electionline Weekly

electionline Daily News Email

What’s the best part of waking up? electionline Daily News in your inbox of course so be sure to sign up for your daily dose.

Each morning you’ll receive the top headlines of the day, plus a listing of states featured in that day’s news round up.

To sign up, simply visit our site and provide us with your email and you’ll begin receiving the news in your inbox each morning.

We Google so you don’t  have to!

New Report from Alliance for Securing Democracy

Countering the Weaponization of Election Administration Mistakes
Report seeks to help officials learn from past mistakes

Since 2020, states have introduced hundreds of laws based on false claims of widespread election fraud. Election officials—who played an integral role in carrying out a safe and secure election that year—have been quitting in large numbers due to continued threats and harassment stemming from these same election lies. This combination creates a potentially fraught scenario for 2024: A new cohort of election officials will serve in their first election, likely resulting in more mistakes, any of which can be weaponized to feed into false claims of stolen elections.

In a new report, David Levine, senior elections integrity fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD) at GMF and a former election official, and Krystyna Sikora, a program assistant at ASD at GMF, explain how election officials can learn from past mistakes to prevent any future mistakes from being weaponized in 2024.

The authors examine errors made in three pivotal counties in 2020 and 2022 and how those mistakes were subsequently weaponized in baseless lawsuits, social media disinformation, election interference legislation, and, in one case, the January 6th Capitol riot.

• In Antrim County, Michigan, election officials misreported results due to a technical error. Even though this mistake was quickly caught, it served as the basis for a swirl of conspiracy theories about Dominion voting machines, which were used to incite the January 6th riot.
• In Harris County, Texas ballot shortages, long lines, and paper jams led to a series of lawsuits that aimed to overturn the election, even though multiple investigations found that the Election Day issues did not alter the outcome of the vote.
• In Maricopa County, Arizona, vote counting machines initially couldn’t count some ballots because the toner was not dark enough. This created a backdrop for widespread disinformation, a lawsuit, and a misguided legislative proposal.

In a voting system as complicated as the United States’, mistakes are bound to happen, but they are not a sign of malfeasance. If and when mistakes occur, election officials must be ready to respond immediately to prevent further erosion of trust in US elections. The authors offer recommendations for state and local officials to prevent similar mistakes from happening and to respond if they do, including:

• Increasing nonpartisan election observation
• Extending vote counting timelines
• Expanding the use of post-election audits nationwide

Read Countering the Weaponization of Election Administration Mistakes here: https://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/weaponization-election-mistakes/

Election News This Week

New Elections Lead at CISA: CISA Director Jen Easterly recently announced that Cait Conley, senior advisor to the director, will take on additional responsibilities supporting CISA’s election security efforts. Conley will spearhead CISA’s partnership engagement and coordination efforts with election officials across the nation as they continue to serve as the frontline defenders of election infrastructure. “Our work to support election officials across the nation remains one of CISA’s highest priorities. Cait is a dedicated public servant and combat-tested U.S. Army veteran with extensive operational and leadership experience working top national security priorities, including cybersecurity and counterterrorism. This experience, combined with her work leading the bipartisan Defending Digital Democracy Project, make her ideally suited to help those state and local officials carrying out elections in every community in America. I’m thrilled to have her take on this responsibility,” said Easterly. “I want to thank Kim Wyman, who will be departing CISA at the end of July for an opportunity in a private sector. Kim has been an invaluable Senior Election Security Lead over the past year and a half, strengthening our partnerships across the election community and maturing our operations. I’m pleased that she will remain as an informal advisor and friend to Team CISA, as well as a critical partner in the broader election security community.” “It has been an honor to lead CISA’s election security efforts and to work side-by-side with so many talented and dedicated colleagues,” said Wyman. “I thank Director Easterly for the opportunity to support election officials in this role and to be part of this important mission. I am proud of the team and what we’ve already been able to accomplish. I have worked with Cait for the past several years in this election security space and know that CISA is in good hands with Cait joining the effort going forward.” Conley previously served as the executive director of the bipartisan Defending Digital Democracy Project, based out of Harvard University’s Belfer Center, where she led the development and implementation of strategies, tools and recommendations for election administrators, election infrastructure providers, campaign organizations, and leaders involved in democratic processes to better defend against cybersecurity threats. She is also an experienced combat veteran with demonstrated leadership in global special operations, cyber operations, and counterterrorism.  “I’m thrilled to take on this responsibility and can’t wait to hit the ground running,” said Conley. “We have an amazing elections team here at CISA which has been working year-round to support state and local election officials in ensuring the security and resilience of elections. I am excited to return to the election security mission and build on the incredible progress CISA has made over the last several years.”

