Events

EAC Clearie Submission Deadline: Each year, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) invites submissions for its national Clearinghouse Awards, or Clearies for short. Under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), the EAC is charged with serving as a clearinghouse for election administration information. By celebrating innovative efforts from state and local election offices, the Clearies helps the EAC to fulfill this important mission.  Entries for the 2022 awards must be received by Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Jurisdictions of all sizes are encouraged to submit their work. Please use the EAC’s online submission form to submit your entry and any supporting material.  Questions can be sent to the EAC at clearinghouse@eac.gov. The 2022 Clearies winners will be announced in spring of 2023. When: Feb. 28

Accelerating Excellence Conversation: The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections: Join The Elections Group at 2 p.m. (EST) on March 7 on Zoom for a conversation with Weber County, Utah, Clerk/Auditor Ricky Hatch. A member of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, Hatch hosted a gathering of elections and law enforcement officials ahead of the 2022 General Election. We profiled his efforts, which brought more together nearly 50 state, local and federal officials. The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections features cross-partisan experts in election administration and law enforcement who aim to support policies and practices that protect election workers and voters from violence, threats, and intimidation. Immediately following the conversation, we will provide highlights from the Five Steps to Safer Elections on how you will be able to implement a similar program. When: March 7, 2pm Eastern. Where: Online.

Democracy Solutions Summit: This virtual event brings together experts and leaders in election administration, voting rights, and democracy reform who are working on innovative solutions that upgrade and strengthen our democracy. Women experts will discuss a range of critical issues related to fair access, fair elections, and fair representation. Experts will focus on viable, scalable, and transformative solutions to build a 21st century democracy that reflects today’s needs and values. DAY ONE: Fair Access – Ensuring Ballot Access for Voters and Candidates; DAY TWO: Fair Elections – Upgrading US Presidential Elections; and DAY THREE: Fair Representation – Ranked Choice Voting and the Fair Representation Act. Where: Online. When: March 7-9. 

What’s the Matter With Primaries: Primary elections are viewed with a mix of concerns and optimism — some see them incentivizing extreme candidates and excluding independent voters while others see the solution to those very issues. A host of reforms have been proposed, like opening primaries up to independent voters or implementing top-two, top-four, and even top-five systems. Yet, while primaries are often among the most consequential contests in American politics, voters are largely uninterested. Primary turnout in most races is abysmally low, and in some states is trending down. Are new forms of primaries part of the prescription for what ails American politics, and what can be done about low turnout? Join the Bipartisan Policy Center, election experts, and policymakers for a discussion examining primary turnout and reform, including new 50-state analysis of 2022 midterm primary turnout and the impact of reforms like Alaska’s new top-four system. When: March 9, 1pm Eastern. Where: Online.

Election Center Special Workshop: Courses offered will include: Course 9 (History III – 1965 to Present), Course 10 (Constitutional Law of Elections, renewal) and Course 15 (Training in Elections: Reaching All Levels). When: April 27-30. Where: Houston.

ERSA 2023 Conference:  The 7th Annual Summer Conference on Election Science, Reform, and Administration (ESRA) will be held in person from Wednesday, May 31 to Friday, June 2, at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.  Details about this year’s conference program are forthcoming. When: May 31-June 2. Where: Atlanta

NASS Summer Conference: The National Association of Secretaries of State will hold its annual summer conference in Baton Rouge. Sessions on the agenda include: Hacking Demystified 2.0 and how to promote transparency in election systems.  When July 7-10. Where: Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

NACo Annual Conference: The National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference & Expo is the largest meeting of county elected and appointed officials from across the country. Participants from counties of all sizes come together to shape NACo’s federal policy agenda, share proven practices and strengthen knowledge networks to help improve residents’ lives and the efficiency of county government.  When: July 21-24. Where: Travis County, Texas.

