electionline Weekly

Lessons From Other Democracies

Lessons from Other Democracies
Ideas for combating mistrust and polarization in US Elections

There remains a crisis of confidence in US elections, despite their successful administration in 2022. Many Americans harbor mistaken beliefs about the outcome of the 2020 elections and the way elections are run, and foreign and domestic bad actors are all too happy to take advantage of that. This problem is exacerbated by widespread polarization, which is threatening to paralyze citizens and public officials from finding ways to address these issues. It’s time for some new ideas.

In a new report from the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund and Election Reformers Network, we explore an often overlooked source of ideas to help the United States counter polarization and election mis- and disinformation: other democracies.

Pulling lessons from six countries, including Canada, Sweden, and South Korea, Rachael Dean Wilson, Kevin Johnson, and David Levine recommend several solutions the US can implement to ensure free and fair elections. These include:

• Incentivizing accountability through ranked choice voting
• Increasing trust through impartial election administration
• Providing good information through pre- and debunking

“Virulent polarization and the trust-destroying propagation of election related mis- and disinformation remain acute threats to American democracy,” said report author Rachael Dean Wilson, managing director of ASD at GMF. “Successfully tackling these threats hinges on whether we deploy the best ideas to combat them. No country, including the US has a monopoly on good ideas, and we should consider how strategies that helped improve trust in other democracies could be applied in the United States to bolster confidence.”

“Freedom is a universal human aspiration, and so too is a well-functioning democracy on which freedom depends,” said report author Kevin Johnson, executive director of ERN. “Let’s leverage the best ideas available to make our democracy function as well as it possibly can.”

Read Lessons from Other Democracies: Ideas for Combatting Mistrust and Polarization in US Elections here: https://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/election-lessons/

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Election News This Week

Seeking Funding: A group of 24 former and current election officials are urging Congress to adopt $400 million in consistent federal funding to improve the working conditions for poll workers around the country. Many of them, with the support of Issue One, recently met with Congressional leaders in Washington, DC. “People don’t realize the mental health situation,” Tonya Wichman, the director of the Defiance County, Ohio Board of Elections said. “We’ve lost a lot of election officials throughout the country. They’re calling it the ‘Great Resignation.’ People are broken and exhausted.” The $400 million that election administrators are requesting from Congress would go towards security measures including training to stop or deal with doxxing, privacy services and home security and federal protections against threats. Currently, election operations are funded at the city and county level, making the funding inconsistent and the task of upping security that much harder. “I want to make sure that every one of my voters has the chance to make their voice heard,” says Boone County, Mo. Clerk Brianna Lennon. “And that means that we can’t have interference from people that don’t have that in mind. I hope that all levels of government with funding sources that come into elections recognize the importance of investing in our elections. Now.”

Special Elections: Preparations continued this week for special elections in Ohio and in Utah that are having major impacts on local elections officials. In 2022 Ohio lawmakers approved a bill that banned most special elections but Secretary of State Frank LaRose and others successfully sued to bring the constitutional questions to a vote.  Now, local elections officials are scrambling to pull together a special election. In Medina County, the board of elections passed a motion to reduce the number of poll workers staffed for the August election. Cuyahoga County’s Board of Elections Director Anthony Perlatti estimated it will cost the county’s 970 precincts around $3,250 each to print ballots, pay postage for mail-in ballots and provide extra staffing, especially considering it will be county residents’ first time using the new voting machines. But those costs might also increase if voter turnout is greater than expected – as he thinks it will be. He worries that the $15 million currently proposed in the Senate budget won’t be enough to cover the bill. And though state law requires Ohio to pick up the tab for elections called “solely for the purpose of” a statewide ballot issue, “what we don’t have is a real answer on how that’s going to happen,” he told county council’s Budget and Finance. Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) has said the Senate would not be opposed to appropriating more funding if necessary. In addition to concerns about costs, getting enough poll workers is also a concern for an August election.  Hamilton County Board of Elections Deputy Director Alex Linser says they need nearly 2,500 people to run an election. “I think if you ask elections officials anyway they’ll tell you the number one challenge is recruiting poll workers, but it’s especially hard when you have to do it on short notice and when you’re doing it over the summer,” Linser says. “When we do it in August, people have conflicts; a lot of our usual suspects are on summer vacation and traveling, so we really need people to step up and try it for the first time.” Meanwhile in Utah, while the Legislature still needs to act formally, local elections officials are beginning the process not only prepare for a special election, but to move previously-scheduled elections to other dates because of the special election. Marki Rowley, the Millard County clerk, said the new schedule poses a few hurdles, especially because both election days are sandwiched between two holidays. The staff usually gets Black Friday off, but not this year. “It’s going to take a lot of holiday freedom away from our offices just because of the dates that they’re so close [to],” she said. “Just asking that of our people and asking that of our poll workers – it’s a lot. I’m hoping that we don’t lose people.” Weber County Clerk/Auditor Ricky Hatch said this unprecedented change will bring new challenges. “This shouldn’t impact the county’s workload, although with election day being two days before Thanksgiving, election officials will have a hurried, lean or possibly even a takeout Thanksgiving dinner this year,” he said. “There will likely be some additional cost, as the county will need to provide holiday overtime pay for personnel working elections on Labor Day and possibly Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. Results on primary election day may represent a lower number of total ballots cast, since the (U.S. Postal Service) will not be delivering mail on Labor Day. Updated releases of results after the general election day may be delayed due to the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Sticker News: The Thurston County, Washington Auditor’s Office chose a design by Bryan Ketola as the official “I Voted” sticker for 2023 Elections. Ketola is a motivational speaker, para-athlete, semi-professional soccer coach and professional graphic designer.  “Bryan’s design says a lot about our community and our democracy,” said Mary Hall, Thurston County Auditor. “’I Voted’ stickers are important symbols of civic participation and democracy in action. I encourage voters to wear them proudly. These small, colorful badges carry significant meaning, as they represent an individual’s engagement and contribution to the democratic process.”  The Auditor’s Office solicited “I Voted” sticker designs from Thurston County residents. Thirty-seven artists submitted at least one design.   The winning design will be available in every ballot packet sent to Thurston County voters during the primary and general elections. Second and third place designs will be available at Voting Centers during the elections.

Personnel News: Jared DeMarinis will be the new elections administrator for the State of Maryland.  Dr. William “Bill” Purcell is retiring from the Scotland County, North Carolina elections board. Bob Bartelsmeyer is the new Cochise County, Arizona elections director. Gwen Collins-Greenup, a lawyer from Baton Rouge has announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Louisiana secretary of state. James Hill and Marv Willamsen are ending their terms on the Watauga County, North Carolina board of elections. Karen Hebb is retiring after working for 37 years at the Henderson County, North Carolina board of elections.

