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Election News This Week

New Accessibility Trainings: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) –in partnership with the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at GBH (NCAM)–released an innovative, on-demand video training series on making voting more accessible to the 15.8 million voters with disabilities for new and experienced election officials, poll workers, and other election stakeholders. Each video, available on the EAC’s YouTube channel, is between five and seven minutes long and is designed to fit into an election worker’s busy schedule. The short format and wide range of topics set the “Accessible Elections – Information for Election Officials” eight-part video series apart from other accessibility trainings. The series’ lessons incorporate not only physical accessibility, such as creating accessible polling places, but also promote ways election administrators can create accessible websites, social media, other electronic communications, and forums. The series’ broadly applicable guidance adheres to accessibility laws nationwide. The EAC’s video training series promotes ways election workers can reduce this and other obstacles to accessibility, no matter a jurisdiction’s size or resources. NCAM, which worked with the EAC on the series, is a national leader in making digital media accessible for people with disabilities.

More than just fat bears: While much of the nation’s focus on voting in Alaska this week is on fat bears, there was other elections news out of The Last Frontier. Local elections were held throughout the state. The U.S. Department of Justice monitored local elections in three rural Alaska regions to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act. Turnout varied throughout the state. In the Fairbanks North Star Borough Susan Yannish, Chair of Fairbanks #1 Precinct, helped at a polling place at the Carlson Center. “We’ve had a really good turnout today,” she said in spite of the snow. In Homer, election worker Pam Brodie saw more people than she expected come out to vote. “It’s been going well in that it’s been very steady and very busy, so we have had no time to read magazines or anything,” she said. “we’re just dealing with the public all the time, but the lines are not too long.” Juneau City Clerk Beth McEwen spent the time leading up to the election educating voters about the process and why it takes a while to get those results in. “Starting on Election Night at 8 p.m., we will actually start to scan those ballots and adjudicate them,” said City Clerk Beth McEwen. “Adjudication means we’re going to actually have human eyes on those ballots, looking to make sure the machine counted the vote the way the ballot appears to have been cast.” The Northwest Arctic Borough was still compiling results. The borough also hadn’t received results from Selawik as of Wednesday morning borough clerk Stella Atoruk said. “Selawik had phone issues last night,” Atoruk said. “Bering Air was on hold this morning due to ice fog and awaiting bags from all the villages.”

Indigenous Voting Rights: The Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, recently opened its first voter registration office on campus.  The announcement follows the New Mexico Secretary of State’s decision to designate the college as a voter registration agency under the National Voter Registration Act to make voter registration easily accessible for all. SIPI is a federally funded tribal college.  The college’s latest enrollment data from Spring 2023 shows the student body is comprised primarily of students from the Navajo Nation, followed by Pueblo of San Filipe, Kewa Pueblo, Pueblo of Jamez, Pueblo of Laguna and White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation. “Voting is essential for a healthy democracy and the protection of liberty. SIPI’s new office will increase voter access to basic information and provide education on the registration process,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland in a press release.  “The new office is an important move that will allow more people to participate in a process that should be easily accessible to everyone.”

Social Media Update: While many users of the platform formerly known as Twitter have decamped to other sites such as Threads or BlueSky, X, as it’s now called, still remains an outlet for elections officials to provide important information. Which is what makes this story troubling. According to NBC News, Twitter/X has slashed the number of people on its disinformation and election integrity team just weeks after it said it was hiring for new positions to help it guard against foreign interference. The cuts included Aaron Rodericks, the head of the team. The person familiar with the cuts said four people had been let go — the entirety of X’s election integrity unit in its Dublin office. It’s unclear how many people remain on the team. Twitter/X did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Elon Musk appeared to confirm the cuts in a post on Twitter/X. The cuts are part of X’s broader pullback from its efforts to address false information and foreign interference that once ran rampant on the platform. Musk has also aggressively criticized the company’s previous moderation efforts, releasing internal documents that he and conservative commentators have claimed showed a liberal bent to how it handled elections and misinformation. “Decimating their election integrity team — on top of last year’s firings — means that X will continue to be a toxic hellscape that people and advertisers should avoid,” said Kyle Morse, the deputy executive director of the Tech Oversight Project.

Congratulations: Shout-out to Ian Bassin, co-founder of Protect Democracy who was one of this year’s MacArthur Foundation “Genius grant” award winners. According to The Washington Post, the 2016 presidential election made clear to Bassin that “we were living through a global democratic recession,” he says. Protect Democracy was his response. The organization’s software VoteShield is designed to fight election fraud. Its National Task Force on Election Crises prepares for unprecedented election catastrophes. Its Law for Truth project files defamation lawsuits to help people harmed by conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. MacArthur fellows receive a grant of $800,000 over five years to spend however they want. Fellows are nominated and endorsed by their peers and communities through an often yearslong process that the foundation oversees. They do not apply and are never officially interviewed for the fellowship before it’s awarded.

Personnel News: Robert Rapoza, the executive director of the Rhode Island Board of Elections, plans to retire in 2024. Former State Rep. Ron Saunders announced that he will be seeking election as Monroe County, Florida Supervisor of Elections in the 2024 election. Hillsdale County, Michigan Clerk Marney Kast announced she will not seek re-election in 2024. Riverside County, California Registrar of Voters Rebecca Spencer resigned from her position late last week. Brigette Bowdler is the new Grosse Pointe, Michigan city clerk. Marci Richey has been sworn in as the new Linn County, Oregon clerk. Valarie Unger has retired as the Polk County, Oregon clerk, Kim Williams is the new clerk. Pinellas County, Florida Supervisor of Elections Julie Marcus has announced her re-election bid. Randy Howard has resigned as the Sumter County, Georgia elections supervisor. Caldwell County, North Carolina Board of Elections Director Chad Barnes recently completed his elections director certification.