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 Specialist III (Elections Specialist Lead), King County, Washington— The Department of Elections is searching for an energetic and resourceful professional who likes to get stuff done. The Administrative Specialist III in the Elections Department combines an exciting environment with the opportunity to cultivate talents and apply a variety of skills. The ideal candidate will thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. This position will lead processes, projects, and people within the Signature Verification and Alternate Format work areas of Ballot Processing. This 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. This is a great opportunity for a person with strong communication and interpersonal skills. King County Elections (KCE) manages voter registration and elections for more than 1.4 million voters in King County and is the largest vote-by-mail county in the United States. KCE’s mission is to conduct accessible, secure, and accurate elections. As a leader in providing inclusive elections, KCE is focused on three key priorities – (1) continue to test and implement a customized approach to engaging voters and support citizens in exercising their democratic rights, (2) follow-up on audit recommendations, including pro-actively assessing and managing risk, and, and (3) define and build a respectful work environment based on professionalism and collaboration. KCE believes that democracy works best when all voices are heard, and proactively work to remove barriers to ensure all voters can meaningfully participate in our elections. Salary: $27.09 – $34.47 Hourly. Deadline: March 7. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Assistant County Clerk-Recorder, Nevada County, California— Under administrative oversight you can be assisting with planning, organizing, directing and leading the activities of the County Clerk-Recorder’s office! The Assistant Clerk-Recorder will provide highly sophisticated staff assistance to the Clerk-Recorder! This management classification position serves at the will of the County Clerk-Recorder, and acts on her behalf in her absence and provides full line and functional management responsibility for the department’s Recorder and Election divisions. This position is distinguished from the County Clerk-Recorder in that the latter is an elected position and has overall responsibility for all functions of the department. Salary range: $111,810 – $136,500. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Assistant Director, Butler County, Pennsylvania— To supervise and direct the operational processes relating to voter registration, voting and elections, ensuring that voters’ rights are protected and votes are recorded and counted accurately. Assists the Director in implementing the day to day functions of the Elections Department. The incumbent supervises the non-exempt staff and answers voter and candidate questions or selects proper course of action to resolve problems. Assists Director in evaluating new technologies for election process. Consults with others regarding clarification of the Pennsylvania Election Code. Refers complex issues requiring clarification of the Pennsylvania Election Code or the Pennsylvania Constitution to the Director of Elections. A Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and/or equivalent work experience is required. Significant experience in Computer Science course work or equivalent is required. Prior work experience involving the electoral process is desirable, as is supervisory experience. Must be knowledgeable of State and County voting laws, regulations, procedures, and requirements. Computer, telephone and customer service skills are necessary. Salary: $45,129.18-$63,180.85. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Assistant Manager-Poll Worker Department, Palm Beach County, Florida— The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections is looking for an experienced Assistant Poll Worker Department Manager. In this role, you will oversee the planning and the completion of various projects, administrative functions, operations, and specialized tasks in the Poll Worker Department. The work involves knowledge and application of departmental operations, planning, assigning responsibilities, monitoring election worker classes, maintaining records, evaluating performance, and the ability to review work for accuracy. This position requires initiative and sound independent judgement in the application of office policies, election laws, and procedures. Must be personable and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, associates, and the general public. All work is performed under the guidance of the Supervisor of Elections. The ideal candidate will have an excellent work ethic, including consistent performance, reliability, and attendance. The desire and ability to work well in a fast-paced collaborative environment with a smile are essential to the position. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Chief Deputy Registrar, Lexington, Virginia— The City of Lexington is accepting applications for the non-exempt full-time position of Chief Deputy Registrar. This is an appointed, at-will position that serves a term not to exceed the term of the current Registrar.  (Code of Va. §24.2-112)  The Chief Deputy Registrar “shall have the same limitations and qualifications and fulfill the same requirements as the General Registrar…”  (Ibid.)  The Chief Deputy Registrar must be able to assume the duties and responsibilities of the General Registrar in the Registrar’s absence. The position requires knowledge of, or the ability to quickly obtain, knowledge of: elections, election law, security practices, government, finance, training, and related technologies.  The successful applicant will be required to undergo a criminal background check, DMV motor vehicle record check, and drug screening. Salary: $22.86–$24.09/hr. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Chief Information Officer, Illinois State Board of Elections— Functions as Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the SBE Information Technology Systems.  