Legislative Updates

Arizona: The House passed a Republican-backed bill that would allow hand count of ballots, but it will almost assuredly meet with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ veto stamp.  The House voted 31-29 along party lines to approve House Bill 2722, which would allow any county in the state to perform a hand-count of ballots in an election, in place of an electronic count. The Senate approved the bill 16-12, also along party lines, on May 15. The bill next goes to Hobbs. “Attempting to bring this irresponsible, inaccurate, unreliable and utterly broken election system to Arizona amounts to nothing short of an attack on our democracy and on fair, impartial and accurate elections,” Rep. Oscar De Los Santos, (D-Laveen) said.

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) has vetoed several more elections-related bills from the 2023 legislative session. One bill would have required approval of that manual from not just the Arizona governor and attorney general, but also the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. In a veto letter, Hobbs said the bill was an attempt by the Legislature to meddle with elections. Another bill would have directed Maricopa and Pima counties to have on-site tabulation for early voters in at least one polling location per district. Hobbs said that on-site tabulation creates logistical and cost challenges that the bill did not resolve. The final vetoed measure would have barred election officials from being a member of a political action committee, outside of those for their own candidacy.

California: Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) has introduced Assembly Bill 969 in response to the decision by the Shasta County board of supervisors to end its contract with Dominion Voting System.  The bill would effectively bar any county board of supervisors from ending a voting system contract “without a transition plan and a replacement contract in place.” “As a former county clerk, that would be horrifying,” Pellerin told The Bee. “To be a year away from a presidential primary and (the Board) saying, ‘You can’t use your voting system. Figure something else out.’” Cathy Darling Allen, Shasta County Clerk, said she supports the bill.

Connecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont signed into law a bill to protect historically disenfranchised communities from discrimination at the ballot box, including key protections once considered a stronghold of the 1965 Voting Rights Act before it was gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority. The legislation, labeled the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of Connecticut, was signed as part of the state’s $51 billion biennium budget. It was folded into the budget because its implementation includes more than $3 million in state funding over the next two fiscal years. With the governor’s signature, Connecticut joins five other states — California, Oregon, Washington, Virginia and New York — that have made the state-level voting rights act law. Passage of the bill, which starts going into effect on July 1 and will be fully enacted by the start of next year, comes as the state has opted to implement two weeks of early voting starting next year following overwhelming support from residents during the 2022 midterm election. Mirroring key protections in the federal Voting Rights Act, the new state law requires municipalities with a record of voter discrimination to receive “preclearance” from either the secretary of the state or a superior court before implementing changes to election-related policies. The law also prevents municipalities from taking actions that would interfere with the right to vote of any protected class member, defined as a class of citizens who are members of a race, color or language minority group. It also requires municipalities to provide language-related assistance to voters if their population comprises a certain percentage of people who speak English “less than very well.” It would allow superior courts to “order appropriate remedies” if and when it finds that a municipality violated the law. Residents can also sue against acts of intimidation, deception or obstruction that interfere with their right to vote. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a publicly accessible database under the secretary of the state’s office, in partnership with the University of Connecticut or a Connecticut State University System member, providing elections and demographics information.

Delaware: The House passed a pair of bills that would criminalize the possession of a firearm in and around schools and polling locations. House Bill 201 would make the possession of a firearm in a school and recreation zone a felony. The bill would make possession of a gun on these properties a felony offense. However law enforcement officers, constables, and other select officials would be exempt from this rule. Those with a concealed carry permit would also be exempt from this rule, but only if their gun was in their weapon remains in their vehicle inside a locked container or locked gun rack. House Bill 202 would firearms at in person polling locations, with the exception of law enforcement officers or other select personnel such as security guards. Both bills not head to the senate for further consideration.

Vanderburgh County, Indiana: The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners approved a pay increase for election workers.  Poll workers will now receive a $125 per diem for working about 10 hours. Before, poll workers were only paid $10 an hour. Local leaders petitioned the board for a per diem of only $100, but Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave made a motion to increase the compensation. County Democrats Chair Cheryl Schultz says that the pay increase will ensure that the county gets the help it needs ahead of the presidential election next year. ”Last November these people spent fourteen hours opening ballots and were only compensated $90, so it’s getting much more difficult to get people to come and do this again,” said Schultz.

Louisiana: Gov. John Bel Edwards signed an act officially creating a voter registration holiday for high school seniors.  Act 79-HB316, which lists Rep. Cedric Glover of Shreveport as one of its co-sponsors, creates the Robert J. Jackson Louisiana High School Seniors Voter Registration Day Act. According to the bill’s language, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May shall be known as the Louisiana High School Voter Registration Day.  The first week in October is a time that high school voter registration is celebrated nationally. After the governor’s signing of the act Louisiana high school seniors.

Michigan: Voting in Michigan is about to undergo unprecedented changes, and among those changes will be the option of at least nine days of in-person early voting. What that looks like to voters will depend on where in the state they live.  The House and Senate both passed legislation this week that lays out how it will work, leaving it to municipal and county governments to decide the exact number of early voting days and the number of polling places. Early voting is the centerpiece of a series of landmark changes to elections that legislators are putting into place after the passage of ballot Proposal 2 last November. A package of eight bills Democrats introduced last week is now moving through the full House and Senate. In the past, Michigan voters could vote early only through an absentee ballot, including an option to request and fill out an absentee ballot during an in-person visit to a local clerk’s office, but the ballots were then set aside to be counted on Election Day. Under the early voting bill, polling places will be open at least eight hours a day, over a minimum of nine consecutive days, and voters will cast their ballot into a tabulator to be counted on site, just as they do on Election Day.

A new bill proposed in the Senate would allow early processing and tabulating of absentee ballots. Senate Bill 387, introduced by State Sen. Jeremy Moss (D – Southfield), aims to address an issue that has affected clerks throughout the state ever since a proposal passed in 2018 to allow no-excuse absentee voting.  Under the bill, cities or townships with a population of at least 5,000 people, or a board of county election commissioners, can begin processing and tabulating absentee ballots on any of the eight days before election day. It would be allowed between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. starting the second Monday before election day and ending on the Monday the day before election day. To be able to participate, the city or township clerk would have to submit a written notice to the Michigan Secretary of State no later than 28 days before election day, and then the Secretary of State will publish a list of those cities and townships on their website.

