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electionline Temporary Schedule Changes

As we move into the holiday season and countdown to 2024, we’ve got a few temporary changes to our schedule. These changes will mostly affect the Daily News.

November 10 — The Daily News will post by 10am.

November 23 & 24 — There will be no Daily News on both days and the Weekly will not publish on the 23rd.

Fridays in December — The Daily News will post by 10am on Fridays in December (Dec. 8, 15, 22 and 29).

December 25 — The Daily News will not publish.

December 26-29 — The Daily News will post by 10 am all this week.

January 1, 2024 — The Daily News will not publish.

Election News This Week

Executive Orders: Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, who previously served as the secretary of state, recently issued several executive orders based on recommendations from an elections administration task force. In addition to the executive orders, she announced that $2.3 million in coronavirus relief funding would go toward the changes. The funding comes from Arizona’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act. It will fund an elections fellowship program to train and recruit election workers, and provide temporary staffing for counties ahead of next year’s election. The funds will help maintain the state’s voter registration database, pay for security and poll worker recruitment, and support other election initiatives. The governor’s executive orders give Arizonans more opportunities to register to vote, make state facilities available as voting locations, and allow state employees to work the polls on election days while still collecting their paychecks. Two of those orders make permanent changes implemented by former Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, during the 2020 election cycle to accommodate the coronavirus pandemic and adequately staff polling locations. One executive order allows state employees to take paid leave to work at polls during a statewide election beginning as soon as the March presidential preference election. It directs the Arizona Department of Administration, the state workforce’s human resources department, to make rules expanding what is formally called civic duty leave, which permits employees to be paid if they go to vote or serve as jurors. Another executive order allows state buildings to be used as polling places or ballot drop-off sites in any statewide election.

Artificial Intelligence: A new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy found that nearly 6 in 10 adults (58%) think AI tools will increase the spread of false and misleading information during next year’s elections. By comparison, 6% think AI will decrease the spread of misinformation while one-third say it won’t make much of a difference. Just 30% of American adults have used AI chatbots or image generators and fewer than half (46%) have heard or read at least some about AI tools. Still, there’s a broad consensus that candidates shouldn’t be using AI. When asked whether it would be a good or bad thing for 2024 presidential candidates to use AI in certain ways, clear majorities said it would be bad for them to create false or misleading media for political ads (83%), to edit or touch-up photos or videos for political ads (66%), to tailor political ads to individual voters (62%) and to answer voters’ questions via chatbot (56%). The sentiments are supported by majorities of Republicans and Democrats, who agree it would be a bad thing for the presidential candidates to create false images or videos (85% of Republicans and 90% of Democrats) or to answer voter questions (56% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats). The poll found that Americans are more likely to consult the news media (46%), friends and family (29%), and social media (25%) for information about the presidential election than AI chatbots. The vast majority of Americans are similarly skeptical toward the information AI chatbots spit out. Just 5% say they are extremely or very confident that the information is factual, while 33% are somewhat confident, according to the survey. Most adults (61%) say they are not very or not at all confident that the information is reliable. Americans largely see preventing AI-generated false or misleading information during the 2024 presidential elections as a shared responsibility. About 6 in 10 (63%) say a lot of the responsibility falls on the technology companies that create AI tools, but about half give a lot of that duty to the news media (53%), social media companies (52%), and the federal government (49%). The poll of 1,017 adults was conducted Oct. 19-23, 2023, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

Better than a Sticker?: Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon recently honored local Girl Scouts for earning the Ready, Set Vote! patch. The Ready, Set, Vote! patch program is the first of its kind in Girl Scouting and was born out of a partnership between Girl Scouts River Valleys and the Office of the Secretary of State following the recent passage of the Democracy for the People Act, which includes a provision allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. “We know that when people are engaged in democracy at a young age, they are more likely to remain engaged throughout their lives,” said Simon. “Each Girl Scout who earns this new patch is not only becoming more involved in their government themselves, but they are also learning about the value of bringing their community along with them.” Girl Scouts earned their patches by reading a letter from the Secretary of State’s office, completing a practice voter registration form, researching who represents them at different levels of government, and sharing what they learned with three friends to encourage civic engagement by young people. “The world changes for the better when young people find their voices and learn how to use them,” says Girl Scouts River Valleys CEO, Marisa C. Williams. “Our Girl Scouts are doing just that by enthusiastically kicking off their voting journeys, becoming more informed and engaged constituents, and calling upon their peers to do the same. These seemingly small actions make a profound difference at an important time for our democracy.” As many as 800 local Girl Scouts will be eligible to earn the patch this year, which will prepare them to pre-register as voters, so they’re fully prepared to vote in their first election. One question, is it too late to earn one of these? This editor’s stint in the Girl Scouts ended sometime in the very early 80s, but once a Girl Scout always a Girl Scout right?!

