electionline Weekly

Election Workforce Advisory Council

New council will cultivate a resilient elections workforce

This week, the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, and The Elections Group, an elections consulting partnership, announced the formation of the Election Workforce Advisory Council.

“We are excited to have assembled  a diverse group of election officials, experts, academics, and industry representatives in this council,” said Rachel Orey, senior associate director at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “This is a multi-faceted effort to study, develop, and implement best practices that will meaningfully improve recruitment, retention, and training within election administration in the long term.”

Experienced elections officials are resigning or retiring at record rates, and state and local governments are struggling to replace them. “Without intervention, we risk reaching a point at which elections are administered and staffed by a wave of new officials grappling with the complexities of their role while operating under intense public scrutiny,”  said Noah Praetz, president, The Elections Group.

“Even for experienced officials, new challenges require new competencies,” added Jennifer Morrell, chief executive officer, The Elections Group. “With the 2024 presidential election fast approaching, we must act now to support this mission-critical workforce and preserve public trust in elections for years to come.”

The Election Workforce Advisory Council will leverage the combined expertise of its members to develop a sustainable talent pipeline, preserve institutional knowledge, and improve job performance and satisfaction – all to ensure that elections are run by experienced professionals. The first initiative of the council is an academic grant program designed to generate new research findings to inform and enhance these efforts.

The council’s collective expertise will provide a holistic perspective to inform research, generate new solutions, and serve as a central convening ground for this critical work.

The first initiative of the council is an academic grant program designed to generate new research findings to inform and enhance these efforts. There is $500,000 available to support research projects, hoping to lay the empirical foundation to solve election workforce challenges in the long term. Please share the RFP with any researchers you think may be interested; letters of intent are due by November 20.

Members of the Election Workforce Advisory Council

Current Election Administrators 

• Derek Bowens, Director of Elections, Durham County, North Carolina
• Judd Choate, Election Director, Colorado & Adjunct Faculty, University of Minnesota
• Lori Edwards, Supervisor of Elections, Polk County, Florida
• Eric Fey, Director of Elections, St. Louis County, Missouri
• Tommy Gong, Deputy County Clerk-Recorder, Contra Costa County, California
• Jesse Harris, Deputy Elections Director, Georgia
• Shelly Jackson, Deputy Elections Director, Utah
• Deborah Scroggin, Elections and Special Projects Manager, Portland, Oregon
• Karen Sellers, Executive Director, Kentucky State Board of Elections
• Tammy Smith, Administrator of Elections, Wilson County Election Commission
• Keely Varvel, Assistant Secretary of State, Arizona
• Mandy Vigil, Election Director, New Mexico
• Mark Wlaschin, Deputy Secretary of State for Elections, Nevada

Election Official Associations and University Partnerships

• Matt Crane, Executive Director, Colorado County Clerks Association
• Amy Farrington, Executive Director, Florida Supervisors of Elections
• Kathleen Hale, Professor of Political Science & Co-Director of the Election Administration Initiative, Auburn University
• Megan Hasting, Program Manager, Professional Development Team at Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs
• Ben Hovland, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission
• Carolina Lopez, Executive Director, Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions
• Leah Murray, Professor of Political Science & Philosophy, Weber State University
• Aaron Ockerman, Executive Director, Ohio Association of Election Officials
• Tammy Patrick, CEO of Programs, National Association of Election Officials
• Lisa Schaefer, Executive Director, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania

Elections and Public Administration Research Institutions

• Mitchell Brown, Professor of Political Science & Co-Director of the Election Administration Initiative, Auburn University
• Matthew Germer, Associate Director and Elections Fellow, R Street Institute’s Governance Program
• Sean Greene, Associate Director, MIT Election Data & Science Lab
• Bridgett King, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Kentucky
• Martha Kropf, Professor of Political Science & Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Paul Manson, Research Director, Elections & Voting Information Center, Portland State University

Occupational Health and Public Sector Workforce Experts

• Jennifer Dimoff, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management and Affiliate Faculty, University of Ottawa and Oregon Health & Science University
• Barbara Dyer, Research Affiliate, MIT Sloan School of Management’s Institute for Work and Employment Research
• Jennifer Pahlka, Founder and former Executive Director of Code for America; Author of Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better