Disinformation Update: Earlier this week, Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana said that parts of the government could not talk to social media companies for “the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.” Doughty’s decision to restrict the government’s communication with social media plants has some concerned about the impact this could have on election disinformation campaigns. Alice E. Marwick, a researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was one of several disinformation experts who told the New York Times that the ruling could impede work meant to keep false claims about vaccines and voter fraud from spreading. The judge’s decision blocked certain government agencies from communicating with some research organizations, such as the Stanford Internet Observatory and the Election Integrity Partnership, about removing social media content. Bond Benton, an associate communication professor at Montclair State University who studies disinformation, described the ruling as “a bit of a potential Trojan horse.” It is limited on paper to the government’s relationship with social media platforms, he said, but carried a message that misinformation qualifies as speech and its removal as the suppression of speech. “Previously, platforms could simply say we don’t want to host it: ‘No shirt, no shoes, no service,’” Benton told the Times. “This ruling will now probably make platforms a little bit more cautious about that.”

Redistricting in California: The 2020 California Redistricting Commission has released “Recollections, Recommendations & Resources,” a report by the commission’s Lessons Learned Subcommittee. Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts so that the state’s population is evenly allocated among the new districts. The 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission was created via citizen initiative in 2008. The 2020 Commission embraced  the idea of seeking to leave behind a body of feedback and recommendations to assist its successors, as well as external stakeholders, in understanding the many challenges the CRC experienced, how it addressed them, and how future CRCs might save valuable time by avoiding as many of these challenges as possible and by learning from its hindsight to better address those challenges that prove unavoidable, The Lessons-Learned Subcommittee was one of the early creations of the Commission, and it has compiled lessons since its establishment in the fall of 2020. The subcommittee organized a preliminary lessons-learned discussion before the Commission received Census data so that memories of the Commission’s early weeks and months would be as clear as possible; after the completion of the new maps, there was an extended discussion in March 2022 that yielded nearly 1,400 inputs that the subcommittee then synthesized in preparing its draft report. “We are pleased to announce the launch of this important report and hope that it will prove useful to our successors as well as to the many external stakeholders who have a role in preparing for the 2030 redistricting cycle,” said Ray Kennedy, the Commission’s current rotating chair and one of the members of the Lessons Learned Subcommittee.

Personnel News: Maricopa County, Arizona Recorder Stephen Richer announced that he will seek re-election. Al Schmidt was officially confirmed as the Pennsylvania secretary of the commonwealth. Mohave County, Arizona Recorder Kristi Blair has submitted her resignation. Vasudevan Abhiraman is the new DeKalb County, Georgia Board of Registration and Elections chair. California Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who previously served as the Santa Cruz County clerk, was appointed Chair of the Assembly Elections Committee this week. Cy Lootens has been sworn in as the new Jerome County, Idaho clerk. Hillsborough County, Florida Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer announced he is running for reelection in 2024

Legislation Updates

Federal Legislation: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) has introduced a bill to require the federal government to assess how military families can access voter registration information. The bipartisan Supporting Military Voters Act would require the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office to examine and identify what improvements are necessary for servicemembers and their families to have this information, according to a news release from Klobuchar’s office. There would also be a study of the Department of Defense’s compliance with existing federal laws to provide servicemembers timely access to absentee ballots. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, is partnering with Klobuchar on the bill. U.S. Reps. Laurel Lee, R-Florida, and Joe Neguse, D-Colorado, are leading the bill in the House. “The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, but access to absentee ballots and registering to vote are obstacles for too many of our brave servicemembers and their families,” said Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation would help us examine and better understand the barriers so that we can make sure members of our military – who have sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms and defend our nation – are able to access the ballot box and make their voices heard.”