Sticker News: Artwork by Lauren Holbrook, a Manatee High School freshman and member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, will appear on Manatee County, Florida voter lapels whenever they cast a ballot at the polls in 2024. Holbrook’s drawing of a flag-toting “I voted” manatee was selected from among 50 pieces of art turned in as part of the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections’ local contest that has become a fun tradition for Manatee County high school students in recent years. During non-election years, the SOE has worked with the School District to solicit art from future voters around the county. This year, the SOE invited Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County members to the competition. Lauren’s design, 1 of 16 submitted by Club members, will appear on 300,000 stickers. “I took a civics class in school last year and understand the importance of voting,” Lauren said regarding her inspiration to enter the contest. “My family is very excited that I won. I appreciate my Boys & Girls Club for encouraging me to submit my design.” “Lauren’s design will be proudly displayed by voters across the county in March, August, and November of 2024 when our voters exercise their right to participate in the election process,” said Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett. “I extend sincere thanks to each Manatee County high school student whose interest and creativity led them to participate in this fun and challenging contest, and to the valued teachers and mentors who guide and encourage. We enjoyed seeing all of the wonderful designs, and wish you the very best as you go forward.”

Personnel News: Daniel Shults, director of the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners, has submitted his resignation, effective Nov. 15. Debra Whitten, Democratic registrar of voters in Torrington, Connecticut has resigned.

In Memoriam: Brenda Snipes, the former Broward County, Florida supervisor of elections has died. She was 80. Snipes served as a longtime elections supervisor, being elected to full terms in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. Snipes’ staff listed a number of her office’s accomplishments through the years: Increasing voter education outreach, offering a robust high school pre-registration program for students about to turn 18, being the first supervisor to publish ballots in three languages, and making sure the county had up-to-date voting equipment. Joe Scott, Broward County’s current Supervisor of Elections, called Snipes “excellent at recognizing talent.” He said many of the staff working in the Broward elections office today were hired and trained under Snipes’ tenure. “The success our office has with outreach and voter turnout can be attributed to her vision for the county,” Scott said. “She has made a footprint in touching the lives of children who are now leaders in our community. It’s an honor for our office to continue her legacy.” After working as a teacher and principal, Snipes was appointed to the supervisor’s role in 2003 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush.

Stephen Day, Gwinnett County Georgia elections board member has died. He was 71.  “He will be truly missed but his presence will always be here with us,” said Wandy Taylor, chairwoman of the Gwinnett County Board of Registrations and Elections. “He has made such an indelible impression in Gwinnett County.” Day was involved in the Gwinnett County Democratic Party for more than 30 years, including a stint as chairman from 1992 to 1996. He was also part of the Democratic Party of Georgia. He served on the county elections board for more than 10 years, including a two-year term as chairman from 2017-19. Candidates came to see him as an expert on election law issues, said Steve Reilly, a close friend and former county party chairman. Day recently served on a state-appointed panel that reviewed Fulton County elections. On the Gwinnett elections board, Day was part of a majority that last year threw out conservative efforts to disqualify tens of thousands of voters. He led the board when it came under fire in 2018 for its high absentee ballot rejection rate. At the time, he called for clearer state laws — and mature behavior from vitriolic residents.

Research and Report Summaries

Lagging Staff: A study commissioned by the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division has found that an increasingly toxic political environment, inadequate funding model, and rapidly growing and changing workload are threatening the clerks’ ability to recruit, hire, and retain county elections staff. Researchers at Reed College’s Elections and Voting Information Center (EVIC) spent months interviewing nearly all Oregon county clerks and have compiled the sobering findings in a study to be presented before the Legislature this week.  “This report is a grim but realistic look at what our county clerks face,” said Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade. “But it’s also a testament to their professionalism and ingenuity.” The researchers found:

• Staffing recruitment and retention is hampered by out-of-date job classifications, compensations, and perceptions of the work. Staffing today is at or below staffing levels from a decade ago.
• Public records requests are becoming increasingly burdensome, as false information is spread and distrust in elections systems continues to fuel more frequent and complicated requests for information.
• Local elections offices are experiencing retirements, resignations, and loss of expertise. Since 2020, 34% of county clerks have retired or resigned.
• Oregon’s funding model for county elections, dependent largely on fluctuations in interest rates and the real estate market, is inadequate for election needs. Counties are already laying off workers because of this outdated funding model.
• Elections officials and staff are subject to unacceptable levels of abuse, threats, and harassment, driving many of them to quit despite expressing their pride and passion for the work.