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Election News This Week

Geaux Vote: Louisiana held primary elections this past weekend. The race to replace outgoing Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin (R) is headed to a November 18th runoff. In that contest, Republican Nancy Landry will face Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup. Landry and Collins-Greenup both polled 19% of the vote, just ahead of the third-place finisher, Public Service Commissioner Mike Francis, a Republican, at 18%.  Landry, a former state lawmaker from Lafayette, currently serves as first assistant and second in command to Ardoin, who chose not to seek reelection, since 2019. Collins-Greenup is a Baton Rouge attorney and accountant who previously ran for the office in 2018. The pair emerged from a crowded race of candidates that also included three other Republicans  as well as longtime Orleans Parish Clerk of Court Arthur Morrell, a Democrat, and no-party candidate Amanda Smith Jennings. Also on the ballot was Amendment 1. The amendment, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters,  prohibits the use of private donations to conduct elections, though the ballot language framed the proposal as a way to stop foreign countries from corrupting local election officials. Its genesis is an unsubstantiated election conspiracy theory that prompted Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and other conservatives to block parish election officials from receiving charitable donations to pay for tents, signs, hand sanitizer and other items needed for the 2020 elections, the first held during the COVID-19 pandemic. While outside money from non-governmental agencies has been banned by a number of state Legislatures, Louisiana becomes the first state to put it before the voters as a constitutional amendment. A vote recount has been requested in the race for Livingston Parish Sheriff that saw incumbent Sheriff Jason Ard win by just 115 votes. While the recount will include taking another look at all votes cast, it will primarily involve recounting the nearly 2,100 paper mail-in ballots received for that particular race, Livingston Parish Clerk of Court Jason Harris said. The St. Martin Parish District 1 council member race between Republicans Byron Fuselier and Hoyt Louviere resulted in a tie at 899 votes for each candidate. St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court Becky Patin says she has never seen a race go to a tie like this in all of her years in the position. She says a recount is necessary. After polls closed in Vermillion Parish Vermillion Parish Clerk Diane Meaux Broussard encountered some technical difficulties that turned tallying the votes into quite the challenge. “People were so anxious for this election,” said Broussard, “you know we had some big things going on, and just wish it would’ve been different.” Due to technical issues with 17 voter cartridges, Vermilion staff spent nearly four hours hand-tallying votes on election night.

Protecting Against Disinformation: The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) released a new Democracy Map focused on protections from election disinformation. The newest Democracy Map tracks laws that prohibit the knowing dissemination of disinformation about the time, place, and manner of conducting elections. This applies to false or misleading information about the qualifications or restrictions related to voter eligibility. Only 11 states have laws that explicitly protect against election disinformation – false information that is intentionally created to cause harm. Just over a quarter of voters (28%) live in a state with these protections in place. Since 2020, three states have adopted these new protections: Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. Pennsylvania is the only battleground state with explicit protections against disinformation.  These types of policies prohibit the knowing dissemination of disinformation about the time, place, and manner of conducting elections, as well false or misleading information about the qualifications or restrictions related to voter eligibility. Disinformation laws generally work by imposing criminal penalties on anyone who intentionally spreads false information about elections. Some states also provide private rights of action for voters to whom the false information is directed.

Native American Voting Rights: NATIVE HEALTH of Phoenix is the first Indian Health Service facility to secure a site designation under the National Voter Registration Act. IHS Deputy Director Benjamin Smith, a member of the Navajo Nation, applauded this milestone in Phoenix. “As part of this effort, President Biden pledged to designate five Indian Health Service voter registration pilot sites by the end of this calendar year,” said Smith. “So, we are honored to be here and celebrate NATIVE HEALTH as the first to gain National Voter Registration Act designation under the Indian Health Service in alignment with the president’s vision.” Native communities have historically avoided participating in elections. Frequent address changes and the use of P.O. boxes also make voting difficult. President Joe Biden signed an executive order in 2021, urging his federal agencies to address these access-related barriers and hurdles. “In our democracy, every individual voice must count, particularly when those voices have for a long time been kept down,” said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. More than a third of Native Americans — about 1.2 million adults — are not registered to vote. And since nearly 3 million of them nationwide rely on IHS annually, the Biden administration believes: “The designation empowers NATIVE HEALTH to assist individuals in the voter registration process, making it easier for eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote,” as Fontes read his proclamation. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted Native Americans the right to vote.

Sticker News: After several weeks of community voting, the Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Elections Department has a new “I Voted Early” sticker design for 2024. Jennifer Denson’s “Dome” sticker design will be printed and handed out to voters during the early voting periods for the 2024 Presidential Preference Primary (February / March), General Primary (April / May), General Election (October / November), and any runoff elections. The design may also be used in other promotional materials for the Elections Department. A panel of judges selected four finalists from 153 community design submissions in August. Residents voted on their favorite of those designs in September, with 837 total votes being cast in the contest. Denson’s dome design received around 38% of the votes. Three cheers to El Paso County, Colorado which will be including “I Voted” stickers in this year’s mail ballots. El Paso County Elections Director, Angie Leath said the county always received calls from mail voters about how they could get a sticker and now they will. “People hold that with the highest regard, and it’s just a way for them to show hey, I’ve done my civic duty, I’ve engaged, my voice is heard, so this is what my sticker represents,” said El Paso County Deputy Chief Clerk and Recorder, Kristi Ridlen.

Personnel News: Heider Garcia will be the new Dallas County, Texas elections administrator. Lavaca County, Texas Elections Administrator Amy Kloesel has resigned. Henry Zwack is the new Republican elections commissioner for Rensselaer County, New York. Former Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar has launched an election consulting firm. Tim Mattix, the former clerk of the Board of Supervisors, has been selected to become Cochise County, Arizona’s fourth elections director this year. Former McCracken County Clerk Julie Griggs has been appointed to Kentucky’s State Board of Elections. State Rep. Adam Schwadron (R-St. Charles) has announced his bid for Missouri’s Secretary of State. Doug Skaff, a former Democratic lawmaker and House Minority Leader, announced he switched his voter registration to the Republican Party and was launching a campaign for West Virginia secretary of state. Judge Daniel Clifford is the new vice chair of the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania board of elections. Wisconsin Senate Republicans have rejected the appointment of former Milwaukee County Clerk Joseph Czarnezki to the state elections commission.