Louisiana: Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin (R), wants state lawmakers to hold a veto override session after Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) rejected a measure that would have required election officials conduct a supplemental statewide voter canvass. It’s the third time the governor has vetoed a version of the bill that he has deemed redundant because parish registrars already conduct an annual review of their polls. In his veto message, Edwards said the legislation amounted to an attempt to purge voters from the rolls. “The insistence by the governor that this process is unnecessary is blatantly partisan and ignores not only the recommendation of the nonpartisan Louisiana Legislative Auditor and election experts, but also the relevant testimony and real-life examples presented in committee,” Ardoin said. House Bill 646, by Rep. Les Farnum, R-Pollock, would allow Ardoin’s office to canvass voters who have not participated in an election for at least 10 years. If they failed to correspond with the Secretary of State’s office, they would also be moved to an inactive voters list where they will have two federal elections to either vote again or confirm their registration before being purged from the voter rolls. The existing annual voter canvass looks for voters who have changed addresses or moved out of state. The parish registrar mails them a new voter identification card to fill out. If they fail to return the card, they can be moved to an inactive voters list. State lawmakers must let legislative leaders know if they oppose a veto override session by July 13. If a majority of members in both chambers wants to convene, the session would begin July 18.

New York: Legislation passed by state lawmakers this year will require the State Board of Elections to put a poll worker training curriculum in place.  Each county board would enroll two instructors for the certified poll worker training program.  Some lawmakers said this legislation will provide poll workers with more support. “Helping folks to become more engaged in our democracy. Our poll workers are essential in that regard they are critical, and they are an integral link to ensuring that people in our communities have a full experience that’s positive as it relates to the power of voting,” said Sen. Lea Webb (D-52nd Senate District).  The training includes materials relating to diverse voters, professional delivery, and providing assistance to voters with disabilities and limited English-speaking skills. The training intends to be available both in person and virtually.

Legal Updates

California: The U.S. Attorney’s Office sued Los Angeles County, claiming several voting centers discriminated against disabled voters in recent elections and failed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The federal lawsuit follows a seven-year investigation into LA County’s voting program, which found that the county — acting through its registrar-recorder — excluded voters with mobility and vision disabilities as far back as 2016. The initial investigation, opened in April 2016, surveyed 88 voting locations through June 7, 2016, finding that 73 sites did not comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. But despite informing the county of its Title II violations in September 2016, the county failed to improve accessibility to disabled voters in subsequent elections. “The county’s vote centers include facilities that the United States identified in its Sept. 13, 2016, letter as noncompliant with Title II, its regulation and the applicable 1991 and 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The county continues to use such facilities in federal, state and local elections, without providing a temporary or permanent measure to correct the non-compliant features,” the government says in its lawsuit. According to the complaint, at least one voter that relied on a wheelchair reported to the Department of Justice claiming she had difficulty accessing the county’s voting system at a senior facility in Chatsworth, California, during the August 2019 special election. Los Angeles County Clerk, Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan aid the county became aware of the possibility of the lawsuit in May and had been activity working in good faith to reach an agreement with the government for “enhanced assessment and mitigation of physical barriers at vote centers alleged to violated the Americans with Disability Act.” “I am disheartened by this action despite our good faith efforts to reach agreement on a reasonable settlement. The assertions made in the media release do not reflect the voting model or service delivery provided by Los Angeles County,” Logan said. “That said, we remain committed to addressing accessibility issues in an equitable and effective manner and will be vigilant in preserving the extensive work the county has done to improve access to voting, broadly, and specifically for voters with disabilities and other specific needs.”