Responsibilities encompass full range of information services; application design and development, system administration, data administration, operations, production control, and data communications. In conjunction with the Board, Executive Director, and Executive staff, the CIO determines the role of information systems in achieving Board goals.  Defines goals in terms of statutory obligations to be met, problems to be solved, and/or opportunities that can be realized through the application of computerized information systems.    Prepares and submits budget based projections of hardware, software, staff and other resource needs to adequately provide for existing systems, as well as support of new project initiatives.   Advises Executive Staff in matters relating to information technology.  Develops presentations and reports for the Board and Administrative Staff.  In conjunction with Executive Staff, evaluates system performance to determine appropriate enhancements. Salary: $7,885 – $13,237 Monthly. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Compliance Specialist 2, Oregon Secretary of State’s Office— In this role, you will help the public comply with Oregon campaign finance laws and rules. You will also help investigate possible violations of Oregon election laws and rules. This is accomplished in part by, but not limited to: Teaching filers how to submit filings on ORESTAR (Oregon Elections System for Tracking And Reporting); Explaining election laws and rules to the public and to filers; Reviewing filings for legal sufficiency; Conducting investigations into possible election law violations; Making recommendations about the outcome of investigations; Issuing civil penalties for non-compliance; and Answering the public’s questions about registering to vote and voting. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Departmental Training Coordinator, DeKalb County, Georgia— The purpose of this classification is to develop, coordinate, deliver, and evaluate departmental training programs and learning solutions. The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned. Develops training programs for departmental employees; creates new and/or modifies existing courses and course materials; researches industry changes; and prepares activities and course assignments. Conducts training and facilitates in-house training programs for employees based on current trends and best practices. Assists employees in meeting certification and recertification requirements for mandated licensure and submits documents for license renewals. Coordinates training logistics to include training room, schedules, attendance tracking, passwords, supplies and set up; and selects or develops teaching aids including training handbooks, tutorials or quick reference guides . Administers and grades course assignments and exams; and tracks and analyzes learning curriculum effectiveness through various evaluations techniques including evaluation of individual performances. Maintains and prepares training and compliance records and prepares related documentation and reports; enters course exam grades; prepares training certificates; and updates compliance databases. Assists with internal departmental communications by preparing newsletters, promotional materials for training programs, flyers for departmental events, or related communications. Communicates with department management, supervisors, other employees, subject matter experts, schools, community groups, volunteers, the public, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems. Maintains current knowledge of departmental business functions and operations to develop training programs and solutions for improving employee knowledge and performance within business units; and research training industry standards and best practices and applies new technologies. Salary: $52,815 – $81,862. Deadline: Feb. 28. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Digital and Multimedia Specialist, Issue One— The Digital and Multimedia Specialist (DMS) will play an integral role in expanding Issue One’s reach by producing and promoting multimedia content (including in-house video),  managing and growing Issue One’s social media footprint, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram, running Issue One’s fundraising and action email list. The DMS will be proficient at video production and help Issue One reach new and larger audiences through video messaging, social media, and digital storytelling. The individual will also support key functions of the communications team, working closely with the communications director, senior communications manager, and communications specialist. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of digital and multimedia strategies and tools needed to reach wider audiences and grow the organization’s brand in a competitive digital climate. Salary: $58K-$70K. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Director of Registration and Elections, Fulton County, Georgia— The County is seeking a Director of Registration and Elections (DRE). This position serves as the chief executive responsible for developing goals, objectives, policies, and procedures relating to voter registration and elections in Fulton County. The DRE also prepares, presents, and manages the department’s approved annual budget.  The DRE leads programs and services that ensure safe, free, and accessible voter registration and elections in the County. The DRE ensures accurate collection and maintenance of voter registration data and administers the county elections and associated services, which includes but is not limited to absentee balloting, voter registration, voter education and outreach. The Director collects information and validates candidates for elective office, ensures the availability of training for poll workers, and directs efforts to educate voters on elections in the county. The DRE performs other duties, including preservation, storage, preparation, testing and maintenance of departmental election equipment. Furthermore, the director oversees election district boundaries, and administers the selection of polling places in the county. Salary: $175K-$195K. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Director of Elections, Cumberland County, North Carolina— The Elections Director works under the administrative direction of the County Board of Elections and Executive Director of the State Board of Election. The Elections Director performs professional, managerial, and administrative work for the Board of Elections and carries out all duties or responsibilities as assigned by Chapter 163 of the General Statutes of the State of North Carolina and as delegated by members of the County Board in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, GS 163-35 (d) and 163-33.  Reports to the Chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Elections. Salary: $78,784.40 – $132,425.23. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Division Director, Illinois State Board of Elections— Subject to Executive Director approval; oversees the administration of human resource programs including, but not limited to, compensation, payroll, benefits, and leave; disciplinary matters; disputes and investigations; performance and talent management; productivity, recognition, and morale; occupational health and safety; and training and development. Serves as the Board’s subject matter expert relating to personnel and human resource matters. Identifies staffing and recruiting needs; develops and executes best practices for hiring and talent management. Conducts research and analysis of Board trends including review of reports and metrics from human resource information systems. Recommends, implements, and ensures compliance with agency policies and procedures including, but not limited to, hiring, disciplinary actions, employee grievances, compensation plan, and employee performance evaluations. Creates and oversees human resource practices, programs, and objectives that provide for an employee-oriented culture that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, creativity, and knowledge transfer within a diverse team. Oversees the day-to-day administrative aspects of the Board’s personnel programs; accuracy of bi-monthly payrolls; benefits; quarterly and annual EEO/AA reporting; and, employee transaction documentation. Facilitates professional development, training, and certification activities for staff; development and maintenance of agency-wide training programs for on-boarding, staff development, and knowledge transfer. Responsible for the administration and oversight over all disciplinary matters; including: investigation of complaints; conducting witness interviews; documentation gathering; drafting and submittal of investigation findings to Executive Staff; advising Division Directors and Executive Staff on disciplinary matters; and, drafting of formal disciplinary reprimands in accordance with policy. Has administrative oversight of the Chief Fiscal Officer regarding budgetary and fiscal matters under the purview of the Division of Administrative Services. Supervises and evaluates subordinate staff; facilitates knowledge transfers and cross trainings; performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above. Salary: $6,023.00 – $12,374.00 Monthly. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Early Voting Coordinator, Wake County, North Carolina— re you looking to be more involved in your community? Are you ready to be a part of democracy in the making? If so, get ready to roll up your sleeves and become a part of history! Wake County Board of Elections is currently seeking an Early Voting Coordinator to join our dynamic and talented Early Voting Team. The Early Voting Coordinator plays a critical role in the management and logistical planning of Early Voting. This includes communicating, scheduling election service vendors and managing voting site support operations to include the physically demanding work of setting up Early Voting sites. What will you do as an Early Voting Coordinator? Plan and organize all Early Voting operations; Assist with development of Early Voting expansion budget items and analyze budget impacts of new election laws and state directives and incorporate the changes into Early Voting site procedures; Work with Town Clerks, Municipal Administrators, Facility Directors, Special Event Coordinators and Superintendents to secure use of facilities for Early Voting; Manage Early Voting facilities, including scheduling, communication, support, logistics, database management and site setups; Develop Early Voting ballot order and determine the distribution of ballots each Early Voting facility will receive; Update and maintain the Early Voting blog and Early Voting page of the Wake County Board of Elections website; Manage the Early Voting support Help Line; Post-election reconciliation duties to include provisional management, presentations to the Board and assisting with record retention. Salary: Hiring Range: $20.81 – $28.10. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Election Certification & Training Program Manager, Washington Secretary of State’s Office—   The Elections Certification & Training Program Manager reports to the Deputy Director of Elections and is responsible for managing the Certification and Training team. Certification and Training is a mission critical program established and required by RCW 29A.04.530, 29A.04.560, 29A.04.590. The Certification and Training Manager develops and manages program objectives and priorities, in collaboration with external stakeholders including independently elected auditors and election officials. Additionally, the Program Manager makes collaborative strategic judgments and decisions balancing competing program demands or priorities for resources; develops, modifies, and implements division policy; formulates long-range strategic plans and projects . The Certification and Training Manager also integrates division and office policies and reviews the program for compliance with policies and strategic objectives. The position is responsible for four mission critical functions: Professional certification and training of local and state election administrators and county canvassing board members. Review of county election operations and procedures. Testing of all vote tabulation equipment used in each county during state primary and general elections. The election clearinghouse and publication program. The Program Manager also manages the process for adopting state rules and is the Election Division’s liaison with the USPS. Salary: $83,000 – $93,000. Application: For the complete job application and to apply, click here.