“It’s a flashing red light on the dashboard,” said Paul Manson, the research director with Reed College’s Elections and Voting Information Center.

Manson told KLCC since automatic voter registration was introduced in 2016, election workers have had to field more questions from an influx of new voters. Meanwhile, he said they’ve faced an increasingly politicized environment.

“The job has changed fundamentally,” said Manson. “These frontline workers and managers are interpreting laws and helping voters access their constitutional rights, while managing public records requests and media requests.”

Legislative Updates

Federal Legislation: Some U.S. legislators are trying once again to make Election Day a federal holiday with the introduction of new bipartisan legislation Tuesday, the latest in multiple attempts to give Americans the day off to go to the polls. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced the legislation Tuesday — election day in several states — to add Election Day to the list of federally recognized holidays. Fitzpatrick said the change would allow all Americans “more flexibility and accessibility” to cast their ballots and Dingell said she wanted to make it easier, not harder, for Americans to vote. The legislation is brief and does not include many of the features that have been combined in previous attempts to make Election Day a holiday, such as increased access to mail-in voting. 65%. That’s the percentage of Americans who said they support making election day a national holiday, according to a 2018 poll from Pew Research Center. There have been a number of bills introduced in both the Senate and the House in recent years to attempt to make Election Day a federal holiday. In 2018, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation to make Election Day a holiday, but it was never voted on. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to do the same in 2021 but it also never saw a vote. In 2022, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act received the support of nearly all Democrats in the Senate but fell short of the votes needed to pass. That legislation would have made Election Day a national holiday, automatically registered all voters and ensured access to mail-in ballots, but it was not successful. Most recently, over the summer, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) introduced legislation that would make Election Day a national holiday and would also create an automatic online voter registration system and require that all states offer voters same-day registration. In July, King said his legislation had the support of 40 senators.

Florida: Two House Republicans filed a proposal that would allow hand counting of ballots at election precincts.  Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, and Rep. Taylor Yarkosky, R-Montverde, filed the bill (HB 359) for consideration during the legislative session that will start in January.  Under current law, counties must use electronic or what are known as “electromechanical” systems to tabulate votes.  But the bill, filed a year before the 2024 elections, would allow votes to be counted by hand.  The bill, in part, also would prevent the Florida Department of State from authorizing voting systems that use hardware or software designed, owned or licensed by foreign companies.

Michigan: House Bills 4129 and 4130, introduced by state Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt), sets penalties for intimidating or preventing an election official from performing their duties.  A violation of the law would be a misdemeanor punishable by 93-days imprisonment or a fine of up to $500, or both. A second violation would increase penalties to a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison. A third violation would be a felony, punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to five years in prison. The bill defines election officials as a public officer, public employee, election inspector, member of the Board of State Canvassers, member of a board of county canvassers, member of an absent voter counting board, county clerk, or city or township clerk who has a duty to perform in connection with an election conducted under the Michigan Election Law. It also defines intimidation as “a willful course of conduct involving harassment of another individual that is intended to cause the individual to fear physical injury, that would cause a reasonable individual to fear physical injury, and actually causes the individual to fear physical injury.” It would not include constitutionally protected activity or conduct that serves a legitimate purpose. The Democratic-led package passed along party lines.

Members of the House also voted to advance a set of bipartisan bills which would require disclaimers on political ads with audio, images or videos generated using artificial intelligence and create penalties for trying to deceive voters close to an election by using deepfake technology. Under these regulations, qualified political advertisements pertaining to any candidate, election or ballot question would have to clearly and conspicuously state that they were wholly or partially generated by the use of AI, with different requirements based on the advertisements format. Failing to meet these rules would result in a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Maximum fines for a second violation would be raised to $1,500. A third and any subsequent offense would be a felony punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, two years in prison or both. Each advertisement aired or distributed would be considered a separate violation. The bills also place restrictions on individuals outside of a campaign committee who circulate political materials created by AI without including a disclaimer and create exceptions for parody ads and some exceptions for the media.

The House has passed a bill allowing 16 and 17 year-olds to pre-register to vote in a move that advocates hope will expand civic participation. The bill passed in a 56-53 party line vote, with all Democrats supporting the measure and all present Republicans voting against it. Currently, teenagers in Michigan are able to register to vote at the age of 17 years and 6 months, becoming eligible to vote in elections beginning on their 18th birthday. Under the bill, 16 and 17 year-old applicants would be allowed to pre-register their information before beginning the currently established voter registration process. Applicants are required to have lived in Michigan for at least 30 days and attest that they live in the township or city in which they’re applying. Upon turning 17 and 6 months, an applicant would become a registered elector and become eligible to vote in the first election occurring on or after their 18th birthday. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Betsy Coffia, D-Traverse City, who said the measure would increase civic participation and investment in elections.