Florida: U.S. Chief District Judge Mark Walker granted a preliminary injunction on July 3 forbidding enforcement of provisions of a new law banning non-U.S. citizens from collecting or handling voter registrations, and third-party voter registration organizations from retaining voters’ information. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure in late May, before embarking on his formal presidential campaign. Although the law, SB 7050, would not be enforced until September, the organizations still would have faced fines of $50,000 for each infraction they committed starting in July. With the protection of Judge Walker’s order, third-party voter registration organizations have temporary relief from drastically altering their programming, said Frederick Vélez III Burgos, national director in Miami of civic engagement for the Hispanic Federation. “Our need for urgency was given that the law went into effect July 1, and our clients were almost immediately impacted,” said attorney Cesar Ruiz, who represents the civil rights group LatinoJustice PRLDEF, in a phone interview with the Florida Phoenix. “So, there was a significant risk of harm to our organizational clients and also to our individual clients. We were happy the judge issued his decision as quickly as he did, and we’re thrilled with the outcome,” Ruiz said. Another aspect of the law Judge Walker blocked outlawed third-party voter registration organizations from retaining new registrants’ information, which the challengers argued would hamper their ability to provide civic education, fact-check applications, and conduct quality control surveys. Walker also called out the vagueness of language used in the statue spelling out the kind of information organizations couldn’t keep or what handling and collection of applications meant. He said the state could not solve the vagueness problem through enacting regulations. “The state of Florida is correct to seek integrity in our electoral system,” Walker wrote in his 58-page decision. “Sound election laws ensure the people are heard without distortion from negligent and bad-faith actors. Here, however, Florida’s solutions for preserving election integrity are too far removed from the problems it has put forward as justifications.”

The Duval County Supervisor of Elections is facing a lawsuit after some voters complained some city districts have more voting precincts than others. The newly filed lawsuit shows 6 registered Duval County voters are suing Mike Hogan for having an unequal number of voting precincts throughout the county. Which they said violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. “We found that, for whatever reason within each of those districts there is a wide range of voting precincts and some of the districts have up to twice as many voting locations as other districts do,” said Attorney Jeff Childers.

Georgia: The Fulton County Republican Party is suing the Fulton Commission for voting down GOP nominee to the county election board Jason Frazier, who has challenged the eligibility of thousands of registered voters. The lawsuit asks a superior court judge to order the Fulton Commission to appoint Frazier to one of the Republican Party’s two seats on the election board, which oversees voter registration, sets voting locations and certifies election results in the heavily Democratic county that includes the city of Atlanta. The lawsuit alleges that the Fulton County Commission is required to approve Frazier because a county ordinance says the commission “shall” appoint two election board members each from the Republican and Democratic parties.

Idaho: Supporters of a proposed open primary ballot initiative announced they are challenging the ballot titles assigned last week. A coalition of groups called Idahoans for Open Primaries is backing the initiative, which would do away with the closed primary elections and replace them with an open primary that all candidates and voters could participate in, regardless of party affiliation. Supporters of the open primary initiative are holding off on launching their signature collections until the court issues a ruling on the ballot titles.  To qualify the initiative for the ballot, supporters have until May 1 to meet the requirements to gather signatures from at least 6% of registered statewide voters (about 63,000 signatures) and gather signatures from at least 6% of voters in 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts.  If the initiative qualifies, it would appear on Idaho voters ballots during the November 2024 general election. If the initiative qualifies for the ballot, it would take a majority of Idaho voters to approve it.  Under the proposed new system, the top four vote-getters from the primary election would advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.  The initiative would also change the general election to create an instant runoff election and ranked choice voting. Under that system, Idahoans would vote for their first choice of candidate and then have the ability to also rank the three remaining candidates in order of preference on the same ballot. If one candidate wins a majority of the votes, that candidate would be elected the winner. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes would be eliminated and their votes would instead be transferred to voters’ second choice candidate. The process would continue until one candidate has a majority of votes and is elected the winner.  Idahoans would only vote once; there would not be multiple rounds of voting.