Legislative Updates

California: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that bans hand counts in elections in all but the smallest jurisdictions in California, setting up what could be a political and legal collision in Shasta County over whether manual or machine tallying will happen in the next election in November. AB 969, which targeted Shasta County’s controversial move to eliminate machine tallies in local elections, was signed by Newsom on Oct. 4. The bill is an urgency statute, so it takes effect immediately. Passed by the state Assembly last month, the bill, now law, bans the manual counting of ballots in elections with more than 1,000 registered voters. There are more than 110,000 registered voters in Shasta County. Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz, authored the bill weeks after Shasta supervisors in late January voted 3-2 to terminate the county’s contract with Dominion Voting Systems. Shasta County Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Jones said Wednesday he had been expecting the governor to sign the bill. The new law will not affect Shasta County’s plans to hand count ballots in the November 2023 and presidential primary election in March 2024, Jones said. “I’ve asked legal counsel to weigh in on this. And I believe that it does not affect Shasta County,” Jones said. “We already made that decision to get away from machines in January and February. We have been waiting this entire time for the Secretary of State, which she said she would approve a hand tabulation plan. She has yet to do so. So she’s simply dragging her feet on this. But we have already made our decision. And a majority of the board has already spoken.”

Shasta County, California: The Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance that establishes oversight for the new five-person Citizens Election Advisory Committee. The Shasta County counsel calls the ordinance “legally insufficient” and “unenforceable.” A report to supervisors about the ordinance states, “County Counsel has reviewed the proposed ordinance, found it legally insufficient and unenforceable, and therefore has not approved it as to form.” Supervisors established the Citizens Election Advisory Committee on Sept. 12. The first-of-its kind citizens election group with the proposed oversight powers has some worried about the potential it has of taking away some of Cathy Darling Allen’s authority as county Registrar of Voters, an elected position. Darling Allen said she was not consulted about the ordinance or asked to speak about it at Tuesday’s meeting. Among the duties and actions the ordinance gives the committee are: Make reports to supervisors and/or the citizens election committee; Observe, inspect and examine elections records and documents for accuracy and completeness; Committee members will collaborate to receive, investigate and respond to citizens’ complaints; Ask questions of elections officials and receive timely answers; Per authorization from the board chair — in this case Jones — contact the county counsel to request subpoenas. Supervisor Tim Garman calls the ordinance government overreach. “We have no reason to do any of this. It’s just another waste of money,” Garman said.

Michigan: The House has approved a bill that would allow spouses and children of overseas military members to return their ballot electronically beginning in 2025. The electronic return bill for military members and their families stationed outside of the U.S., sponsored by Rep. Carol Glanville, D-Walker, would require Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office to develop a secure web portal and rules capable of securing those electronic ballots by Aug. 1, 2025. The system would require the returned ballot to match the voter’s signature on file and require all electronic ballots be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The electronic voting measure for military members is an expansion of a bill passed in October 2022 when Republicans controlled the Legislature. That legislation, however, would have been limited to overseas military members only — not family members stationed with them — and was supposed to take effect in 2024. The bill would require overseas military members and their families to submit a paper ballot in addition to their electronic one. While the electronic ballot has to be in by 8 p.m. on Election Day, individuals who didn’t receive an absentee ballot within 45 days of the election, a requirement under current law, would have additional days to submit their paper ballot past the six-day cushion allowed under Prop 2.

A separate bill would remove a mandate requiring clerks to challenge any ballot submitted by someone who registered within 14 days of an election. The required challenge – which mandates the voter to show photo identification, other proof of identity or a signed affidavit attesting to their identity – has been a burden to clerks in the years since a 2018 proposal allowed for same-day registration, supporters said. Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lasning, said the challenged ballots are particularly problematic in college towns where young voters are “hoping to vote where they currently live rather than in their hometowns.” Clerks’ mandated challenge of the ballot has revealed zero cases of election fraud, she said. Another aspect of the legislation would eliminate bans on a third-party hiring transportation companies to cart voters to the polls. The state law has been unsuccessfully challenged in prior court battles.

New York: Sen. Mark Walczyk, R-Watertown, has introduced legislation he believes will help combat a new trend. Currently, impersonating any official is a misdemeanor in New York but the legislator’s bill would make it a felony to impersonate elections officials. The legislation follows a report from the New York state Board of Elections said there have been cases reported in 13 counties where voters were approached about their registration allegedly by people impersonating elections officials. “This is a crime that we want to take very seriously in the state of New York because the defense of our republic and the way we do democracy in the state of New York is in the balance here,” he said. Walczyk said he feels confident about the bill’s chance at passage this session. He said he already has co-sponsors and doesn’t believe it’s a partisan issue. The League of Women Voters and the Democratic caucus chair of the state Elections Commissioners Association said they’re supportive.

North Carolina: Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a bill that restructures state and local elections boards to give legislators more power.  In a statement, Cooper said Senate Bill 479 could lead to gridlock and the risk that Republicans or courts could change election results they don’t like.  The bill strips governors of all appointments to the state Board of Elections and gives them to legislative leaders. As it stands now, the governor appoints all five state Board of Elections members, choosing from state political party nominees. The governor’s party holds three of the five seats.  Under the bill Cooper vetoed, the State Board of Elections would expand to eight members, with four members appointed by Republican legislative leaders and four appointed by Democratic leaders. Democrats and Republicans would get two appointments to four-member local elections boards.

Wisconsin: Lawmakers heard public testimony last week about a slate of voting-related bills. Under the bipartisan proposals, attacks on election workers would become a felony, election workers would have access to whistleblower protections and voters would receive text message updates about the status of their absentee ballots. “Election workers are the backbone of successful elections and deserve to operate without fear for their personal safety or job security,” said André Jacque, R-DePere, who co-authored the bill, at a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection on Tuesday. It would also make it a Class I felony to intentionally harm an election worker. Currently, most forms of battery are Class A misdemeanors, but this bill would provide special protections for election workers. It would also make certain information about election officials private to prevent doxing, or the sharing of personal information about a person online. And it offers whistleblower protection to election workers who lawfully report what they reasonably believe to be voting irregularities or fraud.