New Hampshire: A plan to allow cities and towns to ask the state for permission to use federal money to replace antiquated voting machines cleared the House. The proposal would permit communities to ask for a share of the state’s $12.8 million surplus of federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants New Hampshire has received over the past two decades to improve voting access. Without debate, the House attached the proposal to a Senate-passed bill (SB 70) to create a voter information portal on the website of Secretary of State David Scanlan’s office. The new portal would allow citizens to register online to vote more easily, to update their voter information or to request absentee ballots. The legislation heads back to the state Senate and it’s likely this issue will go to a conference committee of House and Senate negotiators to try and work out their differences. The state Senate had earlier killed separate legislation (SB 73) to permit the use of HAVA money for voting machines while the House Election Laws Committee had decided to retain its own legislation on the topic (HB 447) until early in 2024.

New Jersey: A two-bill legislative package sponsored by Senator Jim Beach and Senator Andrew Zwicker that adjusts election calendar deadlines and also improves transparency during election-night tabulations was released from the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee. The first bill, S-3519/S-3593, changes certain General Election deadlines. The bill would reframe various deadlines related to elections to be relative to the deadline for filing petitions as they would have been prior to 2022, when changes were made via legislative action to deadlines concerning filing petitions and candidate certification, the deadline for ballot drawing, and the deadline by which clerks must provide materials to printers. A second bill, S-3594, requires periodic reporting of election results on the night of primary and general elections and up until the time of a final tally thereafter. Among other features, the bill stipulates that by 11 p.m., on the day of the election, and by 9 p.m., of every day after, until all eligible ballots have been counted and the election certified, that each county clerk, in consultation with the county board of elections of that county, must list on the county clerk’s Internet site an unofficial report detailing the number and types of ballots that have been received.

New York: In the final days of the 2023 session, the Legislature passed a bill to bring a new form of universal mail-in voting to New York, relying on a novel interpretation of the state constitution that has so far required an “excuse” for absentee voting. The “New York Early Mail Voter Act” would bring New York as close as possible to universal, no-excuse absentee voting (or its equivalent) without amending the state constitution by allowing all voters to mail-in a ballot during the nine days of early voting that prefaces every primary and general election, beginning in 2024. Because mailed ballots would be accepted through election day, the bill would essentially open a parallel vote-by-mail system to New York’s existing absentee ballot system, which would also remain on the books. The latest version of the 41-page bill was introduced in the last week of the legislative session and quickly passed by the State Senate’s Democratic majority. On June 9, the last full day of the legislative session, the bill had gained momentum in the Democrat-controlled Assembly, having moved from the Ways And Means Committee to the Rules Committee, before passing on the floor late in the evening. Governor Kathy Hochul has not said whether or not she will sign it. In a Saturday email, a spokesperson for the governor said she will review the bill.

Legislation awaiting the governor’s signature or veto would change how elections-related court cases are heard. If A.5874/S.350 is signed into law, judges in small counties won’t hear most election laws. Instead those challenges will be heard in one of four state Supreme Courts located in New York County, Albany County, Westchester County and Erie County. The Assembly approved the bill by an 82-62 vote, with some Democrats joining Republicans in opposition. The state Senate approved the legislation on Jan. 9.

North Carolina: Republican lawmakers rolled out massive proposed changes to how the State Board of Elections would be run in the future. Senate leader Phil Berger and other top Republicans held a press conference, telling reporters the changes are needed to improve voters’ confidence in elections. Their plan, Senate Bill 749, is highly similar to other GOP-backed changes to overhaul the elections board in recent years. The others have all failed — either ruled unconstitutional in court, or shot down at the ballot box by voters. Republican lawmakers say they want to try again, for the sake of election integrity. “It’s incontrovertible that we’re living in a time of severe partisan polarization, and that affects voters’ perception of election fairness,” Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus, said. “When you have an elections board that’s controlled by one party, roughly half of the voters are going to question and doubt the fairness of the elections — and, in some cases, the outcome.” Democrats have controlled the board since 2017, due to a state law that says whichever party holds the governor’s office also gets three of the five seats on the state elections board. The Republican-led legislature tried changing the election board’s makeup as soon as Cooper was elected governor, to use a system similar to the one they’re proposing again now. The board would increase to eight members if this bill becomes law, with four picked by Democratic lawmakers and four picked by Republican lawmakers. That same idea was ruled unconstitutional five years ago. County-level elections boards ar set up similarly to the state board. This bill would also change those county boards to have an equal number of seats, split between the two parties.

Oklahoma: A trio of bills was signed into law with the aim of further securing Oklahoma elections and protecting legitimate voters, including military personnel serving overseas. Senate Bill 375 specifies that primary elections will occur on the third Tuesday of June instead of the last Tuesday of June. Additionally, it moves the starting date of the candidate filing period from the second Wednesday in April to the first Wednesday. This ensures election officials have sufficient time during the 45-day window between the last primary election and the runoff to meet the federal and state deadlines to get absentee ballots to servicemen and women deployed overseas. Senate Bill 376 clarifies that if someone signs on behalf of a physically incapacitated voter on an absentee ballot affidavit, the assistant must sign the voter’s name. There is another section on the affidavit for the assistant to sign his or her personal name. Confusion over current law wording resulted in what should have been valid ballots being discarded because they could not be traced back to the registered voter. This will go into effect Nov. 1, 2023. Senate Bill 377 which will also become effective Nov. 1, will require the cancellation of voter registration of anyone excused from jury duty for not being a U.S. citizen. County court clerks will prepare a list each month of these individuals and submit it to their county election board secretary, who will cancel the registrations and report them to the district attorney and the U.S. attorney for that county.

Utah: The Legislature convened for a special session this week after Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart’s unexpected resignation, which is set to take effect on Sept. 15. With a looming vacancy, lawmakers will vote on a revised bill related to the upcoming statewide municipal and special elections. Gov. Spencer Cox called the special legislative session to push back the municipal election days, originally scheduled for Aug. 15 and Nov. 7. Without legislative intervention, the soonest Utah’s 2nd Congressional District seat could be filled would have been next March. The legislation on the table outlines new election days, when mail-in ballots need to be postmarked and the deadline to switch voter party affiliation ahead of the primary. But the changes only apply to this election cycle. Once the clock strikes May 1, 2024, the statute disappears and Utah returns to its traditional election system. Two-thirds of the Legislature must vote for the bill in order for it to take effect.

Legal Updates

Arizona: Brent Thomas Kusama, a candidate for constable in Cochise County has been indicted on fraud charges. Kusama is facing nine felony counts including, fraudulent schemes and practices, presentment of a false instrument for filing and signing of petitions violations. Fraudulent schemes and practices are a Class 5 felony with a punishment of up to 2.5 years in prison and a $150,000 fine and the Class 6 felony presentment of a false instrument has a sentence of up to two years with possible fines.