Iowa: Polk County District Court Judge Scott D. Rosenberg has blocked the state from attempting to prevent election officials from offering non-English voting materials to the public. Under the ruling, Iowa counties will again be allowed to provide citizens with non-English ballots, voter-registration forms, and absentee ballot applications. The decision dissolves a 15-year-old injunction that blocked the practice. The ruling was handed down in a lawsuit that was filed on behalf of the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa (LULAC). The lawsuit challenged the state’s application of the English Language Reaffirmation Act to election materials. The act, which was signed into law by Gov. Tom Vilsack in 2002, requires that all political documents from the state “shall be in the English language” unless the materials are deemed “​​necessary to secure the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.” In 2003, the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office began to make non-English voter registration forms freely available online. Steve King, then a conservative Republican member of Iowa’s congressional delegation, filed a lawsuit, arguing the practice violated the state’s English Language Reaffirmation Act. A district court judge agreed and issued an injunction in 2008 that barred the secretary of state from providing voter registration forms in any language other than English. LULAC sued Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, the Voter Registration Commission and four county auditors, asking the court to dissolve the injunction and issue a declaratory order stating that voting materials are exempt from the Iowa English Language Affirmation Act. Rosenberg cited the Voting Rights Act while ruling in LULAC’s favor, dissolving the injunction and stating that voting materials were exempt from the restrictions imposed by Iowa’s English Language Reaffirmation Act. Rejecting the state’s arguments, Rosenberg said it “strains credibility” to assert that providing voting materials in another language would not be required by, or necessary to secure rights guaranteed by, the Constitution. “One would be hard-pressed to find a right that has been more frequently and unwaveringly praised in this nation than the right to vote,” Rosenberg wrote. “One’s ability to participate in the shared experience of democracy is dependent on effective communication, whether it be amongst voters or between the electorate and the state. Iowa itself has a long history of immigrants, including ones that do not speak English proficiently. In fact, the Constitutional Convention of the State of Iowa in 1857 contemplated such an issue given the large German population in the state at the time. The convention agreed to commission the translation of the Iowa Constitution into German and the printing of 3,000 copies for distribution among the state’s German immigrants.”

Michigan: Nancy Williams of Metro Detroit has been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a $3,500 fine for receiving payments to influence votes in the 2020 general election. William pleaded guilty to seven counts of election fraud. In exchange for her guilty plea, prosecutors dropped 10 counts of providing a false statement on an absentee ballot, seven counts of forgery and eight counts of forging a signature on an absentee ballot application. Investigators said Williams submitted applications for absentee ballots to nine city and township clerks on behalf of 26 legally incapacitated people under her care and had the ballots mailed directly to her. She also allegedly submitted separate voter registration applications for each person without their knowledge or consent, according to court records. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Margaret Van Houten sentenced Williams to one year of probation and ordered her to pay a $3,500 fine.

Minnesota: A conservative law firm is challenging the constitutionality of a new law restoring voting rights to felons once they’re released. Previously, felons had to wait until they were off probation or parole and had paid their fines or restitution. About 55,000 Minnesotans who have been convicted of a felony but aren’t imprisoned are eligible to vote in the next election. On behalf of a conservative outfit, Minnesota Voters Alliance, the Upper Midwest Law Center filed a lawsuit challenging the law, which went into effect in June. The lawsuit argues the new statute exceeds the Legislature’s authority under the Minnesota Constitution, which says felons lose their right to vote until the right is restored to them. But it doesn’t specify the timing, so the DFL-controlled Legislature stepped in this session, restoring voting rights as soon as a person’s incarceration term is done. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in February that the previous law banning felons from voting was constitutional. The Upper Midwest Law Center said in a press release that the Supreme Court ruled civil rights are restored upon completion of a felon’s sentence, but the new law restores the right to vote to people still on supervised release, i.e., before their sentence is complete and “directly contradicting constitutional law.” James Dickey, senior counsel for the law center, said in a release that felons on supervised release, work release or probation don’t meet the constitution’s requirements. Rep. Cedrick Frazier, DFL-New Hope, chief author of the House bill, released a statement saying he’s confident the lawsuit won’t prevail, calling it an attempt to suppress the franchise and create confusion and fear among those who have had their voting rights restored.  “Although disappointed, I am not surprised by this lawsuit and I remain weary and highly skeptical of groups that seek to limit access to our democracy, as we all should,” he said.

Mississippi: The U.S. Supreme Court said last week  that it will not stop Mississippi from removing voting rights from people convicted of certain felonies — a practice that originated in the Jim Crow era with the intent of stopping Black men from influencing elections. The court declined to reconsider a 2022 decision by the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said Mississippi had remedied the discriminatory intent of the original provisions in the state constitution by altering the list of disenfranchising crimes. In a dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote that the authors of the Mississippi Constitution in 1890 made clear that they intended to exclude Black people by removing voting rights for felony convictions in crimes they thought Black people were more likely to commit, including forgery, arson and bigamy. The list of disenfranchising crimes was “adopted for an illicit discriminatory purpose,” Jackson wrote in the dissent joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Mississippi’s felony disenfranchisement provisions 125 years ago, and “this Court blinks again today,” Jackson wrote. “Constitutional wrongs do not right themselves,” she wrote. “With its failure to take action, the Court has missed yet another opportunity to learn from its mistakes.”