Research and Report Summaries

Internet Voting: Verified Voting recently released a report, Casting Votes Safely: Examining Internet Voting’s Dangers and Highlighting Safer Alternatives. The report outlines studies that expose the dangers of internet voting and highlights alternatives that promote voter enfranchisement—while safeguarding our elections. Highlights include: Democracy depends on citizens’ trust in our elections, the ability to cast a ballot without obstacles, and having solid evidence that the winner won and the loser lost. Notable consensus studies on internet voting all show that its adoption threatens the validity of our elections, and widespread usage could compromise our elections at scale. There are better options for voters that prioritize voter enfranchisement and preserve a voter’s right to a secret ballot. Safeguarding the democratic process and public confidence is paramount. Section I summarizes notable consensus studies on internet voting, all determining that its adoption threatens the validity of our elections, and widespread usage could compromise our elections at scale. Privacy concerns arise from the challenge of maintaining both voter anonymity and verification of a voter’s identity. An election’s integrity could be compromised by malicious actors intercepting, altering, deleting—or even claiming to alter—online ballots. Section II highlights the importance of accessible elections and prioritizing voter enfranchisement while preserving a voter’s right to a secret ballot. It proposes seven options that jurisdictions could implement to serve voters who traditionally experience hardship when voting remotely: Provide Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail Options; Improve Options for Military and Overseas Voters; Bring Voting Devices Directly to Voters; Make All Voting Locations Fully Accessible; Ensure Accessible Equipment is Available and Functioning; Make Improvements to Ballot Marking Device Design and Deployment; and Provide Transportation to Voting Locations.

Democracy: Understanding Democratic Decline in the United States, from the Center for Effective Public Management at The Brookings Institution. Author Vanessa Williamson examines the major forms of democratic decline in U.S. governing institutions including election manipulation, expansion of executive power, and efforts to erode the independence of the civil service, finding that the health of our democracy has been in decline since far before the 2020 election. Key findings from the report include:

• Since 2010, state legislatures have instituted laws intended to reduce voters’ access to the ballot, politicize election administration, and foreclose electoral competition via extreme gerrymandering.
• The Supreme Court has increased its authority over election adjudication, narrowed the scope of voting rights protections, and seems inclined to support some politicization of executive branch administration.
• Hyperpartisanship and gridlock leave Congress poorly positioned to provide checks on executive and judicial power.

Language Access: Our democracy is under real and urgent threat, from rampant disinformation and a surge in voter suppression legislation to politicians deliberately showing distrust in election outcomes in order to maintain their own power. And while the state of California and counties in California have adopted various pro-democracy voting practices and procedures, reforms such as vote-by-mail ballots and ballot drop boxes are only beneficial if voters receive election materials in a language they understand. Breaking Barriers to the Ballot Box: Expanding Language Access for California Voters explores four key aspects of language access in California elections: the voting experience, federal and state laws, the importance of in-language materials, and data limitations for identifying populations in California who use non-English languages. The report, the first of its kind, provides a roadmap to ensure that all voters, regardless of their English language proficiency, can vote fairly and equally.

Legislative Updates

California: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed several elections-related bills into law. Among the new laws is AB 545, which mandates that curbside voting be available at all polling places. The law also requires tables at polling places to display handheld magnifying glasses and signature cards, which help people with vision issues sign their name efficiently. AB 626 lets voters return a mail-in ballot at a polling place and have it processed like a normal ballot, which will expedite the counting of those ballots. Under the previous law, vote-by-mail ballots had a signature verification process in which the return ballot’s signature is compared to one on file, a process that takes longer than the on-the-spot checks at polling places. Other bills impacting voting and elections that are now law are AB 292, which provides a clearer explanation to voters with no party preference on which partisan ballots they can request to participate in for those parties’ primaries – without changing party affiliation. There is also AB 398, which allows for electronic and telephone-based requests for replacement ballots, and AB 773, a bill related to elections filings. Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz),chair of the Assembly Elections Committee and a former Santa Cruz County clerk, the position that administers elections authored the bills.

San Joaquin County, California: San Joaquin County will continue to use a hybrid model of polling places and submitting mail-in ballots for future elections. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday to oppose implementing the Voter’s Choice Act, which would have reduced the number of polling places and created voting centers during the election season. Supervisor Paul Canepa, who represents North Stockton on the board, cast the dissenting vote, stating the county should leave the door open to using the VCA model. “I don’t know that closing the door on this is a necessity at this point,” he said. “I think, we’re going to do our own model… I don’t know if we table this or just say no to the VCA. I think going forward, you need to leave every option available.” But Supervisor Steve Ding, who represents Lodi and the surrounding unincorporated areas of the county on the board, said the VCA was actually anti-choice, forcing voters to cast their ballots by mail by removing neighborhood polling places. Ding said the county needs to focus on getting voters out of their homes and into the community during election seasons, as it helps create a sense of community.

Ohio: Elections officials would get enhanced privacy when it comes to state public records law if a new bipartisan bill makes it into law. The newly-introduced Senate Bill 173 would add election workers to that exempt list. In an internal Senate memo, the bill’s sponsors, Democratic Sen. Bill Demora, of Columbus, and Republican Sen. Theresa Gavarone, of Bowling Green, said the bill would let elections workers focus on their job rather than worry about their family’s safety. “Given the increasing polarization of our society, we have seen the dangers that our election workers face,” the memo says. Demora said he got the idea for the bill in August, when he attended a conference by the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan trade group for lawmakers in Ohio and other states. The involvement of Gavarone, who is close with GOP leadership, gives the bill a better chance of advancing in the Republican-dominated legislature. “This is not a partisan bill. Its meant to protect our elections officials, who are overworked and underpaid,” Demora said. Aaron Ockerman, executive director of the Ohio Association of Elections Officials, said he hasn’t spoken with Demora or Gavarone about the bill. But, he said he’s “appreciative of any effort to help protect elections officials.”