Connecticut: The Connecticut Supreme Court navigated the arcane provisions of absentee ballot law with three concurring decisions this week that expand on its expedited ruling eight months ago upholding a razor thin election win in West Haven by Mayor Nancy Rossi. Rossi, a Democrat, lost the machine vote in the Nov. 2, 2021 election, but won by 29 votes when absentee ballots were counted. Her margin expanded to 32 votes after an automatic recount. Republican challenger Barry Lee Cohen challenged the absentee ballot count in Superior Court, but lost there when Judge Robin Wilson decided West Haven “failed to strictly comply” with all provisions of the law governing casting and counting of absentee ballots, but the failure wasn’t great enough to turn the outcome in Cohen’s favor. The state Supreme Court agreed in a 34-page plurality decision by Justices Andrew McDonald that sorted out aspects of absentee ballot regulation running from who has authority to collect ballots from drop boxes to the sorts of affidavits required to validate the votes. McDonald was joined by Justices Joan Alexander and Christine Keller. Two concurring opinions disagreed with the plurality opinion that state law authorizes the municipal clerk and his ‘‘designees’’ to retrieve absentee ballots from secure drop boxes. In one concurrence, Justice Gregory D’Auria and Chief Justice Richard Robinson assert that the law authorizes only the clerk, and in certain circumstances, appointed assistant clerks, to collect ballots. In the second, Justice Steven Ecker agreed with the plurality, but only after consideration of a 2021 amendment to the law.

Joyce Fratello of Greenwich has agreed to pay the state $4,000 after she admitted she mailed in a Connecticut absentee ballot that she had signed with her daughter’s name during the 2020 election while her daughter voted in another state. Fratello applied for an absentee ballot using her daughter’s information ahead of the 2020 election without her daughter’s permission or knowledge, according to a Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission investigation. The daughter was living in Florida at the time and registered to vote there. Fratello received the absentee ballot addressed to her daughter, filled out the ballot, signed her daughter’s name and mailed it off in Connecticut, according to SEEC. In Florida, the daughter also cast a ballot during the 2020 election. The double vote was caught thanks to the Electronic Registration Information Center

Florida: Derrick Albert Robinson, 53, of Alachua County, pleaded no contest to committing voter fraud during the 2020 election. Robinson was sentenced to 36 months in prison after willfully voting in the 2020 election while not qualified to do so due to his status as a felony sex offender. Robinson’s public defender previously asked for a maximum of 30 months; however, the state attorney proposed 36 months to close the case. The defendant agreed to take the deal.

Eugene Florence, 33, of Moore Haven will serve 16 months in prison after he was found guilty of fraudulent voter registration activities. Florence was employed by an organization called “Hard Knocks,” a company that claims to mobilize voters to get people to register to vote. Florence worked for the organization in 2021, knowingly submitted voter registrations of individuals who did not swear to the oath or contents.  Florence, who has a significant arrest and conviction record in Southwest Florida, was sentenced by Lee County Judge Edward J Volz Jr. to 16 months in prison which will be served concurrent to a five-year prison sentence for other charges. Several “Hard Knocks” employees submitted voter registrations that drew the attention of the Lee and Charlotte County Supervisors of Elections. The State Attorney’s Office investigation determined fraudulent voter registration applications were submitted. Three others have also been arrested as a result of this investigation.

Georgia: U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg unsealed two previously confidential reports that shed light on the security of Georgia’s election system. One report detailed vulnerabilities that could allow a hacker to change votes. The other determined that the risk of someone committing such acts is remote. A federal assessment found no evidence that the vulnerabilities had ever been exploited. And despite claims by former President Donald Trump, numerous investigations and recounts determined his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden was not tainted by fraud. The reports were released as part of an ongoing lawsuit that seeks to force Georgia to drop its Dominion Voting Systems hardware and software in favor of hand-marked paper ballots. The first report was produced by Alex Halderman, a computer science professor at the University of Michigan and an expert witness for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Totenberg gave Halderman access to Georgia voting equipment and passwords. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a defendant in the lawsuit, has rejected the report’s conclusions. He’s said Halderman was able to find vulnerabilities only because he had unique access to the voting system, and security procedures would thwart an attack in the real world. Dominion Voting Systems hired the MITRE National Election Security Lab, an organization that analyzes election equipment and evaluated the risk of vulnerabilities, to assess the Halderman report. Totenberg sealed both reports out of concern they could be used to hack Georgia’s system during an election. But she unsealed them after critics and supporters of the system asked for them to be made public. Halderman’s report has been redacted to prohibit the release of sensitive information.

Maryland: U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher has handed down a decision in the lawsuit filed against the town of Federalsburg. The town was being sued for alleged violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; in the town’s 200-year history, a person of color has never once held a seat on its government. Gallagher ruled that Federalsburg must change its town charter; Federalsburg will now operate under districts, as opposed to its previous at-large system. The judge also determining that two of the town’s current council members must step down. With their departure, Federalsburg will hold a special election, with the hope that at least one person of color will be elected, say advocates.

Michigan: Wayne County Circuit Chief Judge Timothy Kenny have ordered Michigan GOP Chair Kristina Kamaro and Republican lawyers involved in a last-minute lawsuit that threatened to reject potentially thousands of valid ballots cast by Detroiters in last year’s midterm election must pay legal fees incurred by the Detroit clerk’s office. Kenny previously rejected Karamo’s lawsuit targeting Detroit voters, and came out of retirement to preside over Detroit City Clerk’s Janice Winfrey’s request for sanctions against those behind the effort. In his latest order, Kenny found that the lawsuit, along with the request to bar a Wayne County judge from hearing the matter, were “frivolous” and ordered those who brought and defended the challenge to pay $58,459.20 to cover costs and attorney fees to the Detroit clerk’s office. In addition to Karamo, those responsible for covering the amount include Daniel Hartman — who currently serves as in-house counsel for the Michigan GOP, according to a recent interview with a conservative publication — along with Alexandria Taylor, who recently filed to run as a Republican for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. A group of election observers who deny the results of the 2020 election and other plaintiffs in the lawsuit must also help pay the sum.

Missouri: Greene County Judge Joshua Boyd Christensen has issued an order giving the county clerks in Greene, Dade and Lawrence a window of 20 days to set a date to manually recount the votes in the Ash Grove school bond issue which failed by less than 1%. . The result of the recount must also be forwarded to the court. The recount, which will be done by hand, is tentatively set for June 20. Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller said  he was reaching out to his counterparts in Dade and Lawrence counties to coordinate the one-day hand recount. Schoeller said the estimated cost for the Ash Grove school bond recount will be $500.

