electionline Weekly

A Note From Joe

Future of Election Center

By Joe Gloria, executive officer for Operations
The Election Center

As the new leadership team with The Election Center, The National Association of Election Officials, Tammy Patrick and I are both excited at what the future can bring in opportunities for all of our members. The history of The Election Center and its leadership in the election community makes it the best organization to provide opportunities for election officials, new or experienced.  An organization created to support election officials nationwide, regardless of political affiliation, through education and networking opportunities.  We are excited to share with you what our ideas are for new programs and operations to support election officials at a time when it is becoming even more challenging for officials to stay abreast of what’s new in their profession.

So what direction are we heading in, for those of you who attended our February and April conferences you’ve already experienced  the change in our workshop formats.  With the support of the Board of Directors we have adopted an approach that provides for more interaction among members and they have been very receptive, even excited about the new approach.  The goal is always to provide tools for election officials that will assist in doing the challenging work they do in upholding our democracy.  Currently our focus is on working to incorporate information and training on how to strengthen state associations, for  both election officials and state offices.

We are currently working on next year’s workshops and hope to make arrangements for Nashville, Portland, Oregon, and Detroit, Michigan. JEOLC will still be in Washington D.C., but may move to later in the month.  Any suggestions on future training is always appreciated and we both hope you will take advantage of talking with us directly either at conference or via email at the Election Center.

As most of you already know we have incorporated the Electionline into our organization and are proud to have Mindy Moretti on staff to provide election news to all election officials.  Most election officials who choose to stay abreast of what is going on in the election world log on every day to see what Mindy is providing.  We will certainly be using this well known resource as an excellent method to share information about the Election Center.

Also exciting is the work we are now doing in partnership with Auburn University through our new institute and our new Journal of Election Administration, Research & Practice.  We are now on Volume 3 of our new journal which combines input from respected academics and election officials currently in the field of elections. We will have new volumes available for members at our national conference in Orlando.

We are also currently working on improving our systems to better manage our member database, which will lead to increased access to member information.  Many members have made excellent suggestions on information which will assist them in identifying similar jurisdictions within our membership. With our new system we will incorporate the collection of additional data points from our membership to make it available to them for comparison to other jurisdictions.  We are also planning for a complete redesign of our website to incorporate a fresh marketing campaign,  electionline, and provide a new improved member web portal to further automate member updates.

The Election Center stands ready to do its part as a leader in the elections community for providing training and networking opportunities for our election official members.  We will continuously work to increase access to our organization and its benefits, while working to collaborate with other groups whose goal is to professionalize the election industry through education and training.  Election administrators want continued education and training to improve the efficiencies of their offices, to serve their voters in the most effective way, but access is not uniformly available and we must do what we can to assist in providing those resources. We look forward to serving you all in the future and couldn’t  be more proud to represent the Election Center now and in the foreseeable future.

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!

Accessibility Study

New Study Examines Accessibility of Elections for Americans with Disabilities
EAC releases accessibility study conducted in Partnership with Rutgers University

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) – in partnership with Rutgers University – released a pair of reports examining voting accessibility and disability turnout in the 2022 election.  The EAC worked with Professors Lisa Schur, Douglas Kruse and Mason Ameri of the Program for Disability Research at Rutgers University to conduct the study.

The researchers focused on voter accessibility in the 2022 election, comparing the results to the same post-election surveys that were conducted in 2020 and 2012. The survey covered topics such as voter turnout, difficulties voting, assistance voting, voting methods, and treatment by election officials. The researchers also analyzed 2022 voter turnout using Census data. The findings are critical for election officials who continuously work to meet the needs of their jurisdictions and make voting accessible to all eligible voters

The reports and other information for “Disability and Voting Accessibility in the 2022 Elections” can be found on the EAC’s website.