Pennsylvania: According to Votebeat, the effort to move the commonwealth’s 2024 presidential primary date appears to be dead due to a legislative impasse, leaving Pennsylvania as the only state with an April 23 election that conflicts with Passover. In separate statements, state Senate leadership said the matter was “closed” and House leadership called it “unresolvable.” The breakdown comes after months of back and forth between legislative leaders to try to agree on a new date and after escalating stress at the county level over the uncertainty of the election schedule. A bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators with gubernatorial backing first recommended moving the primary at the beginning of the year, both so it wouldn’t conflict with Passover and so the state’s election would take place earlier in the presidential primary cycle.  But the two chambers could not agree on a new date, and last-minute amendments to one of the two primary bills tanked the effort entirely. In September, the GOP-controlled state Senate sent a proposal to the House with large bipartisan support that would have moved the date to March 19.  A competing bill in the state House, where Democrats have a one-vote majority, set the date for April 2. Its primary sponsor, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia), said it would give election directors more time while not shortening the window for candidates to submit petitions to get on the ballot as the Senate bill would have. The state House eventually agreed to take up the state Senate’s March 19 bill, but when it did, lawmakers from both parties added several amendments. The amendments, which had not been discussed with Senate leadership, included expanded voter ID, pre-canvassing, and an elimination of the date requirement for mail ballots. With those additional amendments, the state House voted down the Senate bill by a wide bipartisan margin. The chamber passed the April 2 proposal along party lines and sent it to the Senate. But it was dead on arrival. However, at press time, there seemed to be consensus to move the primary to April 16. The House approved that measure on October 18, but Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) quickly released a statement evening saying that the House’s effort was too little, too late and repeating his earlier admonition that the matter was closed in the upper chamber.

Legislation that would open Pennsylvania’s primary elections to roughly 1.2 million voters who aren’t registered with a political party passed in a state House committee. Two identical bills, one sponsored by a Democrat and one by a Republican, would allow voters who have no party affiliation to choose which party’s primary ballot they want to vote on when they go to the polls. Pennsylvania is one of only nine states with closed primaries. Advocates for open primaries have argued that the current system disenfranchises groups including about 400,000 Pennsylvania veterans and nearly two-thirds of young adults who have no strong fealty to a single political party. Although the legislation is bipartisan, Republicans on the House State Government Committee voted against the bills after some said they opposed the idea of allowing people who are not members of a party to vote for that party’s nominees. Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford), the ranking Republican on the committee, also expressed concern about the timing of the legislation, which would take effect immediately if it is passed by the full House, Senate and signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Legal Updates

Arizona: A panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a 2022 lawsuit aiming to ban electronic voting machines, brought by failed candidates Kari Lake and Mark Finchman. Despite the claims that electronic voting machines are susceptible to hacking, a three-judge panel found that Lake’s speculative claims were insufficient to establish injury. “Plaintiffs’ candidacies failed at the polls, and their various attempts to overturn the election outcome in state court have to date been unavailing,” the panel wrote in its order. The candidates claimed in their April 2022 complaint that electronic voter machines are susceptible to hacking by nongovernmental actors intending to influence election results. They said the machines have a history of failure both in Arizona and abroad, arguing that hand-counting paper ballots is the only reliable and trustworthy method. They also contend Dominion Voting Systems lied and ignored a state legislative subpoena inquiring about the data relating to the 2020 presidential election in Arizona. Dominion wasn’t named as a defendant. U.S. District Judge John Tucci disagreed, dismissing the case a month later for lack of standing and failure to state a claim. “We agree with the district court that plaintiffs’ speculative allegations that voting machines may be hackable are insufficient to establish an injury,” the panel wrote. The panel acknowledged experts in Lake’s case who claimed that the machines are hackable, but reminded that neither she nor her legal team presented evidence of past interference. “And, on appeal, counsel for plaintiffs conceded that their arguments were limited to potential future hacking, and not based on any past harm,” the panel wrote.  The panel ruled that Lake and Finchem lost legal standing for their claims as candidates when they lost the election, and lack standing as citizens for their failure to either a past injury or injury that is “imminent or substantially likely to occur.”

Cochise County supervisors and the county recorder had no authority to attempt to hand count all ballots cast in the 2022 general election, the state Court of Appeals ruled this week. The ruling from the three-judge panel upholds a decision from a Pima County Superior Court judge that was issued nearly a year ago, a day before the statewide election. The court concluded the county got ahead of itself when it insisted it could move to a full hand count immediately after the election and ignore the procedure outlined in state law. “The county was required to follow the procedures mandated by the plain language of (the law), which creates a gradual, multi-step process that must be satisfied before a jurisdiction-wide hand-count audit of all precinct or early ballots may occur,” Judge Michael Kelly of the Tucson-based court wrote. Judges Sean Brearcliffe and Peter Eckerstrom concurred. Cochise County officials had told the judges they intended to hand count future election results as long as the lower-court ruling was reversed. Brian Blehm, who represented supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, said he had not seen the ruling and could not comment. The decision could freeze the county’s intent to hand count future elections, including next year’s presidential race, attorneys with the Democracy Docket noted in a news release on the ruling.