Montana: The Cascade County commission has approved a contract for outside counsel to represent the county and County Clerk Sandra Merchant in the second lawsuit filed over the May 2 election. Attorney Elizabeth Lund of Berg Lilly is defending the county and Merchant in the lawsuit filed by the Great Falls Public Library board. A second lawsuit was filed by property owners in the Fort Shaw Irrigation District and the West Great Falls Flood Control and Drainage District over issues with their May 2 elections. Contracting with Lund for legal services in the second lawsuit “is prudent as these matters require a level of time commitment which is not readily available given the current staffing of the county attorney’s office,” according to the staff report. Carey Ann Haight, deputy county attorney, told The Electric that the Montana Association of Counties Property and Casualty Trust, the county’s insurance provider, authorized a defense in the litigation filed by the library board but did so under a “reservation of rights.”

The Montana Supreme Court denied a request from Sandra Merchant and Cascade County to reverse the District Court’s decision to appoint an election monitor or assign a different monitor. On June 13, the state court denied the request filed June 1 asking the higher court to take supervisory control over the lower court. “Supervisory control is an extraordinary remedy that is sometimes justified when urgency or emergency factors exist making the normal appeal process inadequate, when the case involves purely legal questions, and when the other court is proceeding under a mistake of law and is causing a gross injustice, constitutional issues of state-wide importance are involved, or, in a criminal case, the other court has granted or denied a motion to substitute a judge,” the Supreme Court justices wrote in their June 13 order.

New Jersey: Hudson County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Jablonski, ordered the opening of 15 voting machines to retrieve memory sticks that were left in the machines on election night earlier in June. Once voting machines are locked, only a Superior Court judge can order them to be opened – and only with one Democrat and one Republican present.

New Mexico: Thirteenth District Court Judge James Noel rejected a challenge to Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s authority to determine whether New Mexico laws targeted for repeal are exempt from referendum under the state Constitution. The ruling represents a setback for a coalition of groups who have sought to annul six laws passed this year by the Legislature via the rarely-used referendum process. The court challenge against the secretary of state was filed in April by Ramona Goolsby of Rio Rancho, who is involved with a coalition of groups seeking to get the targeted laws on the November 2024 ballot for a repeal vote. In her petition, she argued Toulouse Oliver overstepped her authority by ruling the abortion law is exempt from referendum, saying only the Legislature can determine whether laws or necessary for the public peace and welfare. But Noel rejected that argument in his ruling by granting a motion filed by the Secretary of State’s Office to dismiss the court challenge. “It is very disappointing that New Mexicans are being misled about the referendum petition process by certain groups and individuals,” Toulouse Oliver said in a Thursday statement. “But I’m pleased to see the court clarify this matter today with their ruling in favor of our position that the laws currently being targeted for referendum are, in fact, exempted from the referendum process.” “This is a win for the rule of law and for all New Mexicans,” she added.

North Dakota: Two tribes are in federal court this week, trying to prove to a judge that North Dakota’s legislative district map dilutes Native American voters’ strength on their reservations. A trial began Monday in Fargo in the federal lawsuit brought last year by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and the Spirit Lake Tribe, who allege the redistricting done in 2021 by the Republican-led Legislature violates the Voting Rights Act, the landmark 1965 civil rights law. Their complaint alleges the reapportionment “packs” Turtle Mountain tribal members into one House district and leaves Spirit Lake out of a majority-Native district. A federal judge last year denied the state’s request to dismiss the case on the grounds that the tribes lack standing to sue. The bench trial in Fargo is estimated to last five days. A judge will decide the verdict.

Ohio: The Ohio Supreme Court this week ordered a state panel back to work to fix language describing an August ballot proposal aimed at making it harder to amend the state’s constitution, after justices determined elements of the wording would mislead voters. Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose immediately reconvened the Ohio Ballot Board for Tuesday afternoon. The high court ruled unanimously that the ballot board was wrong to describe the measure as increasing the standards to qualify “any” constitutional amendment for the ballot. That’s because it imposes its steep new signature-gathering requirements only on citizen-initiated amendments, not on amendments advanced by the Ohio General Assembly. If passed, it would up the number of Ohio counties where ballot campaigns must gather names from 44 to all 88. The ballot language also misdescribes the percentage of electors required in each county to qualify a citizen-led issue for the ballot. It’s 5% of those who voted in the last gubernatorial election, not 5% of all voters in that county. In a separate opinion, Justice Jennifer Brunner also argued that the measure places “onerous” new requirements on citizen-led ballot initiatives that should be more clearly spelled out.

Pennsylvania:  Seven months after “Paper Gate” made headlines around the country, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s office wrapped up its investigation, not finding any evidence that indicated the paper shortages were done with criminal intent or activity. “Everyone involved has gone out of their way to cooperate with our investigation. The fact that they didn’t make the information public was partly at least partly as a request of our office so that information doesn’t get leaked so the partial information isn’t released, which could adversely affect the investigation,” said D.A. Sam Sanguedolce. Sanguedolce’s report shows 16 polling sites in Luzerne County ran out of ballot paper during the general election last year, leading voters to use emergency or provisional ballots. One concern was that this paper shortage was targeted at Republican and or Conservative polling sites, something Sanguedolce says is not true. “That was factually inaccurate and quickly put to bed as we learned that those reports were coming in pretty much from every election ward in Luzerne County,” he explained. No criminal charges will be filed against county or election workers.

West Virginia: Mercer County Circuit Judge Mark Wills ordered that a new poll worker be selected to the municipal election in Bramwell. Additionally, Bramwell Mayor Lou Stoker has agreed not to “interfere with the municipal election.” Wills’ order was released after several petitioners filed a petition to remove a poll clerk that was appointed, they said, in “direct violation of West Virginia Code.” According to the petition, at a special meeting on May 27 the governing body of Bramwell appointed two registered Democrats as poll clerks, one of whom is not a resident of Bramwell. Poll clerks must represent at least two political parties, even in non-partisan elections. Wills granted an amended temporary order for the declaratory judgment and injunctive relief, overturning the appointment of a poll clerk and directing the Town Recorder to appoint a Republican from available trained poll workers pursuant to state Code. The order also directed Stoker not to interfere with the municipal election.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: National Popular Vote, II | SCOTUS ruling, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX | Ranked choice voting | Vote by mail, II | Voting Rights Act | AI | Conspiracy theories | Voting rights