Republicans on the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection voted 3-2 to deny the appointment of Joseph Czarnezki, a Democrat, to the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) because of his participation in an effort to keep WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe in her job. Czarnezki, the former Milwaukee County clerk and a former state senator, was nominated by Gov. Tony Evers to a commission seat that is statutorily required to be held by a Democratic former clerk. The status of his nomination is still dependent upon a vote of the full Senate. He can remain on the commission until the Senate vote.

Democrats introduced a slew of bills they say are designed to encourage participation in voting in Wisconsin. One bill provides automatic voter registration. Another makes it easier for high school students to obtain voting information and register to vote. A third requires elected state officials to work as election officials when they’re not on the ballot.

Legal Updates

Federal Litigation: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that CISA probably violated the First Amendment in its efforts to coordinate with Silicon Valley to protect elections from online hoaxes, in a decision that could have sweeping implications for government efforts to secure the vote in 2024. The panel of three wrote that CISA “used its frequent interactions with social media platforms to push them to adopt more restrictive policies on election-related speech,” revising an injunction issued last month. The decision bars CISA, its director, Jen Easterly, and several other top agency officials from taking actions that “coerce or significantly encourage” tech companies to remove or reduce the spread of posts. CISA, which was established in 2018, has played a prominent role in efforts to secure elections from online threats, in part through communicating with social media companies during the 2020 elections. The ruling clears the way for the Supreme Court to decide whether to take the case, after the Justice Department asked the justices to put the 5th Circuit ruling on hold. It’s a significant reversal of a September decision by the same panel of judges, which found that though CISA flagged posts to the platforms, there was not sufficient evidence that the agency’s activities crossed the line and were coercion.

Alabama: The National Federation of the Blind of Alabama and four people are suing three Alabama counties, alleging they do not have an accessible absentee ballot option for blind and print-disabled voters. Plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in Tuscaloosa federal court against the absentee election managers of Jefferson, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties. The suit claims the counties violate federal law by not providing an accessible way to mark and return absentee ballots. While blind voters and voters who have trouble reading print use screen readers or magnification programs to vote independently and privately, according to the organization, the counties being sued do not have remote vote-by-mail systems that allow those technologies to be used. Such technology exists to allow those voters to read, mark and return absentee ballots electronically, according to the federation, which noted that other states allow the technology to be used. While a remote vote-by-mail system is made available to military members and overseas members by Alabama, the state had not allowed voters with disabilities to use it. “Alabama has an abysmal record of broken promises and failure to respect and protect the rights of the state’s blind voters,” said Barbara Manuel, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Alabama, in a statement Tuesday announcing the lawsuit. “We cannot tolerate this state of affairs and are determined to change it.” The Southern Policy Law Center’s attorneys are among those representing the plaintiffs.

Colorado: U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer has rejected an attempt by Secretary of State Jena Griswold to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to declare her office has withheld data about deceased voters in violation of the law. In 2021, Griswold’s office declined to provide ERIC’s deceased voter reports to the Public Interest Legal Foundation. The foundation claimed it was entitled to the information under the National Voter Registration Act. n response to the foundation’s records request, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher P. Beall said Colorado receives data “from a variety of sources” to maintain the accuracy of its voter registry and “does not treat” the ERIC reports as part of its activities. Therefore, it did not have to produce the reports to the foundation. The foundation countered in its court filings that the “ERIC Deceased Reports ‘concern’ voter list maintenance activities in every sense of the word.” Brimmer rejected Griswold’s motion to dismiss the case, noting federal law broadly requires disclosure of information concerning list-maintenance activities. “Accordingly, the Foundation has sufficiently alleged the ERIC records it seeks are concerned with implementing a program or activity under the NVRA, namely, maintaining accurate voter rolls,” he wrote. Brimmer addressed Griswold’s concern that other federal laws govern the privacy of motor vehicle records and the confidentiality of the underlying data ERIC uses to produce its reports. Griswold characterized the foundation’s lawsuit as an “end run” around those privacy protections that could expose the state and ERIC to penalties. “The Court agrees with the Foundation that information covered by the disclosure provision of the NVRA, but protected by other federal statutes, should be read as exceptions to the NVRA’s disclosure provision,” Brimmer wrote. Consequently, any legitimate prohibitions on disclosing data could likely be solved by redacting specific information, rather than withholding all records, he explained.

Connecticut: Superior Court Judge William Clark turned down a request by city officials to inspect police reports from the investigation into the absentee ballot fraud case to determine what should be turned over to the lawyers for mayoral challenger John Gomes. “(The city) respectfully moves this honorable court conduct an in-camera inspection of investigation records maintained by the Bridgeport Police Department to determine the propriety of releasing such records in connection with the above referenced action,” states the motion filed Tuesday by Deputy City Attorney John Bohannon Jr. “The parties have agreed that the Bridgeport Police Department shall disclose the investigation records information sought in the motion subject to an agreed upon protective order, that is hereby made a part of this order, that such disclosure shall be for attorney’s eyes only and not disclosed to any other party or individual absent further order from this court,” the judge ruled. The motion states that the Police Department has referred information from its investigation to the Office of Chief State’s Attorney and the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

Georgia: U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg has rejected an effort to dismiss a defamation lawsuit by an Atlanta-area man who was falsely accused of fraud in the conspiracy movie “2000 Mules.” Grimberg’s ruling allows the case to move toward a trial against defendants including conservative filmmaker and political provocateur Dinesh D’Souza and True the Vote, a Texas-based organization that collaborated on the movie. The lawsuit by Mark Andrews, an auditor from Gwinnett County, alleges “2000 Mules” damaged his reputation by showing him as he delivered ballots for himself and his family to a drop box as D’Souza says: “What you are seeing is a crime. These are fraudulent votes.” An investigation by the GBI cleared Andrews of wrongdoing when he returned absentee ballots for the 2020 presidential election. Georgia law allows voters to drop off ballots for their family members. “The allegations about the individual defendants’ conduct, which was purportedly based solely on conjecture and speculation and continued long after Andrews was officially cleared of any wrongdoing, are disturbing,” Grimberg wrote in his 53-page order.