Ensuring all election officials and poll workers are equipped with up-to-date guidance and resources on the best practices for assisting voters with disabilities will be critical to improving accessibility at all polling places on Election Day or early voting. Other key findings include:

• While turnout of citizens with disabilities slightly increased from 2018 midterms, they are more likely to need assistance voting and to experience difficulties during the voting process.
• The likelihood of difficulties voting in person in 2022 was 20% among people with disabilities compared to 6% among people without disabilities. The likelihood of difficulties voting with a mail ballot was 6% among people with disabilities compared to less than 1% among people without disabilities.
• One in five voters with a disability either needed assistance or had some difficulty in voting in 2022, which was three times the rate of voters without disabilities.
• Of the 15.8 million citizens with disabilities who voted, 2.2 million encountered difficulties voting in 2022, which was a slight increase from 2020 when 1.95 million of the 17.7 million voters with disabilities encountered difficulties.
• One in five voters with a disability either needed assistance or had some difficulty in voting in 2022, which was three times the rate of voters without disabilities.
• Voting difficulties were most common among people with vision and cognitive impairments.

People with disabilities were more likely to vote in 2022 compared to 2018, but remained less likely to vote than people without disabilities, and were more likely to vote with a mail ballot.

• Voter turnout in 2022 increased by 1.6 points among citizens with disabilities relative to the 2018 midterm elections, while it decreased among citizens without disabilities by 1.6 points.
• This increase helped close but did not eliminate the turnout gap between citizens with and without disabilities, which went from -4.8 points in 2018 to -1.5 points in 2022.

“In 2022, election offices across the country maintained the momentum seen during the 2020 elections in creating accessible elections for voters with disabilities, but our research shows that there is still work to be done. The findings from this study are crucial to the EAC’s efforts in equipping state and local election officials with the resources and guidance they need to plan for assisting voters with disabilities and making sure their polling places are fully accessible,” said EAC Chairwoman Christy McCormick.

“Improving the accessibility of elections for eligible voters is central to the mission of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and this study is a crucial benchmark to track our progress year-over-year and identify areas of improvement. The EAC is committed to supporting election officials as they serve voters with disabilities and use this study to develop resources, guidance, and best practices for voters,” said EAC Vice Chair Benjamin Hovland.

“Tracking the experiences of voters with disabilities allows us to see the significant progress in making elections more accessible. We also know that Americans with disabilities still experience voting difficulties for a variety of reasons,” said Professor Lisa Schur, Co-Director of the Rutgers Program for Disability Research. “Our latest research reveals that people with disabilities still vote at a lower rate than the people without disabilities, making it essential for election officials to invest in their programming for voters with disabilities.”

Through the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the EAC is tasked with maintaining a clearinghouse of election administration information. To fulfill this mission, the EAC provides best practices recommendations, training materials, and other resources for election officials. By enhancing our work with voters with disabilities and the election officials who serve them, the EAC aims to improve accessibility and to ensure an independent and private vote for all. The EAC plans to develop more resources addressing the findings of this study in the near future.

Election News This Week

Voter Confidence: A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that only 22% of Republicans have high confidence that votes in the upcoming presidential election will be counted accurately compared to 71% of Democrats. Overall, the survey finds that fewer than half of Americans – 44% — have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence that the votes in the next presidential election will be counted accurately. While Democrats’ confidence in elections has risen in recent years, the opposite is true for Republicans. Ahead of the 2016 election, 32% of Republicans were highly confident votes would be counted accurately — a figure that jumped to 54% two years later after Trump won the presidency. That confidence level dropped to 28% a month before the 2020 election, as Trump signaled to voters that the voting would be rigged, and now sits at 22% less than 16 months before the next presidential election. The AP-NORC poll suggests that the persistent messaging about the validity of the 2020 has sunk in among a wide swath of the American public. The survey found that independents — a group that has consistently had low confidence in elections — were also largely skeptical about the integrity of the 2024 elections. Just 24% have the highest levels of confidence that the votes will be counted accurately. About four in 10 U.S. adults are highly confident that scanning paper ballots into a machine provides accurate counts. Democrats are about twice as confident in the process as Republicans —63% compared to 29%. That marks a notable shift from a 2018 AP-NORC poll that found just 40% of Democrats were confident compared to 53% of Republicans.