Michigan: Oakland County Circuit Judge Jeffery S. Matis denied a motion to disqualify Special Prosecutor DJ Hilson and dismiss the indictment as part of the case against attorneys Matthew DePerno and Stefanie Lambert Junttila and former state Rep. Daire Rendon (R-Lake City). DePerno — the 2022 GOP attorney general nominee — Lambert Junttila and Rendon were each indicted as part of an investigation into potential tampering. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who represents Lambert Junttila, filed the motion citing a law that bars attorneys from prosecuting or aiding in the prosecution of a person for an alleged criminal offense where he is engaged or interested in any civil suit or proceeding depending upon the same state of facts against such person directly or indirectly. Smith argued that the facts used in the indictment against Lambert Junttila were the same facts used in a declaratory judgment requested by Hilson earlier this year, in an effort to clarify the law surrounding undue possession of a voting machine. After considering arguments from Smith, and Heather Bloomquist, who wrote the special prosecution’s response to the motion, Matis determined that the indictment and the declaratory judgment did not deal with the same state of facts, and denied the motion. “I ultimately don’t believe that it was dependent upon the same state of facts,” Matis said. “[The declaratory judgment] was a legal question.”  While the case was scheduled to proceed to pretrial following the hearing on the motion, Matis scheduled another pretrial date in anticipation of additional motions filed by the defendants.

A 15-year-old has been charged as an adult with murder in the death of a Michigan election canvasser he is accused of shooting after asking the worker for a dollar. The teen was arraigned Wednesday in district court in Lansing and ordered held without bond. Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane said Theodore Lawson’s slaying Sunday does not appear to be connected to his political activities or beliefs. Lawson, 63, was a member of Ingham County’s Board of Canvassers and served as secretary of the county’s Democratic Party. Lansing police have not released any details around the circumstances of the shooting, but Lansing City Council at-large candidate Trini Lopez Pehlivanoglu told the Lansing State Journal that Lawson was knocking on doors for her campaign when he was shot. He later was pronounced dead at a hospital. Lansing Police Dept. Chief Ellery Sosebee said in a statement that Lawson’s murder was “senseless” and “speaks to the careless mindset of a very small section of our most violent offenders.” The 15-year-old who was charged with murder also faces gun charges. A probable cause conference has been scheduled for Oct. 20.

Minnesota: Mille Lacs County Judge Matthew Quinn issued orders barring two individuals from voting in the fall election because they are on probation related to felony convictions, a move top DFL officials say violates a new state law that restores their voting rights as long as they’re not incarcerated. Quinn wrote in two orders issued last week that the new law is “unconstitutional” and the defendants are prohibited from “registering to vote, or voting, or attempting to vote.” “To do so is a criminal act which can be investigated, charged, and prosecuted in the normal course,” his order continues. Quinn’s office could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. Quinn ordered probation for April Weyaus and Emilio Trevino following sentencing hearings on Oct. 12. The order barring them from voting was issued as a supplement to his sentencing order. Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon, said in a joint statement they will oppose the orders, which they said the judge issued “without prompting.” “The orders have no statewide impact, and should not create fear, uncertainty, or doubt. In Minnesota, if you are over 18, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days, and not currently incarcerated, you are eligible to vote. Period,” they said in the statement. “It is critically important that everyone whose rights were restored understands that they are welcome in our democracy.”

Missouri: The St. Louis-based website being sued by former Georgia election workers for defamation is being accused of purposely delaying discovery in the case to forestall a jury trial.  In a motion filed in St. Louis Circuit Court last week, attorneys for Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss asked a judge to set an August 2024 trial date, as well as allow for depositions of at least 20 people involved in a series of stories published by The Gateway Pundit accusing plaintiffs of election fraud. The Gateway Pundit, founded by brothers Jim and Joe Hoft, was sued for defamation and emotional distress by Freeman and Moss in 2021. They contend the right-wing site published debunked stories accusing them of election fraud that resulted in threats of violence, many tinged with racial slurs. Freeman and Moss’ attorneys say the Hofts have “repeatedly delayed discovery in this matter,” including by “failing to comply with the court’s discovery orders; failing to abide by their discovery obligations… and filing not just an improper counterclaim but also several meritless motions.” The Hofts argue that any stories published by the Gateway Pundit regarding Freeman and Moss were “either statements of opinion based on disclosed facts or statements of rhetorical hyperbole that no reasonable reader is likely to interpret as a literal statement of fact.” Rhetorical hyperbole, the Hofts argue, “cannot form the basis of defamation and related tort claims.”

New York: Rensselaer County’s outgoing Republican deputy elections commissioner is the focus of a grand jury investigation being conducted by the state attorney general’s office, which is examining her actions in certifying votes cast in a 2021 Working Families Party primary, according to two people familiar with the matter. The grand jury’s review of Corine Sheldon’s actions comes a year after the attorney general’s office served a grand jury subpoena on Rensselaer County seeking a trove of absentee ballot documents that were handled in 2021 by county Operations Director Richard W. Crist and Jim Gordon, the county’s director of purchasing. Sheldon recently submitted her resignation notice and her last day on the job will be Oct. 31. The attorney general’s investigation of Sheldon centers on whether she allegedly knowingly certified election results in the Working Families Party primary for county executive two years ago that she knew had erroneously undercounted the number of votes secured by incumbent County Executive Steve McLaughlin’s Democratic challenger, Gwen Wright.