Idaho: Ada County Fourth Judicial District Judge Samuel Hoagland determined that two bills passed by the Idaho Legislature to eliminate the use of student ID cards for voter registration are constitutional. The lawsuit filed in March by BABE VOTE and the League of Women Voters of Idaho challenged House Bills 124 and 340, which eliminated the use the student IDs for voter registration but provided for a new free form of identification. The organizations claimed it violated the constitutional right to equal protection under the law as well as the right to suffrage. The Idaho Secretary of State’s office sought a declaratory judgement in the case, which means the case will not go to trial. Hoagland dismissed the plaintiffs’ complaint and declared in his written judgment that HB 124 and HB 340 do not violate the equal protection clause of the Idaho Constitution. In the memorandum and order, Hoagland wrote “The challenged legislation places conditions on the right to suffrage rather than directly removing the ability of a particular classification to vote. While a certain classification—age— appears to be more affected than other classifications, the condition is not immediately invalidated nor does the condition make it impossible – let alone overly burdensome – for those in the classification to continue to exercise the right of suffrage. ‘Students’ are not a protected class. Moreover, not every student is a young person and not every young person (of voting age) is a student. The removal of student identification as means for registering to vote and identifying oneself at the polls, is not discriminatory and it has a clear relationship to the stated purposes of HB 124 and 340.”

Maine: A federal judge will hear arguments this week in a case in which the state is being challenged by a conservative Virginia nonprofit because of a state law that seeks to control how voter information is used. The Public Interest Legal Foundation, which describes itself as a “public interest law firm dedicated to election integrity,” first sued Maine in 2020. That case challenged a state law that restricted access to the state’s registered voter list to political parties or groups engaged in get-out-the-vote efforts. In 2021, state lawmakers amended the law to permit access by groups seeking to evaluate the state’s compliance with “its voter list maintenance obligations.” But that same law also added privacy protections to prohibit the sale of voter information and forbid the release of information that could identify “a specific voter,” according to court filings. It also instituted up to a $1,000 fine for each violation. In a ruling issued in March, U.S. District Judge George Singal ruled in favor of the foundation, writing that public disclosures required by the National Voter Registration Act preempt the restrictions in Maine law. The First Circuit Court of Appeals will hear the case October 5  in Boston.

Michigan: Eleven Republican lawmakers filed a lawsuit against election officials in an effort to make two election-related proposals in the state null and void. The legislators claim the process of how Proposal 3 of 2018 and Proposal 2 of 2022 became laws violated both the state and federal constitutions. The suit points to the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which requires the state legislature to regulate the time, place and manner of federal elections. Both proposals came from ballot initiatives and fundamentally changed how elections run in Michigan. However, both proposals passed without involvement from the state legislature. The 11 lawmakers who filed the suit argue that bypassing this step invalidates the proposals. “While the core of this lawsuit is indeed a simple constitutional matter, it is even more important as our goal is to restore integrity to the voting process,” Michigan Senator Jonathan Lindsey explained. Proposal 3 enacted things like protecting the right to a secret ballot, ensuring ballot access for military and overseas voters, adding straight ticket voting and automatically registering voters if they have proof of residency. Proposal 2 created nine days of early voting, expanded the number of ballot drop boxes, created a system for ballot tracking and expanded voter ID laws.

Mississippi: The 5th U.S. Circuit of Appeals said in a filing that a majority of the appeals court’s 16 active judges would take a new look at the 2-1 decision, against the state’s ex-felon voting rights laws, delivered by a panel on Aug. 4. Mississippi attorneys, led by state Attorney General Lynn Fitch, a Republican, had asked for the review. Granting the review means the Aug. 4 decision is vacated.  The Aug. 4 ruling held that denying voting rights violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Mississippi lawyers argued that the panel’s decision would “inflict profound damage and sow widespread confusion.” If the ruling had been allowed to stand, tens of thousands of people could have regained voting rights, possibly in time for the Nov. 7 general election for governor and other statewide offices. That now appears unlikely. It was unclear how quickly the appeals court would schedule a full-court hearing, how quickly the full court would rule, and whether the court, widely considered among the most conservative of the federal appellate courts, would uphold the panel ruling.

Montana: Montana’s biggest labor union and a student organization are challenging a new law prohibiting double-voting, arguing that it threatens “draconian criminal penalties” for committing honest mistakes. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Helena by the Montana Federation of Public Employees and the Montana Interest Research Group. Judge Donald Molloy has been assigned to the case, as one of the three federal district judges in Montana who handles voting rights complaints. The Legislature passed House Bill 892 last session, with bipartisan support in the House after it got a party-line vote in the Senate. It was sponsored by Missoula Republican Rep. Lyn Hellegaard, and picked up unanimous support from Republican lawmakers. The new law makes it illegal for anyone to vote in Montana in the same election that they cast a ballot in another state, with an exception for special district elections. It also states that a voter “may not purposely remain registered to vote in more than one place in this state or another state at any time.” Violating the new double-voting law could result in fines up to $5,000 or up to 18 months in prison, making the new crime a felony. The groups say this is a violation of the right to vote, because it will “have the effect of deterring potential Montana voters from registering in the first place.” They argue that students in particular could inadvertently run afoul of the new laws. The complaint quotes a Seventh Circuit of Appeals decision to note that “every year millions of Americans go off to college in August. … They will vote in only one place, even if they have open registrations in two.”

New Hampshire: Scott Kudrick, of Massachusetts has pleaded guilty to voter fraud after casting a ballot in the Granite State. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office said Kudrick voted in a town election in Conway, despite living in the Bay State. Kudrick pleaded guilty and must pay a fine of almost $5,000 and perform 100 hours of community service. Kudrick no longer has the right to vote in New Hampshire.