Nevada:  A top-ranking Nevada Republican has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of four election observers challenging the recently passed state law making it a felony to harass election workers.  The lawsuit, filed in federal district court by attorney and Nevada Republican National Committeewoman Sigal Chattah, alleges that SB406 would criminalize actions Chattah says are legal under Nevada laws about election observation.  Nevada lawmakers this year voted unanimously in both chambers to approve SB406, which was signed into law by Gov. Joe Lombardo (R). Under the law, those who harass, intimidate or use force on election workers performing their duties in Nevada could face a felony, fine and up to four years in prison. The lawsuit — which names Lombardo and Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar as defendants and asks the court to prohibit the state from enforcing the law — argues that the SB406 is not specific enough about who is classified as an election worker and what constitutes “intimidating” behavior toward them. It claims the legislation is “an absolute contradiction” with the intent of existing laws allowing public observation of election operations.

Oregon: U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman has tossed a lawsuit intended to end mail voting and electronic voting tabulation in Oregon, saying “generalized grievances” about the state’s elections aren’t enough to give a group of unsuccessful Republican candidates and other election deniers standing to sue. In a 44-page complaint filed last October and in oral arguments last month, plaintiffs claimed that Oregon voters have been disenfranchised, though they provided no evidence. The bulk of the complaint relied on “2,000 Mules,” a 2022 film from right-wing commentator Dinesh D’Souza, that purported to show that people in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin delivered multiple ballots to drop boxes.  Beckerman dismissed the suit late last month. “Plaintiffs allege that Oregon’s computerized vote tabulation and mail-in voting systems violate their constitutional rights, including violations of the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and their fundamental right to vote,” Beckerman wrote. “Plaintiffs allege that ‘organized criminals’ are manipulating Oregon’s elections, and they base their claims on a documentary about voting irregularities in other states and reports of voting irregularities in Oregon.”

Tennessee:  Tennessee’s Supreme Court ruled against a man who sought to register to vote in the state after receiving clemency for a crime committed decades ago in Virginia.  Ernest Falls was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Virginia in 1986, according to court documents. He moved to Tennessee in 2018. In 2020, then-Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam granted Falls clemency, restoring his full rights of citizenship. But when Falls tried to register to vote in Tennessee, he was prevented from doing so. That’s because of a Tennessee law that requires people seeking to restore their voting rights to first prove they have paid all outstanding court costs, restitution and child support obligations.  At issue is whether that section of Tennessee law should be read together with another section that prohibits people who have been convicted of certain crimes in other states from voting in Tennessee unless their rights have been restored. During oral arguments before the Tennessee Supreme Court last year, Falls’ attorney William Harbison argued that someone who has full rights of citizenship shouldn’t be subjected to having to get their voting rights restored. In a dissenting opinion on Thursday, Justice Sharon Lee agreed.  “Mr. Falls’ voting rights were fully restored; he should not be denied his constitutional right to vote,” she concluded. But the majority ruled that the two sections of Tennessee law should be read together and that Falls must submit proof that he has none of the outstanding financial obligations that would disqualify him from having his voting rights restored.

Sumner County Chancery Court Judge Louis Oliver, III is putting members of the Sumner County Commission on notice they could be individually held in contempt in an ongoing legal dispute with the county’s election commission. On June 27, Oliver admonished an attorney during a court hearing over the county commission’s public efforts to embarrass Lori Atchley, the election’s administrator, while she is a litigant in a case against them. On June 29, Oliver ordered that each member of the commission, along with Sumner County Mayor John Isbell, be given a copy of an injunction issued last month that prevents the officials from taking actions against the election commission or its employees while the legal dispute continues. Oliver’s order noted that each individual county commissioner, as well as the commission as a whole, is subject that injunction. The judge’s order on Thursday reminded county officials that they are subject to regular court rules that say: “compliance with such order or injunction may be compelled or its disobedience punished as a contempt by a judge of the court in which the action is pending.”