Arizona: 2020 election | Ballot counting

Minnesota: Election system

Nebraska: Voter ID, II

Nevada: Election fraud

New Hampshire: Online voter registration

New Mexico: Santa Fe County

New York: New York City election reform

North Carolina: Election legislation, II

Virginia: ERIC | Election officials

Washington: ERIC

West Virginia: Early voting

Upcoming Events

Accelerating Excellence: Florida’s Certified Election Professional Program: Join The Elections Group for a conversation with two Florida Supervisors of Elections – Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox and Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley – and Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) Consultant Anne Schroeder to discuss the development, implementation and sustainability of the state’s certification program for election officials, the Florida Certified Election Professional Program (FCEP). The state’s certification program was a grass-roots development led by election officials across the state. A few notable elections prompted a soul-searching review by Florida Supervisors of Elections, the elected officials responsible for administering local elections in the state. This led to the development of a strategic plan and the creation of a formal certification program. Focus groups and surveys convinced the statewide association of election officials to develop a comprehensive 30-class certification program. While the FCEP program remains optional for Florida election officials, the program has an extensive waitlist and has received national recognition. Immediately following the conversation, we will provide highlights from our implementation guide. When: June 22, 12pm Eastern. Where: Online.

iGO Annual Conference: The International Association of Government Officials will hold its 2023 Annual Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas this year. In addition to an education grid, there will be numerous other events such as committee meetings, a trade show, learning sessions, receptions and fun activities. When: June 24-27. Where: Fort Worth, Texas

NASS 2023 Summer Conference: The National Association of Secretaries of State will hold its summer conference in Washington, D.C. Registration will be open in May. Check back for more details. When: July 9-12. Where: Washington, DC.

2023 EAC Data Summit: The 2023 Data Summit will include a review of significant EAVS findings, and discussion on how the EAVS can be utilized by election officials, academics, and other stakeholders to improve elections. The Data Summit will be held at the EAC Hearing Room and live streamed on the EAC’s YouTube page. When: July 19. Where: Online.

2023 EAC Local Leadership Council Annual Meeting:  The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Local Leadership Council (LLC) will hold its 2023 Annual Meeting on July 20th and July 21st. This meeting is in-person and open to the public. During the meeting, the EAC’s LLC members will discuss EAC updates and upcoming programs, such as election technology. The meeting will include moderated discussion on topics such as training and workforce development, looking ahead to 2024, and making the Local Leadership Council an effective Advisory Board. Throughout the meeting, there will be opportunities for members to ask questions. Additionally, the Board will vote to elect members to executive officer positions, who will be sworn in at the meeting.  As leaders and officials who work firsthand to administer elections at the local level, the LLC provides recommendations and direct 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 currently comprises 90 appointed members. When: July 20-21. Where: New York City.

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.

NASED Summer Conference: The National Association of State Election Directors will hold its 2023 summer conference in South Carolina. There will be no virtual option this year.  Where: South Carolina. When: July 25-27.

Election Center National Conference: The National Association of Election Officials (The Election Center) will hold its 38th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida in late August. In addition to the conference, CERA courses and renewal courses will be offered. Check back for more information. When: Aug. 26-30. Where: Orlando, Florida

Job Postings This Week

electionlineWeekly publishes election administration job postings each week as a free service to our readers. To have your job listed in the newsletter, please send a copy of the job description, including a web link to mmoretti@electionline.org.  Job postings must be received by 5pm on Wednesday in order to appear in the Thursday newsletter. Listings will run for three weeks or till the deadline listed in the posting.

Assistant 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.

Associate Director, Political Science, MIT Election Data and Science Lab— To serve in a leadership role by working with the faculty director to develop and implement an expanded strategic vision of MEDSL and to manage operations and administration of the lab’s activities. Will bear primary responsibility for ensuring that the lab’s activities are responsive to the most pressing needs of election administrators throughout the United States and for maintaining robust lines of communication with election officials and allied research institutions. MEDSL is dedicated to the creation of knowledge, insights, and data necessary to increase understanding and guide improvement of elections as they are conducted in the United States. Required: bachelor’s degree; five years’ direct experience working in election administration or election science (which may have been acquired through work as a state or local administrator, leader of a nonprofit organization, or academic researcher); tactical and strategic approach to responsibilities; excellent problem-solving, organizational, project management, and written and verbal communication and presentation skills; organizational and cultural awareness; diplomacy and good judgment;  initiative; interest in contributing to the progress of scientific research by facilitating the work of others; discretion and judgment with confidential information/issues; and proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.  Must be able to achieve big picture results while paying attention to detail; follow through and achieve objectives in a timely manner; keep teams, projects, and deliverables on track; coordinate multiple tasks, set priorities, deliver results, and meet deadlines; exert influence, negotiate, and work across boundaries; and work independently and collaboratively. Preferred: graduate degree in law, political science, public policy, public administration, management, or related field. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Board of Elections Training Specialist, Wake County, North Carolina— Are you looking to get involved in your community? Do you want to make a difference? Are you passionate about learning? If so, get ready to roll up your sleeves and become part of something bigger! The Wake County Board of Elections is currently seeking an experienced Instructional Designer/Training Specialist to join our dynamic and driven Training Team. The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator who thrives in a fast paced, ever changing work environment. They will have a clear understanding of the commonly accepted instructional design models, what it takes to be a behind the scenes designer, have a strong visual sense and excellent project management skills. What will you do as a Board of Elections Training Specialist? Develop training materials, including classroom presentations, manuals, workbooks, training videos and online training modules to facilitate comprehensive training for Early Voting and Election Day Officials; Review, evaluate and modify existing and proposed programs and recommend changes; Create schedules, design layouts for training facilities and adjust room layouts as necessary between in-person classes; Train and manage instructors and assistants for in-person training classes; Serve as instructor for some online webinars and in-person classes; Collaborate with team members to gain knowledge of work processes, identify training needs and establish plans to address the needs through training solutions; Identify innovative training tools and methods to enhance the training program; Monitor and assess election law changes and incorporate the changes into polling place procedures; Develop and design election forms, precinct official website, newsletters, assessments and other communications; Develop high level design documents, storyboards, audio narration scripts, status reporting, QA and testing plans; Assists with Early Voting site setups and call center support; Assists with Election Day call center support and post-election processes; and Portfolios will be required by all applicants who are selected to move forward in the recruitment process. Salary: $27.10 – $28.10.  Application: For the complete listing and to apply, click here.

Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters, San Bernardino, California— The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters seeks a dynamic and innovative administrator who can lead and thrive in a fast-paced environment to manage our elections programs, processes, and team.  The Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters is a forward-thinking individual that assists with guiding the future direction of the department and its processes, taking a hands-on approach to find solutions while working collaboratively with a knowledgeable and dedicated team. The Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters is a key member of the Department’s senior management team, participating in organizational strategic planning and administering election programs. The position serves as a Chief over a division of the Registrar of Voters (ROV) office and has primary responsibility for assisting the ROV in planning, conducting, and certifying all Primary, General, and Special elections. Salary: $85,425.60 – $118,684.80. 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.

Communications Specialist, King County, Washington— The Department of Elections is searching for an energetic and resourceful professional who likes to “get stuff done”. The Communications Specialist III position in the Elections Department combines an exciting environment with the opportunity to cultivate talents and apply a variety of skills on the growing Elections Communications team. The ideal candidate will thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up their sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. This position reports to the Communications Manager for the Department of Elections. The person who fills this role will play an integral role in providing accurate and reliable information to King County voters through a variety of mediums. As misinformation surrounding elections has grown, it has become more important than ever for Elections to communicate proactively, regularly, and reliably with our voters. This position will work with a team of highly qualified election professionals and will often be tasked with translating complex technical processes into information that can be delivered on a variety of platforms and easily understood by a variety of audiences. This position will work closely with the Language Services and Community Engagement team to ensure materials and information are delivered in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Salary: $85,890.06 – $108,870.53. Deadline: June 21. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Data Analyst, Protect Democracy— VoteShield, a project of Protect Democracy, seeks highly motivated and civic-minded Data Analysts to join our growing team. VoteShield’s goal is to maintain complete and accurate voter data in order to ensure free and fair elections for all qualified voters. As a member of this world-class analysis and engineering team, you will analyze voter registration data, work with election administrators, and grow your technical skills. Ideal candidates will be critical thinkers with a command of data analysis techniques and the ability to distill findings into clear, accessible reports and presentations. We are seeking people who bring an interest in civic data, commitment to non-partisanship, and passion for defending and strengthening our democracy through free and fair elections. We do not expect that any one candidate will have all of the experiences and requirements listed — our current data analysis team comes from a variety of professional backgrounds, including academia and the public and private sectors. We highly encourage you to apply if the job description gets you excited about the role and the work of Protect Democracy & VoteShield. You may work from any location in the United States, and candidates from diverse backgrounds and from across the political and ideological spectrum are strongly encouraged to apply. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Deputy Director- Communications & Support Services, DeKalb County, Georgia— The following duties are normal for this classification. 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. Manages, directs, and evaluates assigned staff; oversees employee work schedules to ensure adequate coverage and control; 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 County administrators and elected officials; and trains staff in operations, policies, and procedures. Organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; prioritizes and schedules work activities in order 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 County administrators and elected officials; and assists with the revision of procedure manuals as appropriate. Directs functions and activities of the department; directs voter registration programs, voter education and outreach programs; administers elections; recruits and trains poll workers; and oversees storage, maintenance, preparation, and testing of election equipment. Directs voter registration activities; reviews and approves staffing levels during high volume and peak registration periods; monitors work activities to ensure timely processing of applications and maintenance of voter registration rolls; and conducts voter education seminars and training for citizens. Conducts elections; supervises departmental personnel to ensure that all elections are conducted in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations; determines locations and schedule for early voting; organizes equipment and staff deployment levels for early and election day voting; reviews training packets; monitors early voting traffic and election task lists; approves ballot layouts; and implements changes in procedures to resolve issues. Plans, directs, trains, and supervises voter outreach activities; processing absentee ballots; receives/files nomination papers, candidate statements and initiative petitions; maintains the voter file; advises individuals/groups on procedures for filing initiatives, referendums and recall petitions; and files/audits campaign financial statements. Coordinates the daily operation of the department’s computer systems; supervises data entry of affidavits of registration; maintains election district information; prepares and maintains precinct maps; creating and consolidates precincts, including the operation of customized computer aided drafting applications; supervises election night ballot tabulating. Plans, directs and supervises employees engaged in securing polling places and precinct officers; training precinct officers; orders and delivers precinct supplies and materials; operating collection centers; conducting official canvass of election returns; operates mailing and computerized mail addressing equipment; mails sample ballots and election information to voters; and receives, inventorying and storing election supplies Assists in developing and implementing long- and short-term plans, goals, and objectives for the department; evaluates effectiveness and efficiency of department activities; reviews and revises policies, procedures, plans and programs; and researches, assesses, and makes recommendations regarding strategies to meet current and future election and voter registration needs. Interprets, applies, and ensures compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations; maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations and pending legislation that may impact department operations; and maintains an awareness of new products, methods, trends and advances in the profession. Assists in developing, implementing, and administering department budget; monitors expenditures for adherence to established budgetary parameters; and prepares and submits financial documentation. Oversees equipment and supplies for the department; determines voting equipment needs for each precinct for elections; monitors the packing and preparation of voting equipment and supplies; reviews and approves supply and equipment requisitions; develops equipment specifications; obtains price quotes from vendors; prepares and updates policies and procedures for equipment storage; and manages the maintenance of all related records. Completes data entry and filing; enters new voter registration information; verifies accuracy and completeness of voter information; conducts research of state records; mails out letters to retrieve missing information and documentation; updates existing records in statewide registration base; files new, updates existing, and pulls deleted cards as appropriate; scans and indexes registration and absentee applications; and files records and correspondence after processing. Oversees the creation of print and online content to publicize and promote department programs, facilities, events, or objectives; researches and verifies information; reviews, approves, or produces newsletters, calendars, brochures, and flyers; monitors, approves, and creates content for social media and department website; and writes or edits official department announcements, emails blasts, press releases, letters, or posts. Directs the design, planning and implementation of training programs aligned with department objectives and strategies; oversees community outreach programs and events; plans, organizes, and oversees special events, facility tours, educational programs; oversees the selection of locations, dates; reviews activities and materials prepared by staff or vendors; recruits and supervises event volunteers; and coordinates set-up, staffing, and implementation of program/event plans. Represents department to media, other departments, municipalities, candidates and state officials; answers questions and provides information; coordinates work activities; reviews status of work; resolves problems; responds to media requests; gives interviews and official comments; and produces short television segments for DeKalb County TV. Salary range: $81,077 – $125,670. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Director of Elections/General Registrar, Fairfax City, Virginia— The General Registrar is a department head and manages two full time employees, a team of temporary staff, and 60-100 elections officers.   He/she is responsible for Voter Registration, candidate filing, campaign finance, and Election Management, including security protocols. The Registrar must perform the duties outlined in Virginia Code Sec. 24.2-114 to include timely processing of registration applications and maintaining accurate and current registration records, assuring compliance with all laws and regulations regarding voter registration and especially overseeing the registration process including eligibility determination and denial notification process in accordance with Department of Elections Guidelines.  Elections management duties are carried out at the direction of the Electoral Board and include the maintenance, preparation, testing and deployment of the voting machines. Assuring the availability of the polling places; posting of precinct signs and preparation of election materials for the polling places. Assisting the Electoral Board to insure the uniformity, legality, and accuracy of elections. The General Registrar is required to manage all personnel, fiscal and physical resources as needed to provide all required and desired services of the office. Develop and administer a public information program to encourage registration and voting. Deal with inquiries and complaints from the general public and be a capable public leader. Must have the ability to establish effective working relationships with employees, City officials and the general public. Responsible for officer of elections training and preparation to include duties as a primary trainer of officers of election. The duties listed above are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Salary: $148,293 – $182,392. Deadline June 30. 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.