Nebraska: Larry Divis, 64, of Columbia was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine by Colfax County District Court Judge Christina Marroquin. Divis registered to vote in his home county, and then registered again and voted in adjacent Colfax County. In August, a jury found him guilty of election falsification, a Class IV felony. The conviction carried a maximum fine of $10,000 as well as a prison sentence of up to two years. An investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol found that Divis, his son Jason Divis and his daughter-in-law Carina Divis all resided in Platte County and had registered to vote there, but then also registered to vote and did vote in Colfax County during the 2020 general election. According to prosecutors, Divis had become angry with the members of the village board in Richland, a community in Colfax County where Divis owned several properties. The town board had passed an ordinance pertaining to junk on lots and nuisance properties, the newspaper reported. In October 2020, Divis falsely attested that he was a resident of Richland and registered to vote in Colfax County, where he cast a vote in the November 2020 general election. Carina Divis was sentenced to one year of probation after a one-day bench trial in July, according to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. Jason Divis was also sentenced to 1oneyear of probation after agreeing to plead no contest to the charge.

North Carolina: Gov. Roy Cooper (D) sued the State of North Carolina, the President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate and the Speaker of the North Carolina House, claiming that the North Carolina General Assembly limited his constitutional duties as governor and violated the constitutional separation of powers. In a suit the governor said that the General Assembly shows “flagrant disregard” for constitutional principles and established precedents.  “Like Gollum reaching for the One Ring, legislative defendants are possessed by the power it brings. When it comes to seizing control of the enforcement of the state’s election laws, neither the clear rulings of the Supreme Court, nor the overwhelming vote of the people, will deter them,” Cooper said in the suit. Last week, the primarily Republican general assembly overturned five of Cooper’s vetoes and passed the bills into law. Session Law 2023-139, previously Senate Bill 749, removed Cooper’s ability to fill positions on the Board of Elections, which had five seats, and instead granted that ability to Speaker of the House of Representatives Philip Berger, President Pro Tempore of the Senate Timothy Moore, and the minority leaders of the House and Senate. A 2018 constitutional amendment proposed to voters had sought to create a bipartisan board of elections, restricting the number of appointees by the governor to two and reducing the board to four seats. North Carolina voters voted against the amendment in the 2018 election.  Cooper argues that the State Board of Elections is an executive branch agency and that the responsibilities of the election boards are not related to legislative function, nor are they the responsibility of the Legislature.

North Dakota: U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor is looking to determine whether a local election official has standing to bring the suit as an individual. In September Traynor requested more information on whether Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski can file the lawsuit, which hinges on his status as a county official, without the support of Burleigh County. Splonskowski filed the suit in partnership with the Public Interest Legal Foundation against state Election Director Erika White in July, claiming harm from an alleged conflict between state and federal mail-in voting laws. The county has said it isn’t putting any funds or employee time toward the case, which Splonskowski has repeatedly said is being brought in his capacity as an individual. Both Splonskowski and the state have provided Traynor with additional information as the judge seeks to determine Splonskowski’s standing in the case. Splonskowski is attempting to bring the suit as an individual, but Traynor said in a Sept. 15 filing that Splonskowski “clearly contemplates the suit in his official capacity as Burleigh County auditor.” The judge requested more information to ascertain if Splonskowski actually has the legal standing to file the suit, or if it should be dismissed because he doesn’t have approval to bring the suit from the Burleigh County Commission. If the suit proceeds, the court will have to address questions about the alleged conflict between federal and state laws, which the state has argued is nonexistent. A Justice Department filing in September indicated support for that stance, arguing that counting and casting a ballot are different processes, and ballots that are mailed ahead of or on Election Day are cast according to North Dakota law, which means there is no conflict.

Pennsylvania: York County is set to approve its settlement with CASA, which calls for greater accommodations for Spanish-speaking residents — just weeks before the election. The York County Board of Elections is slated to vote to approve the agreement at its meeting this week. The settlement comes with a lengthy list of requirements for the county’s election department to assist Spanish-speaking voters through 2028. Those include providing bilingual sample ballots for reference both online and in-person at all 161 precincts, as well as Spanish-language resource signs and bilingual Spanish-English paper ballots at 33 precincts. The CASA-led lawsuit sought a preliminary injunction against the county and its elections board and was originally filed in October 2022. The injunction was lifted after the county agreed to provide bilingual sample ballots at every precinct and additional interpreters for the November general election, among other concessions. In addition, York County election workers are required to be trained on how to direct Spanish-speaking callers to the Spanish language interpretation line, on Election Day and the rest of the year. Important voting updates such as changes to polling locations will be communicated in Spanish as well as English or provide a notice to Spanish-speaking voters how to access the information in Spanish.