North Carolina:  North Carolina laws requiring citizens to reside in the state and within a precinct at least 30 days before an election date to be eligible to vote are unlawful and must be blocked, a union-affiliated retiree group said in a federal lawsuit. Lawyers for the North Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans write that the 30-day residency mandate violates the U.S. Constitution and Voting Rights Act and totally denies newcomers to the state the right to vote for no compelling reason. People who currently comply with that residency window can participate in same-day registration at early voting sites up to the Saturday before the election. “Voters must not be denied their fundamental right to vote just because they move between states shortly before election day, if they are otherwise eligible,” David Fox, a Washington-based lawyer representing the alliance, said in a news release. North Carolina’s constitution sets a one-year state residency requirement to vote in state elections, but that provision was held unconstitutional decades ago and isn’t enforced. A 30-day precinct requirement is still carried out, however, and state law says lying about one’s residency on a registration form is a low-grade felony. The U.S. Voting Rights Act does allow states to set registration deadlines up to 30 days before a presidential election. But the law says no U.S. citizen can be denied the right to vote for president and vice president simply because the person can’t comply with a “durational residency requirement,” the lawsuit says. The state constitution does give legislators the ability to ease residency requirements for presidential elections, but there is no such law currently on the books.

Texas: Carlos Salazar Jr., former Bee County Commissioner and Deputy Voter Registrar along with three other members of his family, has been charged in a 2022 election fraud voting case. Salazar was charged with eight counts of tampering with government records and false application for voter ballot. Elections Administrator Laura Warnix first uncovered the alleged fraudulent activities. Following her alleged findings, a comprehensive investigation was initiated by the Bee County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with the State Attorney General’s Office.  The core of the alleged scheme centers around members of a local political candidate’s family who allegedly provided false statements, asserting residence in an abandoned house situated on Beeville’s west side. By falsely claiming this residence, the individuals intended to change their precincts, positioning themselves to vote for a family member actively campaigning within the precinct in question.  “This organized, fraudulent activity was a clear attempt to undermine the integrity of our election process,” said First Assistant Bee County Attorney Brian Watson. “We will not tolerate any attempt to defraud the voters of Bee County.”

Wisconsin: A national Democratic law firm on Oct 2. challenged Wisconsin’s witness requirements for absentee voting, arguing that the state is violating the federal Voting Rights Act by demanding a witness signature on ballot envelopes. Elias Law Group, representing four Wisconsin voters, called the requirement a “burden” to voters in the lawsuit, which they filed in federal court against the Wisconsin Elections Commission and other elections officials. State law requires clerks to reject absentee ballots that are missing a witness’ address or signature. A Wisconsin judge ruled in 2022 that elections officials cannot correct or fill in missing information on witness certifications, a practice known as ballot curing. The Voting Rights Act prohibits states from requiring a voter to “prove his qualifications by the voucher of registered voters or members of any other class.”

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Primary voting | Fusion voting

Alabama: Jim Crow

Alaska: Turnout

Colorado: Conspiracy theorists

Idaho: Ranked choice voting

Kansas: Election legislation

Louisiana: Secretary of state race, II | Ballot counting | Redistricting

Michigan: Election deniers

Minnesota: Poll workers

Mississippi: Jim Crow | Turnout

New Jersey: Vote by mail applications

New York: Vote by mail | Voting rights

Oklahoma: Ranked choice voting | Primaries

Pennsylvania: Primary date | Automatic voter registration, II, III | Fulton County

Tennessee: Ranked choice voting | Ex-felon voting rights

Texas: Voter suppression | Voting policies

Wisconsin: Fond du Lac County

Upcoming Events

The Roberts Court and American Democracy: The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy under the leadership of UCLA Law Professor Richard L. Hasen; one of the nation’s leading election scholars. The Safeguarding Democracy Project is built upon the premise that tackling issues of the U.S. election integrity must be collaborative: across ideologies, across scholarly disciplines, and as a bridge between theory and practice. Joan Biskupic (CNN Legal Analyst and author) in conversation with Richard L. Hasen about her new book, “Nine Black Robes.” When: Oct. 12, 3pm Eastern. Where: Online.

Priming Yourself for the 2024 Primaries: With the 2024 primaries approaching quickly, it can be difficult to keep the details of state and presidential primary elections straight. Join NCSL’s Wendy Underhill and Ben Williams in this short webinar to learn the “primary” things to know ahead of the 2024 primaries, including who can participate, requirements to get on the ballot, the role of parties versus the state and much more. When: October 13, 2pm Eastern. Where: Online.

The Trump Prosecutions, the First Amendment, and Election Interference: The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy under the leadership of UCLA Law Professor Richard L. Hasen; one of the nation’s leading election scholars. The Safeguarding Democracy Project is built upon the premise that tackling issues of the U.S. election integrity must be collaborative: across ideologies, across scholarly disciplines, and as a bridge between theory and practice. Genevieve Lakier (University of Chicago via Zoom), Eugene Volokh (UCLA). Moderated by Richard L. Hasen. When: Oct. 17 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online.

Covering the Risks to Elections on the State and Local Level: Views from the Beat Reporters: The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy under the leadership of UCLA Law Professor Richard L. Hasen; one of the nation’s leading election scholars. The Safeguarding Democracy Project is built upon the premise that tackling issues of the U.S. election integrity must be collaborative: across ideologies, across scholarly disciplines, and as a bridge between theory and practice. Jonathan Lai (Philadelphia Inquirer, Politico), Carrie Levine (Votebeat), Patrick Marley (WaPo), and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (WaPo). Moderated by Pamela Fessler (retired from NPR). When: November 16, 3pm Eastern. Where: Online.

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.