Native American Voting Rights: The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency established in 1957. The commission’s mission is to investigate and report on issues related to civil rights, and to make non-binding recommendations. A new report recently finalized by the committee found that Native Americans living on tribal land — specifically in South Dakota — face many barriers to voting rights. “There have been 25 voting rights cases in South Dakota with American Indian plaintiffs, the second largest number of cases in the country,” the committee’s policy brief says. “In nearly all, the American Indian plaintiffs either won or successfully settled.” The final report, “Voting Rights and Access in South Dakota,” lists recommendations including funding voter transportation and mobile polling locations on reservations, designating Indian Health Service locations as places people can register to vote, educating voters that they do not need identification to register to vote, and encouraging ballot drop boxes on reservations. The non-binding report of findings and recommendations will now be sent to federal, state and local officials. Charles Abourezk is an advisory committee member, as well as chief judge of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Court and chief justice of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Supreme Court. He said the implementation of the recommendations would improve Native American voter participation and trust in the state’s election process. Committee Chair Travis Letellier is an economist. He said the diversity of viewpoints and experiences on the committee made the work challenging but also gave the report more authority. “Every person on that committee is there for a reason,” Letellier said. “They had something to add, whether it’s their personal voice or their professional voice.”

Sticker News:  There’s a bit of controversy surrounding this year’s “I Voted” sticker contest in Ulster County, New York. Ulster County, as you may recall, is the home of the infamous “I Voted” crazy spider sticker that gained national attention in 2022. Although the board’s website says the contest is open children between the ages of 13 and 18, a 9-year-old niece of Ulster County Board of Elections Republican Commissioner John Quigley has emerged as a finalist Quigley said that the board has not prevented younger children from entering in the past. He pointed out that employees of the Board of Elections make a determination on who the five finalists will be. In this year’s sticker contest, 37 children entered, according to the Board of Elections. “We haven’t denied anybody the opportunity to submit stickers,” Quigley said. “We have had other individuals submit stickers outside the age group.” “There is no impropriety here,” Quigley said Friday. “it’s a sticker contest and I would invite anybody regardless of age, honestly. We would never say no to anybody who wants to submit one.” When asked if he thought the age limit should be changed, he said, “That will be something we will definitely revisit.” Quigley said his niece has been working on her art for her sticker since last year’s contest. “It is a great opportunity to teach civic engagement to our youth no matter how old or young they might be,” Quigley added. Voting remains open through July 31.

NASS News: Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab was sworn in this week as the new president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. “I am tremendously honored to serve NASS as President,” said Schwab. “I look forward to contin­uing to work with my colleagues from across the country in a bipartisan way, particularly as we approach such an important election year. Our nation is stronger when we can work together and learn from one another.” Schwab was first elected as Kansas Secretary of State in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He pre­viously served in the Kansas House of Representatives, holding numerous leadership positions including Speaker Pro Tempore. Throughout his tenure as Secretary of State, he has been an active member of NASS, with participation on the NASS Executive Board and other committees, as well as serving on the Election Infrastructure Subsector Government Coordinating Council (EIS-GCC).

Personnel News: Francisca “Kika” Guzman has been appointed election services director for Yuma County, Arizona. Misty Hampton has been hired by Treutlen County, Georgia elections board. Juan-Carlos “JC” Planas is running to be Miami-Dade County, Florida’s first elected supervisor of elections. After more than 14 years of service, the DeKalb County, Tennessee Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley is stepping down at the end of August. Gerry Miller has been appointed interim director of the Cobb County, Georgia board of elections and registration. Kelly Keesee was not reappointed registrar of Pittsylvania County, Virginia after eight years on the job. Congratulations to DuPage County, Illinois Clerk Jean Kaczmarek who was recently awarded the 2023 Innovator Award from the International Association of Government Officials. Congratulations to Barnstable Town Clerk Ann Quirk for being named the 2023 Clerk of the Year by the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association.