Virginia: Outgoing Lynchburg registrar Christine Gibbons has filed a suit against the city’s two electoral board members who did not reappoint her to the position. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, is a First Amendment challenge that alleges the new majority of Lynchburg’s electoral board is “intent on pressing the partisan falsehood — widely known as the ‘Big Lie’ — that the defeat of Donald Trump for President in 2020 must have been procured by fraud, and the ancillary supposition that local election administrators who are not part of the Republican faction are not to be trusted.” “It’s kind of inherent. I had hoped to be reappointed, but I have known for quite some time that there have been accusations of fraud in my office,” Gibbons said. “I just feel like our office has had senseless attacks on our character and our neutrality repeatedly over and over by Republican-authorized representatives.” Defendants in the suit are board secretary Betty Gibbs and board vice chair Steven Troxel, who were placed on the board in 2022 and 2023.  Gibbons’ suit alleges that Gibbs and Troxel’s decision to replace her was motivated by politics — and cites incidents leading up to the 2020 election where Gibbs was allegedly outspoken with suspicion of election administrators, lingering in the office “with intent to intimidate” during the 2020 election cycle.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Moore v Harper, II, III, IV |  Voting rights | SCOTUS decisions, II, III | Democracy | Youth vote | Social media

Alaska: Ranked choice voting

Arizona: Pinal County | Defamation suit | Secretary of state | Maricopa County

Arkansas: Ballot counting

Connecticut: Ranked choice voting

Missouri: International election observation

Montana: Election administration

New York: Turnout | Election dates

North Carolina: Elections budget | Voting rights;

Ohio: Primaries

Oregon: Ranked choice voting

Pennsylvania: Vote by mail

South Carolina: Poll workers

Texas: Voter registration

Virginia: Primaries

Washington: Court ruling

Upcoming Events

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.

Field Hearing: The Committee on House Administration will hold a field hearing “American Confidence in Elections: The Path to Election Integrity Across America” in Cobb County, Georgia. When: July 10, 2:30pm Eastern. Where: Online

Using Census Data to Increase Civic Engagement: Are you looking for data to inform your community engagement efforts? Join civic engagement stakeholders to learn about relevant demographic data to support your programs. This webinar will provide an overview of relevant U.S. Census surveys, available data and hands-on exercises. When: July 19, 2pm-3:30pm Eastern. Where: Online

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: Washington, DC

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.

NCSL Legislative Summit: The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) will hold its annual meeting, Legislative Summit, in August. This year’s elections track features election perspectives from across the spectrum, a live recording of the podcast, High Turnout, Wide Margins, a tour of the Marion County Election Board Office, a free precon on election security, accuracy and communications, and a free postcon on redistricting. To register visit NCSL’s Summit 2023 webpage; for the pre- and postcons, contact Katie.King@ncsl.org. When: Aug. 13-17. Where: Indianapolis, Indiana.

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. The conference will include plenary sessions, workshops, the CERA graduation ceremony and an optional tour of the Orange County, Florida supervisor of elections offices. 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 Election Commissioner, Sedgwick County, Kansas— As part of the Election office senior leadership team, this position is responsible for overseeing the logistics, ballot creation and results of the Sedgwick County Election office. The position oversees staff to ensure tight timelines are met and each election and election site is staffed, has the proper equipment, and the ballot questions are accurate. Additionally, this positon provides leadership, management and direction relating to federal, state, and local elections in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and rules. The Chief Deputy Election Commissioner also oversees outreach and education strategies designed to inform and engage voters. This position works with emotionally charged individuals seeking election information, and must work to resolve situations following all laws, regulations, and department policies. During peak times, the employee in this position has a significant workload, often working more than 40 hours per week. The Chief Deputy Election Commissioner assumes the responsibilities of Election Commissioner when necessary, and represents the Office of the Election Commissioner when requested. Application: For the complete job 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 Voting Section, U.S. Department of Justice— The Civil Rights Division (CRT) is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as the Chief, Voting Section. The Voting Section enforces the federal civil rights laws that safeguard citizens’ right to vote; brings lawsuits against states, counties, cities, and other jurisdictions; submits statements of interest in litigation brought by private parties; and monitors elections. Salary: $141,022 – $212,100 per year. Deadline: July 12. 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 and Voter Registration, Spartanburg County, South Carolina— Performs difficult professional and administrative work directing the registration, voting and election activities for the County. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Board of Voter Registration, Spartanburg Election Commission. Supervision is exercised over subordinate personnel.  Plans, directs, coordinates and supervises the elections process held in Spartanburg County; Plans, directs, coordinates, supervises staff including training and evaluating the work of department personnel, including selection of new employees; Performs related supervisory functions such as authorizing transfers, promotions and terminations; Maintains a pool of 450-600 certified Poll Managers; Maintains access and use of sites in County for voting precincts; Directs necessary maintenance and care of electronic voting machines; Coordinates outreach voter registration; Directs voter registration, changes, deletions, etc. to keep voter rolls accurate; Oversees maintenance of official maps for all precincts and districts; Directs maintenance of street index file including additions, annexations and changes;  Liaises with State Research and Statistical Services on mapping issues; Plans and directs pre-election voter registration drives and activates setup and operation of Geographic Information System when available; and Performs related tasks as required. Salary: $75,000 – $85,000. 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.