Assistant Registrar of Voters, Ventura County, California— Under general direction of the County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, the Assistant Registrar of Voters plans, organizes, administers, supervises and directs the activities of the Elections Division of the County Clerk and Recorder’s office; and performs related work as required. The ideal candidate is a dedicated public servant who possesses solid administrative leadership skills, the highest integrity, and a strong work ethic that includes accountability for oneself and others. A well-qualified candidate will have in-depth knowledge of and experience in implementing federal, state, and local election laws, regulations, codes, guidelines, and procedures. Additionally, they should possess strong analytical and budgetary skills that are applicable to work in a California public agency. Other qualities needed to be a successful candidate include: detail-oriented, customer-service focused, striving for efficiency and continuous improvement. Salary: $104,708 – $146,606. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Certification Manager, Hart InterCivic— Hart InterCivic is looking for a Certification Manager to join our team in Austin, Texas. The Certification Manager’s responsibilities include planning and managing federal and state certification activities, ongoing compliance activities, and leadership of the Certification Team. The Certification Manager will report to the VP of Product Management and will work closely with key internal and external stakeholders and cross-functional input providers including Sales, Product Management, Finance, Operations and Engineering. The ideal candidate will be a master communicator, will have the ability to move seamlessly from big picture to detailed planning activities and will have experience working with state and local government elections processes, high-level project management skills, and the ability to manage priorities to ensure adherence to externally driven deadlines. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Chief Deputy Clerk, Lane County, Oregon— Are you ready to play a pivotal role in shaping the democratic processes of Lane County? Are you committed to ensuring the efficient and accurate administration of elections while also maintaining the integrity of vital records that affect the lives of our residents? If so, we invite you to consider the Chief Deputy Clerk position within our County Clerk’s office. The County Clerk’s office is at the heart of our community’s governance, overseeing critical functions that impact every Lane County resident. As a member of our team, you’ll collaborate with a dedicated group of 15 full-time staff, working under the direction of the County Clerk. As the Chief Deputy Clerk, you will directly supervise a team of 5, while closely collaborating with the Clerk Program Supervisor who manages the remaining 7 staff members. Elections Division: Our Elections Division is responsible for conducting all Federal, State, County, school, and special district elections in Lane County, encompassing elections for all cities within our jurisdiction. Your role will involve administering voter registration and outreach programs, managing the master voter file, processing voted ballots, and ensuring the accuracy of test ballots, official ballots, and voter information materials. Additionally, you’ll oversee the processing of local initiative petitions, the maintenance of district boundaries and drop site locations, and the operation of voting equipment. You’ll also play a crucial role in recruiting and training temporary election workers. Salary: $79,476.80 – $116,812.80 Application: For the complete listing and to apply, click here.

Clerk-Recorder Division Manager, Ventura County, California— Under general direction of the Assistant County Clerk and Recorder, the Clerk Recorder Division Manager plans, organizes, administers, supervises and directs the activities of the County Clerk and Recorder Division of the County Clerk and Recorder’s office which includes the main office at the Government Center in Ventura and satellite East County office in Thousand Oaks; and performs related work as required. The ideal candidate is a dedicated public servant who possesses solid administrative leadership skills, the highest integrity, and a strong work ethic that includes accountability for oneself and others. A well-qualified candidate will have thorough knowledge of and experience in implementing federal, state, and local statutes, regulations, and guidelines applicable to a public agency’s operations. Additionally, they should possess strong analytical and budgetary skills that are applicable to contribute to the management team of a California public agency. Other qualities needed to be a successful candidate include detail-oriented, customer-service focused, striving for efficiency and continuous improvement. Salary: $82,275 – $132,491. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Communications Officer, Union County, North Carolina— The Communications Officer, under limited supervision and with a high level of collaboration, administers outreach and communications activities on a countywide basis for the Union County Board of Elections office. Must demonstrate initiative, good judgment, nonpartisanship, and the ability to express thoughts clearly and simply. Employee must also exercise considerable tact and courtesy in frequent contact with candidates, elected officials, staff, media, other governmental departments, and the general public. Salary: $57,749 – $89,511.  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.

Election Advisor to Democracy Resilience Network, 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 Democracy Program works closely with the Center’s Conflict Resolution Program and its Democracy Resilience Networks (DRNs). The Democracy Resilience Networks bring together key state leaders in FL, GA, NC, MI, WI, and AZ to develop honest messaging campaigns and build trust in democratic processes. The Democracy Program is also active in several of these states and serves as the electoral expert advisor to the DRNs. This position will assist the Democracy Program in coordinating with the DRNs by attending DRN meetings and providing support and expertise to the DRNs regarding U.S. election administration and processes. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Election Specialist I, II or III, Douglas County, Colorado— This position is focused on routine customer service and general office/clerical support including data entry, communications, and processing mail. This is a support role capable of performing a variety of tasks, with problem solving abilities, managing multiple competing responsibilities and prioritizing to maintain a continuous flow of election office operations. This is a visible and crucial position requiring exceptional computer, customer service, and communication skills. Salary Range: $39,520 – 67,581. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Compliance Officer, Pima County, Arizona— Are you an experienced professional specializing in elections? The Pima County Elections Department is looking for you! Join our team and bring your expertise to the forefront of our mission. Your background in city, county, state, or federal agencies, coupled with your in-depth knowledge of election processes, will make you an invaluable asset. Be a part of our dedicated team, shaping policies, and ensuring the integrity of our electoral system while making a lasting impact on our community. If you’re ready for a rewarding challenge, apply today! (Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s needs and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor) Independently plans, coordinates, monitors and participates in administrative and operational activities required to maintain compliance with state and federal election regulations; Verifies department director and staff operate within full compliance regarding any and all applicable legal regulations and timelines; Maintains a listing of legally required deadlines for the unit via a cyclical timeline; Manages campaign finance, including correspondence for late filings and violations; ensures candidate filing compliance, including challenges; Ensures federal and state voting equipment compliance; Responds to public records requests; Assures separation of duty compliance required by Pima County; Completes periodic compliance audits and provides findings with recommendations to the Director and Deputy Director; Prepares requisite drafts of new procedures or processes for preclearance by regulatory agencies in compliance with state or federal laws or other regulatory requirements;  Coordinates the compilation and submission of required reports to regulatory agencies; Ensures Department compliance with all poll worker regulations; Determines Department compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with respect to facilities utilized in the elections process; Assists with grant requests; Develops and maintains public feedback tracking systems to capture voter complaints and concerns, allocate them to the appropriate division for resolution and record actions taken to rectify issues identified. Salary: $57,607 – $63,367. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Operation Manager, Pima County, Arizona— Pima County Elections Department is actively seeking a highly qualified candidate with a unique blend of skills and experience to join our team as an Elections Operations Manager. The ideal candidate brings extensive expertise in voting equipment and e-poll books, ensuring the seamless functioning of critical election infrastructure. Your familiarity with online inventory systems will be instrumental in maintaining accurate and efficient inventory management. Additionally, your proven ability to collaborate with political parties and high-ranking officials sets you apart. Your past interactions with these stakeholders have showcased your exceptional communication and diplomacy skills, essential in the realm of elections. If you’re ready to leverage your expertise and contribute to the democratic process, we encourage you to apply. Join us in shaping the future of elections, where your skills and experience will make a significant impact. This classification is in the unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules. Duties/Responsibilities: (Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s needs and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.) Develops program goals, objectives, policies, and procedures, and establishes short- and long-range program performance plans subject to management review; Manages and administers program activities and evaluates program effectiveness and success; Manages the activities of professional staff and evaluates their performance; Develops, negotiates, monitors, and administers contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and/or financial and service agreements for the program managed; Monitors program contract compliance and takes corrective action as required; Performs as a program representative within the community, delivers informational news releases, serves as a program contact person, and participates in community awareness activities; Develops and maintains effective working relationships and coordinates program activities with other County departments, public and private agencies, organizations and groups to promote the program and its goals; Analyzes local, state and federal legislation and ensures program compliance with applicable regulations and policies; Directs organizational and management studies for the purpose of identifying problems and alternative solutions to the problems; Develops, writes and administers the program’s annual budget, prepares program-related financial forecasts, and identifies funding sources to support program activities; Reviews and analyzes routine and special reports detailing the status and/or success of the program, prepares recommendations, and/or initiates corrective action; Evaluates management problems and makes decisions regarding the proper course of action; May make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding program objectives; May direct the preparation and submission of proposals and grant applications; May access or maintain specialized databases containing program-specific information to review information or generate reports. Salary: $57,607 – $63,367. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections & Special Districts Director, Cochise County, Arizona— Under limited supervision of the County  Administrator with direction from the Board of Supervisors, provides professional level project planning in all functions related to the conduct of voting and election activities for the County;  perform work of considerable difficulty to plan, organize, coordinate, direct and control all activities of the Elections & Special Districts Department in compliance with statutory and regulatory federal and state requirements; prepare and manage the annual fiscal budget for the department, develop long-range plans and anticipates/identifies long-term organizational needs; responsible for fraud prevention, detection, and deterrence;  sound judgment and considerable communication and interpersonal skills are required in this position. Performs other related duties as required. Salary: $85,000 – $100,000. Deadline: Oct. 9, 2023. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