In Memoriam: Charlie Daniels, the former Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands, Secretary of State and Auditor of State, has died after a brief illness. He was 83. During his 30 years in politics, Daniels served as commissioner of state lands from 1985-2003, secretary of state from 2003-2011 and Arkansas auditor from 2011-2015. Following the news of Daniels’ death, state officials and friends posted their condolences on social media. “I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Charlie Daniels this afternoon,” Secretary of State John Thurston said in a post on Facebook. “A long-time public servant, my predecessor as Commissioner of State Lands, and a distinguished Secretary of State, he was always very kind to me and everyone he met.” Thurston, a Republican, noted that Daniels, a Democrat, had a charisma that “won him friends across party lines.” “He will be dearly missed,” Thurston said. Daniels was born in Parkers Chapel and attended Southern Arkansas University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as well as serving in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve.

Legislative Updates

Federal Legislation: House Administration Committee Republicans this week unveiled the American Confidence in Elections Act (ACE Act). The 224-page legislative package includes nearly 50 stand-alone bills, according to a House Administration Committee statement. It would give state and county elections officials access to the Social Security death list to aid in the culling of voter rolls. It would urge states to require voters to present some form of identification before casting a ballot. It would also reform the REAL ID Act to require that people’s citizenship status be printed on identification documents like driver’s licenses for the purposes of checking citizenship status at the polls. The bill also seeks to remove incentives for states to allow noncitizens to vote in local and state elections by reducing their eligibility for grants under the Help America Vote Act. Additionally, it would override existing voting laws in Washington, DC, including one that permits noncitizens to vote in local elections. It would also permanently prohibit federal agencies like the IRS from asking for nonprofit organizations’ donor lists, which proponents of the bill argue could be weaponized against conservative contributors.

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Virginia) has introduced H.R. 4460, the NO VOTE for Non-Citizens Act of 2023. The act would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to “help ensure that only eligible American citizens may participate in federal elections,” according to Griffith. One of the rights and privileges granted in the U.S Constitution is an American citizen’s ability to vote in our country’s federal elections,” said Griffith. “If non-citizens are allowed to vote in our federal elections, it could invite foreign interference and dilute the voice of American citizens. The NO VOTE for Non-Citizens Act upholds Americans’ right to vote, preserving our great democracy.”

Massachusetts: Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton and Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, filed two bills on behalf of Amherst: to implement the ranked-choice voting that is embedded in the town charter, and which would automatically begin for this fall’s elections; and to give noncitizen residents the right to vote in local elections. During a Joint Committee on Elections hearing, Domb spoke about the need for ranked-choice voting, as well as opening up voting to noncitizens who live in Amherst, such as some international students at the University of Massachusetts who are raising their families in town. “We have a lot of folks who are noncitizens in the town of Amherst,” Domb said, adding that they have a lot of stake in town decisions. “I’m thrilled the Town Council passed this initiative and is seeking home rule support for it.” During the meeting, Amherst At-Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke, who served as vice chairwoman of the Charter Commission, said ranked-choice voting was a universally supported measure, and preliminary elections were removed from the charter as a result.

Oklahoma: Lawmakers last year passed House Bill 1711, which allows legally blind voters to request the electronic delivery of an absentee ballot. That measure is one of more than 50 new laws that took effect July 1. More than 130,000 Oklahomans are visually impaired or legally blind, according to the American Foundation for the Blind. How many of those residents are eligible to vote is not known. The Oklahoma State Election Board is still working on implementing the new law, and agency spokeswoman Misha Mohr couldn’t say how soon blind voters will be able to request electronic ballots. “We’re in the process of looking at how that procedure will work, so we’re just a little ways out from getting that system implemented,” Mohr said.