Texas: U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown ruled that Galveston County violated the federal Voting Rights Act in 2021 when it drew new districts for its commissioners court. Brown ruled the county’s 2021 commissioners court precinct map “denies Black and Latino voters the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and the opportunity to elect a representative of their choice to the commissioners court.” As a result, the county has been ordered to redraw the map by Oct. 20. The trial focused on how the county utilized its first opportunity to redraw precincts without federal oversight to break up the sole commissioner precinct where Black and Latino voters made up a majority of the electorate. Precinct 3, where Black and Latino residents had built political groups and selected their representative on the court, was chopped in the 2021 map. As a result of the court’s decision, the nomination or election of county commissioners from the current precinct map may not be administered, enforced, prepared for or permitted. The commissioners court must now adopt a new plan before Nov. 11, 2023, for the upcoming 2024 election. Brown extended the deadline for county leaders to file a new redistricting plan to October 27. If it fails do so, the court will impose its own plan on November 8. That’s just three days before the candidates’ filing deadline for the March 2024 primaries.

Wisconsin: Attorneys for the Legislature’s top Republicans told a judge that a September vote to fire Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Megan Wolfe was “symbolic,” and that Wolfe is “lawfully holding over” in that position despite her appointment expiring July 1. The filing by lawyers representing Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, Senate President Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, contradicts what some of those lawmakers said publicly in recent months about their efforts to remove Wolfe from office. in the court filing, LeMahieu and his fellow GOP lawmakers’ court filing says last month’s vote to remove Wolfe was about messaging.  “Defendants deny that on September 14, 2023, the Senate voted to deem Administrator Wolfe nominated based on the Senate’s June resolution,” the filing says. “Defendants’ vote on September 14, 2023, was symbolic and meant to signal disapproval of Administrator Wolfe’s performance.”  The lawmakers also admit Wolfe is “lawfully holding over as the administrator” of the WEC and that the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, which is co-chaired by Vos, “has no power to appoint an interim administrator” while Wolfe chooses to stay in her seat.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Democracy, II | Election deniers | Election workers

Alaska: Local election dates

Arkansas: Audits

Iowa: Primaries

Minnesota: Guns at polling places

North Carolina: Democracy | “I Voted” stickers

Ohio: Voting rights | Secretary of state

Pennsylvania: Election preparation

Vermont: Online voting

Texas: Youth vote

Virginia: Voter purges

Wisconsin: Ranked choice voting

Upcoming Events

What do Americans think about the health of our democracy and the upcoming presidential election?: In this divided era of American politics, the nation turns its eyes toward an unprecedented presidential election, with two of the oldest leading candidates in history, one of whom is facing federal and state indictments. A new and extensive national survey of more than 2,500 Americans examines Americans’ attitudes about the leading presidential candidates, potential support for third party candidates, and the issues that define these partisan and cultural fault lines. The survey illuminates Americans’ concerns about the overall direction of the country, the state of the economy and inflation, public education, social connectedness, and the broader health of our democracy. Additionally, the survey highlights attitudes about abortion, gender and LGBTQ issues, immigration, foreign policy, Christian nationalism, and support for QAnon, among other issues.  On October 25, join Governance Studies at Brookings and the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) for the release of their 14th annual American Values Survey. A panel of experts will discuss the survey results and what they reveal about the priorities of Americans as they relate to the 2024 elections and beyond. Where: Online and in Washington, DC. When: Oct. 25, 10am Eastern.

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.

Joint Election Officials  Liaison Conference (JELOC): The Election Center will hold the annual JELOC once again in Arlington, Virginia. Among the courses offered in conjunction with the conference will be Renewal Course 37. In addition to Election Center committee meetings, the convening will include briefings from many of the federal agencies that work with state and local elections officials—the U.S. EAC, FVAP, DOJ, CISA, FBI and the Council of State Governments. Additionally there will be briefings from NCSL, NASS, NASED, and NACo. Congressional staff have also been invited to provide remarks.  Where: Arlington, Virginia. When: January 10-14, 2024.

NASED Winter Conference: The National Association of State Election Directors will hold its annual winter conference in February 2024. More details to come. Where: Washington, DC. When: February 8-10, 2024.

NASS Winter Conference: The National Association of Secretaries of State will hold its annual winter conference in February 2024. More details to come. Where: Washington, DC. When: February 7-10, 2024.

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, Kern County, California— Kern County is looking for someone to be part of an established and large department that strives to uphold the principles of fairness, transparency, and accessibility in the democratic process. Our next Assistant Registrar of Voters is someone who will not just manage the day-to-day operations of the Elections Division but will bring vision and implementation to a diverse and growing community. We’re looking for a change agent who will build relationships, enhance services, and develop collaborative strategies to enhance outcomes. Salary: $120,886-$144,461. Deadline: Oct. 27. Application: For the complete 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.

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.

City Secretary, Denton, Texas— Denton, Texas (pop. 151,000) is a unique community located at the northern tip of a high-growth area known as “The Golden Triangle” (formed by Denton, Fort Worth and Dallas). Denton is a dynamic community, serving as the county seat and a major city in Denton County. Under the direction of the Chief of Staff, the City Secretary is responsible for the oversight and administration of the City Secretary’s Office. This position serves as the Chief Election Official, coordinating all campaign reporting requirements, overseeing municipal general, special, and bond elections with the Denton County Election Administrators, and administering all aspects of the duties in accordance with Federal and State laws. The City Secretary oversees a staff of three full-time and one part-time employee. The combined overall FY2023-2024 budget for the City Manager’s Office and the City Secretary’s Office is $3.3 million. Salary: $85,260.- $136,416. Deadline: Nov. 13. Application: For the complete job 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.