Election Review Specialist, Washington Secretary of State’s Office— This Program Specialist 4 reports to the Certification and Training Program Manager and is responsible for overseeing the County Review Program which reviews the policies and procedures of Washington County Election Departments roughly every 5 years for compliance with state and federal election law.  This collaborative process is intended to support local election officials, share best practices and is one of the reasons Washington State Election Administration is ranked highest in the nation. Salary: $57,324 – $77,028. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here 

Elections Coordinator-Voter Registration, Buncombe County, North Carolina— An employee in this position is responsible for the management of all aspects of conducting voter registration and voter roll maintenance. This employee will lead a team who will perform the administrative duties of answering calls, registering voters, updating registrations, and performing regular database maintenance. This employee will also oversee the provisional voting process. Work requires that all materials meet the guidelines of election law and department standards. Salary: $24.96 – $29.13. Deadline: March 8. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Coordinator-Absentee Program, Buncombe County, North Carolina— An employee in this position is responsible for the management of all aspects of conducting absentee by mail voting. This employee will lead a team who will perform the administrative duties of absentee by mail voting. Work requires that all materials meet the guidelines of election law and department standards. The primary purpose of this position is to plan, coordinate, and administer assigned elections program or service area to support the strategic direction of the department and organization by connecting community participants to election services. Salary: $24.96 – $29.13. Deadline: March 8. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Specialist-Ballot Processing, Pierce County, Washington— This is a great opportunity to play a critical role in this nation’s elections and democracy. Whether it is Election Day or another day of the year, we are working to continuously improve the voter experience and the conduct of elections. As a dedicated civil servant with experience in elections and supervising large teams, we are looking for an Elections Specialist for ballot processing. You will have the opportunity to be in the center of the action in Washington’s second-largest county. You will work with other specialists and management to develop a ballot processing schedule, and then schedule staff. You will also help with voter registration tasks when needed. We are looking for someone is comfortable and excels at leading and directing a large team of Seasonal elections workers ensuring accuracy in ballot processing and time-sensitive tasks. Someone who is customer service focused yet is deadline driven. Someone who values teamwork, is adaptable, learns new systems quickly, and who can communicate across all levels of the organization, with our customers and party observers. Multi-taskers with excellent written communication will be successful in this role. As an Elections Specialist, you will have the ability to immediately contribute to the team’s success. You will be guided through the process with coaching-focused managerial support, a team that wants you to be successful in your role, and an organizational culture that encourages continuous learning and professional development. Salary: $33.62 – $42.52 Hourly. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Executive Director, Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Officials— The Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities (MACCEA) is a professional association of county clerks and election authorities from Missouri’s 116 counties and election authority jurisdictions. MACCEA’s Executive Board is comprised of elected county clerks and appointed election directors whose full-time jobs are to manage county offices, conduct high profile elections, and work in the challenging environment of county government administration. The Board is a volunteer position and officers are elected by the association membership with additional members appointed by the Board President. The Executive Director position, established in 2022, will help the Board better support our membership in their roles as county clerks and election authorities, as well as support the association’s vision, mission, and goals. MACCEA seeks a contract Executive Director with diverse non-profit management, governance, conference planning, and communications experience. The Executive Director reports to the 12-member MACCEA Executive Board. Duties and association management are delegated to the Executive Director by the MACCEA Bylaws and under the direction of the Executive Board. Salary Range: $55,000 – $65,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Executive Director, Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center— The primary responsibilities of this position are to set and reinforce the mission and vision of the organization, define its strategic direction and implement strategic plans for the organization’s development, make executive decisions that drive organizational growth, and build and manage relationships including stakeholders and potential donors. The Executive Director works with the Board to set goals for the organization, governs over organizational activities and relationships, guides the organization’s culture, and directs communication to support the mission of the organization. The ideal candidate will define the organization’s priorities and direction, oversee staff recruitment and retention, and work systematically to meet organizational goals. He or she should be a self-starter with the ability to work independently and with a team. This is a full-time remote position with in-person meetings and travel as needed. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Information Technology Security Analyst, Illinois State Board of Elections— The IT Security Analyst reports directly to the Manager of Cyber Operations and Infrastructure. Supports the administration, implementation, review, and improvement of endpoint, network, hardware, application, and data security practices. Implements, supports and monitors the agency’s information security applications, including email security, web security, endpoint security software, firewalls, intrusion prevention applications, data loss prevention, etc. Monitors system dashboards and logs for threat indicators. Analyzes data and performs necessary incident response procedures. Conducts network, system and application vulnerability assessments. Analyzes agency threat surface and makes recommendations to management to harden agency systems. Evaluates agency processes and implements and/or makes recommendations to enhance security. Reviews information received concerning threat events from end users, supervisory personnel, other federal, state, county and local agencies and governmental entities involved in the exchange of data with the State Board of Elections (SBE), external entities such as the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC), trusted cybersecurity vendors, law enforcement agencies, and public information sources. Consults with SBE staff on security issues. Provides a high level of customer service to agency staff, state, county, and local election officials. Ensures service desk queues and incidents are handled in an appropriate and timely manner. Salary: $6,264 – $8,917 Monthly. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