Vermont: Residents as young as 16 will soon be able to vote in local Brattleboro elections. For the second year in a row, Brattleboro residents made the case to legislators that the town’s 16- and 17-year-olds should be able to vote in local elections and run for selectboard. Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a bill to make that happen last year, and another this year. But this time around the plan has become reality.  Lawmakers overrode Scott’s veto of H.386 in a special legislative session June 20 in a 110–37 vote. The charter change takes effect immediately. State Rep. Emilie Kornhesier, D-Brattleboro, lead sponsor of the bill, said most of the groundwork for the charter change was done by youth participants — they canvassed and collected signatures to get the issue on the ballot and pass the charter change locally in 2019 with almost 70% of voters in favor.

Legal Updates

Federal Litigation: The Justice Department asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to stay a preliminary injunction that puts extraordinary limits on government communications with social media companies, arguing that the sweeping order could chill law enforcement activity to protect national security interests. The 22-page request came just hours after U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty denied the Justice Department’s request for a stay. Doughty imposed the preliminary injunction limiting government communications with social media companies July 4. The Justice Department’s filing signaled that it could seek the intervention of the Supreme Court, saying that at a minimum, the 5th Circuit should put the order on pause for 10 days to give the nation’s highest court time to consider an application for a stay. In its filing, the Justice Department warned that the injunction could bar a wide swath of communications between the government and the tech industry, stopping the president, for instance, from denouncing misinformation about a natural disaster circulating online. It also said the order has the potential to disrupt communications about the fentanyl crisis or the security of federal elections, warning that it creates legal uncertainty that could lead to “disastrous delays” in responding to misinformation.

Florida: U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor rejected a lawsuit alleging that a Florida voter-registration form violates federal law because it does not properly inform convicted felons about eligibility to vote. Winsor issued a 13-page decision dismissing a lawsuit filed in April by the League of Women Voters of Florida and the NAACP against Secretary of State Cord Byrd. The case stemmed, in part, from a 2018 constitutional amendment designed to restore the voting rights of felons who had completed their sentences. The plaintiffs argued that the state voter-registration form violates a federal law known as the National Voter Registration Act because it does not properly inform potential voters of eligibility requirements. But Winsor ruled that the form accurately informs felons that they cannot register to vote until their rights are restored and rejected arguments that it should provide more-detailed information. “The restoration of rights remains the eligibility requirement for felons,” Winsor wrote. “And that requirement, as plaintiffs acknowledge, is included on the form they challenge. That is enough to doom plaintiffs’ challenge.” Winsor added that “if the NVRA (National Voter Registration Act) required applications to catalog every potential ‘precondition to eligibility,’ Florida’s one-page, front-and-back application form would explode into something hopelessly cumbersome, counter to the NVRA’s goal of promoting convenient registration.”

Georgia: The Georgia State Election Board is suing True the Vote over the organization’s failure to comply with subpoenas that would back up its allegation of a ballot collection scheme highlighted in the movie “2000 Mules.” The lawsuit filed in Fulton County Superior Court asked a judge to compel True the Vote, a Texas-based conservative election organization, to turn over information about alleged ballot-trafficking during the 2020 presidential election. It was one of several unproven conspiracy theories floated after President Donald Trump was defeated in the 2020 election. True the Vote has refused to provide details and documents supporting its allegations that several unnamed organizations paid unnamed individuals $10 per absentee ballot delivered to drop boxes across metro Atlanta. True the Vote objected to revealing information about an anonymous source who allegedly collected ballots and delivered them to drop boxes. The court effort against True the Vote follows more than a year of attempts by the State Election Board to find out whether the organization’s allegations are true.