Departmental Analyst (Data & Programs Unit), Michigan Department of State– This position will serve as the recognized resource and training lead for the Data & Programs Unit, supporting the internal documentation of all functionalities of the Qualified Voter File (QVF) software and related applications; prioritize software support and development and coordinate with QVF stakeholders to define business requirements and testing timelines. Additionally, this position is to assist the unit manager in all day-to-day operations that support the Data & Programs work area. Salary: $57,553 – $84,115. Deadline: Nov. 2. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Department Analyst 12 – Filing & Canvassing Section, Michigan Department of State— This position serves as the Financial Disclosure and Lobby Filings Analyst within the Filing and Canvassing Section within the within the Bureau of Elections, Michigan Department of State. This position is the recognized resource responsible for administering and enforcing the most complex financial disclosure as required in Article IV, Section 10 of the State Constitution, Lobbyist Registration Act, and Michigan Election Law. The Analyst will support the Division’s functions by developing the program, reporting materials, and manage procurement of software, form creation and other documentation. The position will prepare communications including web pages, and instructional materials for those individuals regulated by the State Constitution and statute. The position will implement the program through research and analysis of disclosure reports, personal finance statements, and lobby expenditure reports, with emphasis on working to address deficiencies and correct noncompliant filings and take enforcement actions when required. This position will also develop training materials on the processes and user manuals; and provide training to the regulated community. Salary: $57,553.60 – $84,115.20. Deadline: Oct. 23. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Director of Purchasing, Chicago Board of Elections— The Director of Purchasing is an administrative position at the Board responsible for managing all duties related to preparation and processing of procurement contracts for the Board. Responsibilities: Implement purchasing policies and recommend procedures for staff; Work with user departments and warehouse to coordinate planning and purchasing strategies, including assisting Divisions with contract management and renewal; Schedule all purchasing activities to ensure timely procurement and delivery of sufficient supplies for effective administration of the Board; Coordinate the preparation of RFQs, RFPs, IFBs and other procurement methods to solicit competitive proposals and bids from qualified vendors; Prepare legal notices for publication as required for purchasing in coordination with the Board’s Director of Public Information, Legal Department and Administration; Analyze and evaluate bid specifications, tests reports and other relevant data; Oversee the evaluation of proposals and bids to determine the most responsive, responsible and qualified bidder; Participate in negotiating contract terms, cost and conditions; Promote and monitor MBE/WBE participation; Prepare purchasing and financial reports as requested by the Executive Director and the Board, including bid award recommendations and providing such reports to the Commissioners during their public Board meetings; Prepare annual and quarterly reports on procurement; Coordinate reports and vouchers for the Board and related agencies; Supervise employees in the Purchasing Department; and Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director. Salary: $100,000 – $105,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Early Voting Specialist, Ottawa County, Michigan— Under the direction of the County Clerk, Chief Deputy County Clerk and Elections Supervisor, coordinates and administers all early voting operations held within the county. Ensures substantive and procedural compliance with all federal, state, and local statutes and regulations governing elections. Coordinates and manages the staging of early voting sites, develops and manages the communication plan, assists with the development and administration of the budget for early voting, and aids with the management of nine early days of voting and post-election reconciliation duties. Provides technical support for all cities and townships within Ottawa County. Performs a variety of functions required to ensure fair, free, accurate and cost-effective elections. This is a full-time benefited position working out of Fillmore complex in West Olive, Michigan. Travel to other County locations as needed. Salary: $27.82 – $36.18 Hourly. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Election Outreach Administrator or Senior Outreach Administrator, Arapahoe County, Colorado— The Election Outreach Administrator performs specialized level administrative, and professional work in carrying out a comprehensive public facing service operation. This position specifically leads and supports all areas of community outreach including voter education materials, judge training, coordinating various voter programs and partnering with designated election officials and the partner community at large. The Senior Outreach Administrator performs senior level administrative, and professional work in carrying out a comprehensive public facing service operation. This position specifically leads and supports all areas of community outreach including voter education materials, judge training, coordinating various voter programs and partnering with designated election officials and the partner community at large. Salary: $49,589 – $81,769. Deadline: Oct. 27. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Attorney, Iowa Secretary of State– The Office of Secretary of State (SOS) has three primary areas of responsibility: 1) Elections & Voter Registration, 2) Business Services, and 3) Safe at Home. The Elections Division provides oversight of election administration and voter registration duties conducted by county elections officials. The Business Services Division accepts filings related to business entities, notaries, and other related activities. Safe at Home is an address confidentiality program for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. In addition to these three functional areas, the SOS has financial, IT, and communications teams that provide officewide support. The Office of the Iowa Secretary of State is seeking an Elections Attorney (Attorney 2) to research, analyze, and advise on election-related legal issues both from internal staff and outside stakeholders. This includes analysis of state and federal statutes, court decisions, and administrative rules. Additionally, the Elections Attorney will propose, draft, and advocate for legislation, administrative rules, and policies. The position will serve as primary liaison to the Attorney General’s office (elections), serve as secretary and counsel to the Voter Registration Commission, and work with investigators on possible violations of election law. Position will act as counsel to the Secretary of State and Chief of Staff. Other duties may include a variety of in-house counsel work alongside the Chief Operating Officer. Graduation from an accredited law school is required. A license to practice law is preferred but graduates who are eligible for admission to the Bar may be considered. This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer. Salary: $68,764.- $105,872. Deadline: Nov. 1. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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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