IT Coordinator, St. Johns County, Florida— The IT Coordinator is a critical role in the organization responsible for overseeing the technology operations of the Supervisor of Elections office operating in a Microsoft Windows environment. This includes managing the IT staff, ensuring the security and integrity of the organization’s data and systems, and identifying and implementing new technologies to improve efficiency and productivity. The IT Coordinator manages core network operations, reports to senior management, and collaborates with other department heads to align Information Technology strategies to maximize organizational operations. Responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the Supervisor of Elections office and systems while identifying and implementing new technologies to improve efficiency and productivity. Salary: $80,000 – $92,500 a year. .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.

Registration & Elections 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. 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 ; and assists with the revision of procedure manuals as appropriate. Conducts elections; supervises personnel to ensure that all elections are conducted in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations; secures early voting locations and recommends schedule; appoints site managers and determines staffing requirements for early and election day voting; works with polling locations and County Information Technology staff to ensure technology capabilities; develops and reviews training for compliance with election laws; monitors early voting traffic; recommends changes in procedures to resolve issues; conducts election night precinct check in, election audit and preparation of precinct statistics; monitors election tasks lists; monitors election software programming; and oversees financial filings process. Implements, monitors and maintains registration functions and processes; reviews registration functions and processes such as felon registrations, duplicate voters, citizenship verification, jury summons questionnaires, provisional voting, election night precinct check in and election audit; monitors and ensures compliance with established protocols and procedures; and updates protocols and procedures as needed. Prepares and completes a variety of registration, production and election reports; compiles and/or tracks various administrative and/or statistical data; generates and prepares data; submits all mandated reports to local, state and federal regulatory agencies or others as required; and maintains related records. Maintains training and procedure manuals; and develops, updates, and revises manuals for all procedures involving voter registration and election functions. 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 and implementing department budget; review. Salary: $54,927 – $88,433. 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.

Voter Registration Technician, DeKalb County, Georgia— 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. Provides customer service; provides voter information and answers questions regarding voter registration policies and procedures; and issues voter identification cards and voter registration certificates. Assists in maintaining County-wide master street files, district lines, and precinct maps; researches boundary and location changes and redistricting; and assists in verifying precinct locations and district numbers. Performs duties related to elections; assists in hiring and managing of temporary employees to work at voting site; conducts site visits to ensure site is prepared for voting; checks voter identification; verifies voter information; assists voters in booth with various questions regarding voting; provides provisional procedures, problem solving skills, and conflict resolution skills; ensures all necessary signs are in appropriate area of the polling site; prints election result and zero tapes for all advanced voting sites; completes Election Recap Sheet; and stores all absentee applications in boxes to send to the warehouse. Supervises summer interns; assigns work tasks; and completes time and work habit evaluation sheet. Attend and participate in mandatory ongoing training, including certifications and annual training. Salary: $37,182 – $59,864. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Marketplace

electionline provides no guarantees as to the quality of the items being sold and the accuracy of the information provided about the sale items in the Marketplace. Ads are provided directly by sellers and are not verified by electionline. If you have an ad for Marketplace, please email it to: mmoretti@electionline.org