Idaho: Babe Vote, a local coalition that encourages “young and underrepresented people to register to vote,” stopped voter registration efforts over the Fourth of July due to new registration requirements that became law on July 1. In light of the added requirements, the organization, along with the League of Women Voters of Idaho, filed a motion on Thursday, July 6 to halt enforcement of the new law. The law stems from House Bill 340, passed in Idaho’s 2023 legislative session to “revise provisions regarding voter identification and proof of residence.” Sam Sandmire, Babe Vote coordinator, said the new law requires proof of residency beyond what was previously required, but it’s confusing what the new requirements actually are. For instance, said Sandmire, proof of residency may now have to be provided to the county clerk, or possibly even the Secretary of State. “We still have some questions about the law,” she said. The new law makes it harder for people to complete their voter registration because it may require documentation most people don’t have on-hand, such as a rental agreement, property deed or utility bill, said Sandmire. Babe Vote and The League of Women Voters of Idaho, represented by Perkins COIE law firm, requested that Ada County District Court issue a preliminary injunction to keep the law from being enforced until their previously filed lawsuit is resolved.

Michigan: Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Phyllis McMillen has ruled that “undue possession” of voting machines is broadly illegal under Michigan law. McMillen’s ruling is most likely the final hurdle for a decision on whether to charge nine individuals who allegedly obtained and tampered with voting machines in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Attorney General Dana Nessel appointed Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson more than 10 months ago to determine whether to charge nine individuals for allegedly taking ballot tabulators from rural Michigan counties across the state to ostensibly examine them for evidence of election fraud in early 2021. McMillen, answering the formal question posed to the court by Hilson, ruled state law broadly prohibits possessing one of the machines without a court order or permission from the secretary of state. According to the ruling, Hilson empaneled a grand jury and it indicates he may use the jury to decide whether to indict the individuals in the investigation.

North Dakota: Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski filed a federal lawsuit asking the U.S. District Court in North Dakota to decide the constitutionality of North Dakota law when it comes to accepting ballots after Election Day. Federal law conflicts with North Dakota Century Code, putting him at risk of criminal prosecution if he “chooses incorrectly” which law to enforce, Splonskowski’s lawsuit claimed. “North Dakota law and Defendant’s enforcement of it harm Mr. Splonskowski because they put him in the position of having to choose between dictates of state law to accept and allow votes to be cast after Election Day and federal law that requires a single election day,” the civil complaint said. The lawsuit names North Dakota Election Director Erika White as the defendant. Splonskowski has asked the U.S. District Court to declare North Dakota violates federal law by allowing ballots that come in after Election Day to be counted.  He also asked White be banned from enforcing the North Dakota law and training elected officials to accept what he called “late ballots.” North Dakota allows counties to accept absentee ballots in person the day before Election Day. If mailed, the ballot must be postmarked the day before, as well, according to Century Code.

Oklahoma: Former Canadian County Elections Chief Wanda Armold was given a deferred sentence for failing to perform a timely audit of the 2020 primary election, leading to 1,272 votes not being counted. In a voluntary interview with law enforcement, Armold said the audit was not performed because it was a long election, and “everyone was tired,” according to a report in the Yukon Progress. Armold pleaded guilty to the charge of failure to perform duties on June 28. All the uncounted votes were from a polling precinct in Mustang. Armold received a plea agreement that included a one-year deferred sentence and a $1,272 fine, one dollar for each vote left uncounted. Armold was further ordered to pay a $30 victim’s compensation assessment along with court costs. Canadian County District Attorney Angela Marsee told the Yukon Progress it is not believed the votes would have altered the results of the election, nor was the failure to perform the audit done for fraudulent purposes.

Pennsylvania: The ACLU of Pennsylvania and the Public Law Interest Center have filed a lawsuit against the Delaware County Board of Elections, fighting for the right for some provisional ballots to count. The suit comes after the branch of the American Civil Liberties Union approached the board in May and warned that a suit would follow if certain provisional ballots weren’t counted. At least two members of the board said the situation should be reconsidered, considering the undue burden placed upon the voters. At that meeting, election officials said they were bound by a Commonwealth Court ruling dictating that these specific ballots are not to be counted. “They previously submitted a mail-in ballot and were notified that it would not count and they voted a provisional ballot that they would not lose their fundamental right to vote,” Schneider told the board. “The provisional ballots should be counted.” The county issued a statement Saturday: “The county strongly supports the ACLU’s request that the Court of Common Pleas clarify the rules for voters whose mail-in ballots are canceled by the county election department for ministerial errors as required by prior state Supreme Court decisions.” The suit revolves around the plaintiffs’ attempts to vote on May 16.