IT Specialist, Leon County, Florida— This full-time employee will provide support for a wide variety of technology needs, primarily specializing in computer hardware. Duties include deploying computer images, providing support for desktop computers, and assisting with security and protection of elections technology and infrastructure. The role is ideal for a dynamic, self-motivated IT professional who is focused on providing outstanding internal customer service and innovations across project teams. Success in this position requires experience with Windows desktops and applications, and installing and maintaining peripheral hardware such as printers, scanners, and bar code readers. Experience in multimedia and video production and editing is desired, but not required. Must be able to deliver work on-time under pressure and maintain flexible hours including on-call shifts and overtime during elections. Occasional out-of-town travel may be required for training. Work is sometimes physically demanding and requires reliable personal transportation, an insurable driving record, and a security clearance. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Senior Specialist-Voter Services, Johnson County, Kansas— The Senior Election Specialist – Voter Services will take a lead role on the voter services team within the Election Office. This position will oversee the office’s use of the statewide voter registration system and support other employees in their work within this vital system. This will require attention to detail and the ability to define a series of tasks to complete work within the system in an efficient and accurate manner for temporary employees. This position will also research and perform all geography changes within the statewide voter registration system to accommodate annexations made by cities as well as district boundary changes made by state and local governing bodies. The Senior Election Specialist – Voter Services will also participate in the programming of elections to include laying out paper ballots and designing the screens and audio for use on the ballot marking devices. This position will also receive and file all candidate paperwork including declarations of candidacy and required campaign finance disclosures. This position also actively mentors, coaches and collaborates with employees to enhance the county mission and vision keeping in mind the common goal of leaving our community better than we found it. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Special Projects Manager, King County, Washington — This is an amazing opportunity to be engaged in the election process! This benefits-eligible Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position is anticipated to last up to two years with the possibility of extending an additional year. A Special Duty Assignment may be considered for King County Career Service employees who have passed their initial probationary period. King County’s Department of Elections is searching for an exceptional leader to serve as a Special Project Manager to help implement ranked choice voting (RCV). This position reports to the Deputy Director for the Department of Elections. The person who fills this role will oversee all elements of project management for implementing RCV from developing a detailed project plan and team infrastructure development to working with key stakeholders to develop and adopt policies and rules for conducting RCV elections. This project will have major impacts on the voting system for King County residents who reside in the city of Seattle. Implementation for RCV is scheduled for no later than the 2027 Primary Election. The Special Project Manager in the Elections Department combines an exciting environment with the opportunity to develop and implement a RCV system for the largest county in Washington. The ideal candidate will thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. Salary: $119,712.94 – $151,743.28 Annually. Deadline: Feb. 28. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