HAVA Grant Manager, Idaho Secretary of State’s Office— The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Grant Manager is a part-time limited-service position. The position is expected to exist through December 31, 2026. Any contract extension is dependent upon renewed appropriation of HAVA funds from Congress. The role is responsible for the management of the State of Idaho’s HAVA grant funds, inclusive of developing a county subgrant program; monitoring, evaluating and reporting grant activities; providing training and technical assistance to subgrantees; and performing related tasks for the responsible management of the grant. Responsibilities include: Develop a county subgrant program for the purpose of fairly allocating and distributing HAVA funds. This includes defining objectives, time frames, priorities, budget formats, criteria and performance standards. Develops subgrant agreements in collaboration with the Chief Deputy and Assistant Chief Deputy. Develops or recommends program policies and procedures to conform to federal regulations and eligibility criteria for the Secretary of State office. Analyzes reports to determine program progress, quality and quantity of service and compliance with laws, standards and guidelines. Monitors expenditure reports to ensure services are provided in accordance with agreement. Monitors for contract compliance by evaluating statistical data and identifying the needs for corrective action plans for recipients and preparing reporting documents. Reviews audit reports and develops responses to resolve audit findings. Identifies training needs and provides technical assistance or arranges training for subgrant recipients. Identify and accounting of allowable cash and in-kind match. Salary: $25-$27/hour. Deadline: Oct. 6. 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 Compliance Officer, Ventura County, California— Under administrative direction of the County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters, this position is responsible for coordinating, planning, and administering regulatory compliance for the County Clerk/Recorder and Elections divisions. It also ensures agency-wide observance of pertinent state law. Additionally, the CCR Legal Compliance Officer serves as legislative analyst to monitor, interpret, and apply legislation, and supervises related functions as assigned. Salary: $133,224 – $186,534. 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. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Limited Duration Elections Analyst, Portland, Oregon— The City Auditor’s Office is seeking a professional that is curious, analytical, and knowledgeable about strong democratic policies to assist in Portland’s transition to a new electoral system in 2024. This position will be critical to administering City elections procedures according to City charter, code, and state law during a time of change and growth for Portland’s elections. While this position is listed as limited duration through December 2024, the Office expects to make the position permanent in the next budget cycle. As the sixth elected official in the City of Portland, the Auditor is independent of the City Council and accountable only to the public. The Auditor’s Office promotes open and accountable government by providing impartial reviews and investigations, access to public information, and services for City government and the public. It employs nearly 40 staff members working in four divisions. This position joins three elections staff in the City Elections Office and reports to the City Elections Officer. The Office oversees the city elections processes such as ballot qualification, petition and measure management, and elections results certification to the City Council. The Office also carries out services under the umbrella of Campaign Finance and Lobbying Regulations, including investigations and enforcement procedures. The Office provides information and training to candidates and voters and partners with other elections jurisdictions and City Offices to carry out open, accountable, and transparent City Elections. Ahead of the 2024 elections cycle, the Elections Office is working closely with the City’s Transition Team to carry out public education to inform voters of the 2022 voter approved city government reforms, including a new system of ranked choice voting and council election by geographic districts. The Elections Office will lead the implementation of the new system of elections and candidate education. Salary: $93,518.88-$114,987.60. Deadline: Oct. 16. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Manager Election Administration, City of Minneapolis— As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees. Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose—serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis. This Manager of Election Administration oversees all aspects of the City of Minneapolis’ expansive Vote By Mail program.  The ideal leader will value attention to detail, teamwork, and serving our community.  This individual will have the opportunity to lead a diverse staff of experts who facilitate mail voting, healthcare facility voting, ballot board and tabulation, agent delivery, and ballot drop off. These responsibilities are required under State Statute and delegated County authority. This position directly supports the Division’s goal to ensure Minneapolis voters have free, impartial, and fair access to the ballot box. Salary: $84,423.04 – $98,777.12, Deadline: Oct. 9. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Network Manager, Rhode Island Secretary of State’s Office— The Network Manager will manage, maintain, document, and operate the Department of State’s (Department) network. Additionally, the Network Manager will configure, update, secure, and install network equipment with the Department’s infrastructure as well as work with other members of the eGov and IT Division to ensure secure reliable service to staff and the public. The Network Manager performs various duties including, but not limited to: Install, secure, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair LAN and WAN network hardware, software, systems, and cabling; Work with Department staff to assist them in understanding and utilizing network services and resources; Build and maintain network log infrastructure and support critical response initiatives; Manage, monitor, document, and expand the network infrastructure; Resolve desktop and networking problems; Assist staff with maintaining voice, data, and wireless communications; Develop and implement policies related to secure hardware and software; Optimize and maintain network security through the proper design, implementation and maintenance of network devices, appliances, and other systems; Plan and implement new network installations and upgrades; Maintain an orderly networking office and equipment storage area; Participate in Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity planning, drill, and implementation activities; and Perform other duties as required. Salary: $73,416 – $83,126. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Nonpartisan Election Observation and Election Administration Advisor, 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 plans to advance nonpartisan observation efforts in two states among several currently under assessment, including: California, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Virginia. Nonpartisan observation efforts implemented and/or supported by The Carter Center will differ from existing partisan poll watchers and election protection groups. The goal of this observation is to provide credible and transparent information on the conduct of elections in each state through public reports.  To support this work, The Carter Center also provides analysis and resources on various aspects of the electoral process and election administration such as, poll worker recruitment & training and tabulation & audit procedures. The Carter Center is looking for an experienced professional with knowledge of the U.S. electoral system that can support our targeted efforts in select states as we work to increase transparency in the electoral process and support election officials. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Operations Manager, Santa Fe County, New Mexico— Under the general direction of the Department Director or elected official, establishes, implements, and oversees sound financial management, accounting, budgeting, staffing, procurement, and monitoring of internal control systems and processes for a department.  Oversees multiple program support functions within the Department.  This position will also manage the customer service and front window functions of the Clerk’s office. Essential Job Functions: Collaborates with Finance Department to establish the departmental budget request and submittal; executes, analyzes, forecasts, and manages budget in compliance with County policy. Oversees the development, tracking, and processing of all Department contracts, Requests for Proposal (RFP), Personnel Actions (PA), and payroll. Tracks grants and bond expenditures to ensure timeliness and efficiency. Serves as the official liaison with County Finance Department, Legal Department, and Personnel Department regarding Contracts, RFP’s, and payroll. Ensures internal control structure, budgetary control system and all accounting processes are functioning effectively within the department. Certifies that payments to vendors are accurate and timely and are for goods and services rendered in accordance with County policy. Disseminates information to management regarding the fiscal procedures and responsibilities regarding all financial transactions and activities. Coordinates program support activities within the Department; may present information at Board of County Commission meetings; may develop policies and business procedures for the department; and may audit and verify department payroll matters. Supervises timesheet submission for the department, ensuring timesheets are accurate and complete. Coordinates with the County Human Resource Department regarding the processing and tracking of all employee actions and issues; collaborates with Human Resources to facilitate recruitment for the department. Assists the Department Director/Elected Official with projects and assignments of priority and ensures completion of assignments in an effective and timely manner. Responds to questions and requests for information for the department. Hires, orients, trains, supervises, assigns and reviews work of, evaluates, and disciplines staff; recommends staff for promotion, compensation increases; and disciplinary action. Schedules, plans, and oversees or assists with departmental meetings; attends external meetings as representative of department; and attends meetings with government officials, vendors, and the public. Maintains knowledge of emerging technology and trends, current industry standards, evolving technologies, and methodologies that will impact department. Manages the customer service procedures and protocols in the Clerk’s Office; is readily available by phone, chat and email.  Answers the main phone number and Clerk inbox; follows up with customer requests. Manages the Clerk’s Office calendar protocol, chat and ticketing systems. Maintains lists of regular customers by type: titles companies, surveyors, etc. Notifies customers of any operational changes, ensures holidays are posted. Maintains effective communications with users regarding vendor activities, problems, status, timelines and other details. Salary: $68,598 – $96,033. Deadline: Oct. 18. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Research Director, CEIR— CEIR seeks a qualified Research Director to join our team. The Research Director will report to the Executive Director and lead CEIR’s research initiatives. These initiatives include, but are not limited to, matters pertaining to voter registration, voter access, election integrity and security, and election policy, generally. The Research Director will set goals aligned with CEIR’s mission and provide the research team with strategic direction on how to reach those goals, all while ensuring the rigor, integrity, and quality of all research activities. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and highly motivated individual who wants to join a growing nonprofit that seeks to make a substantial, positive, nonpartisan impact on elections and American democracy. The Research Director role is a full-time job. CEIR supports hybrid work at its office in Washington, DC. However, we will consider outstanding candidates across the United States that wish to work remotely. CEIR’s office hours are 9am-5pm ET, and the Research Director is expected to be available during that time regardless of location. Salary Range: $110,000-160,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Support Specialist, Marion County, Oregon— Journey-level classification of the Information Services series, which applies specialized knowledge in multiple department wide software applications; conducts training sessions; assists in design, implementation, maintenance, and configurating of systems and applications, and recommends policy or procedural changes to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of systems; provides technical assistance in and facilitates the use of computer hardware and software for a department; and performs related work as required. Works under the general supervision of a supervisor who assigns work, establishes goals, and reviews work for conformance to technical standards and compliance with department goals. Salary: $27.56 – $36.94 Hourly.  Deadline: Oct. 12. 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.

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