Texas: As expected, Harris County has filed a lawsuit aiming to challenge a new state law that abolishes its county elections office. The county’s suit aims to stop Senate Bill 1750 from going into effect Sept., less than two months before the voter registration deadline an start of early voting for the November election. The state law eliminates the elections administrator position established by Harris County Commissioners Court in June 2021 and returns election duties to the two elected offices that previously held them, the county clerk and the tax assessor-collector. More than half of Texas’ 254 counties have appointed elections administrators, including several of the most populous, such as Bexar, Tarrant, Dallas and Collin. County Attorney Christian Menefee has argued the Texas Constitution prevents state legislators from writing laws that single out one county. “(SB 1750) abolishes the elections administrator office in only those counties that have an elections administrator and have a population of more than 3.5 million, importantly, on Sept. 1, 2023,” Menefee said. “It does not apply to counties that grow into that population in the future.” The bill initially applied to counties with at least 1 million residents, before it was narrowed to include only Harris. The county will ask the judge to temporarily block the measure from going into effect on Sept. 1 and schedule a hearing in the next few weeks, Menefee said.

Wisconsin: The city of Green Bay will not go to trial in a lawsuit over access given to election observers that was initially filed during early in-person voting in the 2022 midterms.  Green Bay and the parties suing settled last week, according to documents filed in Brown County Circuit Court. A trial had been scheduled to begin in September. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Republican National Committee and four election observers who do not live in Green Bay’s city limits. It alleged Green Bay City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys prohibited observers from viewing the entire in-person absentee voting process. According to the lawsuit, Jeffreys did not let election observers in a public hallway where voters were filling out ballots, performing witness certification and depositing ballots. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Marc Hammer issued a temporary order directing the city to give election observers more access to in-person absentee voting. A final order as part of the settlement requires the city to continue doing so. The final order also says the city cannot unreasonably restrict people from observing the “public aspects” of in-person early voting, including signing of witness certification and depositing absentee ballots in the collection box. However, the settlement does not require either party to admit wrongdoing and requires both sides to cover their own legal fees.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Disinformation | Voter rolls | Election security | Social media | Disinformation | Voter ID | Election reform | Voting rights

Arizona: Election lawsuits

Colorado: Election integrity

District of Columbia; Election legislation

Florida: Court rulings | Ex-felon voting rights | Voter suppression

Illinois: Cook County clerk

Louisiana: ERIC

Massachusetts: Costs

Minnesota: Youth vote

Nevada: Election lawsuit

New Mexico: Ex-felon voting rights

New York: Vote by mail

North Carolina: New laws

Ohio: Primaries

Pennsylvania: Ranked choice voting

South Carolina: Election administration

Vermont: Election security

Virginia: Ranked choice voting, II

Wisconsin: Election official, II

Upcoming Events

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.

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.

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.

Elections Technician or Specialist, Larimer County, Colorado— Are you a self-motivated, positive teammate who thrives in a fast-paced, professional environment? The Larimer County Clerk & Recorder Elections division offers an outstanding opportunity for an exciting career in the field of Election Administration – where the foundation of government begins for our citizens! We are seeking skilled Elections Technicians/Elections Specialists to join our highly respected team. This position provides support and oversight for certain election-related processes. Successful candidates will be dedicated and confident, possess excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, and be available to work evenings, weekends, and some holidays during elections cycles. We serve a population of more than 300,000 citizens, more than 250,000 of which are registered voters. We embrace innovative processes and have a shown reputation for integrity. Join our team, apply today! Salary: $22.69 – $29.95 Hourly. Deadline: July 23. 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.

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