Election Director, Ohio Secretary of State’s Office— The Ohio Secretary of State Elections Division is recruiting for a Director of the Elections Division. The Director of the Elections Division (often called the Elections Director) oversees a team responsible for one of the Office’s two main functions: the oversight of local, state, and federal elections. The director serves as the Office’s primary liaison to Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections and, under the general direction of the Chief of Staff, leads the strategic planning and daily management of the division, including the following duties: Supervises division employees, including the enforcement of workplace policies, periodic review of performance, and recommendations for compensation and promotion; Oversees the issuance of advisories and directives that inform boards of changes to state election laws and sets uniform standards and policies by which elections are conducted; Develops and executes a detailed plan to manage the division’s work product in support of all timelines and deadlines associated with the annual elections calendar; Helps to develop and administer the division’s operational budget to ensure adequate levels of statewide support for the Office’s objectives; Provides daily support to boards of elections, including troubleshooting and training, as well as assistance as needed with administrative functions such as voting operations, poll worker recruitment, records processing and retention, post-election auditing, budgeting, legal compliance, and all other expectations established in the Secretary of State’s Election Official Manual; Reviews feedback from the Office’s regional operations teams and provides follow-up and support as needed; Determines the forms of ballots, poll books, voter instruction notices, and other forms relevant to the administration of elections; Oversees the collection, organization and review of statewide initiative and referendum petitions; Coordinates the meetings and direction of the Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners and the Ohio Ballot Board; Assists in the development and implementation of election-related public policy; Supports the Office’s legal staff in fulfilling public records requests, addressing litigation, and supporting law enforcement inquiries; Frequently briefs the Secretary of State and Chief of Staff on all relevant developments impacting the administration of elections in Ohio; Advises on vendor and consultant contracts; Assists the Office’s Information Technology team with election data retention and analysis efforts, including maintenance of voter registration records, investigations of fraud and irregularities, and publication of election statistics; Communicates with advocacy groups and election officials seeking guidance on the Office’s directives, advisories, or strategic policy initiatives; Represents the Secretary of State as needed in meetings, hearings, conferences, and other functions related to election administration; Seeks opportunities to strengthen the influence and visibility of the Office with election officials, advocacy groups, and influencers; Assists with the development of the Office’s communication content to intergovernmental contacts and third-party stakeholders; Manages the logistical planning and execution of the Office’s statewide Election Night Reporting operation, which includes the collection, tracking, tabulation, and reporting of election data from boards of elections to an official website for public consumption; Assists the Office’s legal staff in ensuring compliance with applicable rules, disclosures, and filings relating to lobbying and ethics laws; Collaborates with the Office’s External Affairs, Business Services, and Public Integrity divisions to support their respective objectives, including the development of public voter awareness campaigns, informational publications, website content, and other communications content; and Otherwise supports the Secretary of State and the Office of the Secretary of State in complying with all statutory obligations set forth under Ohio Revised Code Section 3501.05, “Election duties of secretary of state.” Salary: $125K-$140K. 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.

Legal and Electoral Dispute Resolution Expert, The Carter Center— The Democracy Program at The Carter Center works globally to support and strengthen participatory democracy, consistent with human rights. Beginning in 2020, The Carter Center began efforts to support elections in the United States. There are multiple key aspects to this project: establishing nonpartisan observation efforts, bolstering the electoral dispute resolution process, tracking disinformation and dangerous speech, contributing to electoral reform, and promoting a set of candidate principles for trusted elections. The Carter Center’s proposed electoral dispute resolution program aims to bolster public awareness of existing mechanisms to resolve electoral challenges as a means of building confidence in the process and encouraging peaceful acceptance of results. It also seeks to identify and propose meaningful reforms to strengthen those mechanisms and make them more coherent. Ahead of the 2024 election cycle, The Carter Center is proposing a four-pronged program of work that to increase the transparency, accessibility, timeliness and accountability of electoral dispute resolution mechanisms and thereby bolster public trust in the electoral process. The program will seek to both raise awareness of existing mechanisms for electoral dispute resolution and provide recommendations for their improvement. This position will also serve as our legal expert and will work closely with other members of the US Electoral expert team to assess the extent to which the US legislation, state legislation, and their implementation complies with international election standards. The legal analyst is expected to understand the legal framework of elections in the United States, generally, brief staff on election-related legal issues, and meet with relevant stakeholders as requested. Salary: Commensurate with experience Length of Assignment: Through August 31, 2023, with possibility of extension or contract renewal. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Training Program Coordinator, Charleston County, South Carolina— This position is responsible for the recruiting, coordinating, and training of Election Day poll managers on the policies, procedures, and SC State law regarding the administering of fair, honest, and accurate elections within the polling places on Election Day and during early voting. This position will also train all temporary Early Voting staff. This position will be responsible for developing all instruction manuals and materials. This position reports directly to the Deputy Director of Election Operations. Salary: $53,248 – $69,784. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Voting System Specialist, Idaho Secretary of State’s Office— This position plays a critical role within the Elections Division in helping the office ensure elections equipment used in Idaho’s elections is accurate, efficient, accessible, and secure. The position oversees the testing for certification of voting systems used to design, process, and tabulate ballots and report election results in Idaho. This position reports to the Elections Division Director. Travel may be required. The position provides guidance and advice to counties on the security and technical standards of voting systems certified for use pursuant to I.C. 34-2409. The ideal candidate for this position must adhere to high ethical standards and is comfortable working in a highly scrutinized and technical environment. The incumbent is expected to have strong communication skills that will bridge the highly technical aspects of the position to the operational at the county level. Additionally, the person in the position will present the data and test results to the public and the media. Salary: $25-29/hr. plus competitive state benefits. Deadline: June 16. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

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