System Administrator, Sarasota County, Florida— The Systems Administrator is an Information Technology professional responsible for the coordination, implementation, planning, investigating and serving as the liaison for all facets of data processing, to include any election related tasks. Salary: $40,996 – $87,630. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Vote by Mail Manager, Palm Beach County, Florida— The Vote-by-Mail Manager is responsible for all aspects of vote-by-mail administration and operations, including but not limited to the Budgets, Staffing, Training Procedure Manuals, Database Management, Quality Control, Canvassing, Supervised Voting, SBIS administration, Inventory, Maintenance, and Testing. Responsibilities include: Departments operational calendar with timeline of election cycle tasks; Forecasting and updating departments annual operating budget; Staffing and training of vote-by-mail operational staff; Staff training and process manuals; Quality control of vote-by-mail database; and Update and maintain inventory, equipment, and software. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Vote by Mail Specialist, Leon County, Florida— This full-time employee co-leads the Vote-by-Mail effort during election time, and provides critical administrative support to the Voter Services team year-round. Duties include training small groups of seasonal election staff, operating commercial mail equipment, recommending policy and process improvements for the Vote-by-Mail project area, and assuring compliance with all known legal requirements. This role is ideal for a dynamic, self-starter with a meticulous eye for detail, a knack for solving intricate puzzles, and a passion for project management. Success in this position requires proficient computer capabilities to handle large workloads on time-constricted schedules, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to seek out information and manage complex projects. Experience working with Florida Statutes in a professional environment is desired, but not required. Work is performed under the direction of the Voter Services Director, generally in an office environment. Must be able to work under pressure with composure, excel in a team environment, maintain flexible hours, be able to lift up to thirty pounds, and possess an insurable driver’s license. Some overtime and out-of-town travel may be required. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Voting Rights Expert, The Carter Center— The Carter Center is seeking a highly qualified voting rights analyst to work on the Center’s US election advisory team under the guidance of the Democracy Program staff. The voting rights expert will assess and analyze key issues affecting women, the disabled, and disenfranchised groups in the United States. The voting rights expert will contribute to public and private statements concerning the electoral process and provide an impartial assessment of elections as well as detailed recommendations for ways to improve the program’s inclusiveness, credibility, and transparency as it relates to voting access of historically disenfranchised peoples. A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in democracy and/or elections is required, in addition to a degree in political science or another relevant field. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Warehouse Supervisor, DeKalb County, Georgia— The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned. Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff; develops and oversees employee work schedules to ensure adequate coverage and control; compiles and reviews timesheets; approves/processes employee concerns and problems and counsels or disciplines as appropriate; assists with or completes employee performance appraisals; directs work; acts as a liaison between employees and management; and trains staff in operations, policies, and procedures. Prioritizes and schedules work activities to meet objectives; ensures that subordinates have the proper resources needed to complete the assigned work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; consults with assigned staff to assist with complex/problem situations and provide technical expertise; provides progress and activity reports to management; and assists with the revision of procedure manuals as appropriate. Supervises warehouse operations and facilities; safeguards warehouse operations and contents; establishes and monitors security procedures and protocols; implements production, productivity, quality, and customer service standards; plans warehouse layout, product flow, and product handling systems; identifies trends; evaluates and recommends new equipment; and analyzes process workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout; and implements improvements. Researches, purchases, and inventories commodities, equipment, and other supplies; conducts physical counts of inventory items; records issuing and usage; verifies and refines or updates required bid specifications; and maintains related records and documentation. Oversees the administrative process through process assessments, measurements, and process mapping for better efficiency; formulates process documentation; organizes periodic and random cycle counts; formulates and monitors various administrative reports; populates database with stocking levels and other information for proper report generation and order tracking; performs regular maintenance on various inventory report statuses to keep system clean and updated; and reviews various system-generates reports for overall key performance drivers. Manages the issuing, maintenance, servicing, and receiving of various types of equipment and supplies from the supply room. Organizes and directs physical inventory counts; manages vending equipment acquisition, implementation, and orders replenishment items; and manages office product inventory for assigned department and emergency response procedures, non-stocked inventory, and expendable inventory items. Receives and reviews various documentation, including attendance records, overdue equipment reports, operational budgets, equipment status reports, stock transfer reports and about-to-reorder reports, and physical inventory reports; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate; prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, and other documentation, including inventory measures reports, open purchase order reports, performance evaluations, and performance measurements; compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department reports; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records. Facilitate all logistics related to the elections operation of voting sites, including moving equipment, furnishings, supplies, and materials; conduct pre-election testing and post-election equipment audits. Serve as site manager for VRE warehouse space; oversee the department’s inventory of voting site supplies, tables, chairs, signs, voting machines, and equipment. Attend and participate in mandatory ongoing training, including certifications and annual training. Salary Range: $42,937 – $66,552. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

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