South Carolina: A bill under consideration at the State House would require municipal elections take place in odd years. And elections would only be allowed on two days – one in April and one in November – while still offering the early voting options voters already have. The legislation would also require all municipalities to use the state voting system in their local elections. The bill’s sponsor says a handful of smaller cities and towns are using their own systems for their own elections, but the State Election Commission wants everyone under the same system for all races. “It gives confidence to the voter because imagine if you’re a voting and you’ve always voted on our system, and you walk in there, and there’s something different in front of you for this election,” Newton said. “It’s confusion, but also, it hurts the trust in the system because why are you using a different system for just this one election?” The House passed this bill earlier this year – and a group of senators has been working on it this fall. But the full Senate won’t be able to debate and vote on it – until the legislature returns here in January. Senators are also considering closing a loophole in state law that requires incumbents to stay in office – potentially against their will – if a candidate challenges municipal election results. Their amendment would, instead, allow the winner to take office, once results have been certified – while the challenge proceeds in the court system.

Wisconsin: Republican lawmakers formally introduced a resolution to impeach Wisconsin’s top election administrator, a move that came shortly after the start of a new ad campaign threatening to remove Assembly Speaker Robin Vos from office if he stands in the way of impeachment. The resolution was sponsored by five lawmakers including Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and a frequent adversary of Vos.  The resolution alleges Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe encouraged local election clerks to ignore state laws on things like absentee ballot application procedures and ballot drop boxes. It also alleges Wolfe’s actions promoted out-of-state actors whose objective was “to administer Wisconsin’s elections in 2020 and aid in the defeat of President Donald Trump,” echoing an unsubstantiated claim often floated by Trump himself. Wolfe has repeatedly denied that she took any actions as administrator with the aim of favoring either party, calling those suggestions conspiracy theories. Brandtjen first circulated the impeachment resolution for cosponsors on Sept. 21. After it was officially introduced Thursday, Vos assigned the resolution to the Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight, a step his office described as a simple procedural move, telling WisPolitics it was “referred like any other bill.”

The Senate voted Nov. 7 to approve three proposed amendments to the state constitution addressing conservative concerns about elections administration. The proposed legislation would outlaw private funding for elections administration, enshrine existing voter photo ID requirements in the state constitution and specify that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in state and local elections. The Nov. 7 votes along party lines were the Senate’s second round of approval for the proposals to outlaw private elections funding and specify that only U.S. citizens can vote in local elections. GOP leaders have said they plan to put those amendments before voters in the statewide April and November 2024 elections, respectively. The Assembly was scheduled to vote Nov. 9 on all three amendments advanced by the Senate.

Legal Updates

Arizona: Testimony began this week in what’s expected to be a 10-day trial stemming from four lawsuits concerning the same two voting laws consolidated into a single case against the state of Arizona, the secretary of state, the attorney general and all 15 county recorders. Plaintiffs include political advocacy groups Mi Familia Vota, Voto Latino, and the Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity Coalition, as well as the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Democratic National Committee and others.  The challenged laws are House Bill 2492 and House Bill 2243. Passed in 2022, the laws are blocked from taking effect until the conclusion of the trial. The laws require already registered voters to show proof of citizenship to remain registered to vote in presidential elections or vote in any federal election by mail, and require county recorders to terminate registration of anyone who hasn’t provided the necessary documents.  Plaintiffs argue the laws place an unnecessary burden on those who are already eligible to vote but don’t have access to the required documents: a birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, tribal identification number or a naturalization number. Witnesses also challenged provisions of the laws requiring voters to write their place of birth on their registration form, which is optional under current law. The laws require recorder’s office employees to use five federal databases to verify citizenship status: the state Motor Vehicle Department, the Social Security Administration, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement program, the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems, and “any other state, city, town, county or federal database” that the county recorder has access to.

California: Orange County Superior Court Judge Craig Griffin denied a voter’s request to halt a recall election against a Santa Ana city council member. The integrity of the election on whether to oust Councilmember Jessie Lopez first came under legal scrutiny when Orange County Registrar Bob Page alerted the city in late October to what he said was an error in the district boundaries used to define the recall. State law requires that, in the case of a local recall election, ballots go to voters within the district boundaries as they existed when the official was elected. Santa Ana, like many cities in California, went through redistricting after the 2020 Census and the boundaries of the city’s Ward 3, represented by Lopez, shifted while she was in office. But the city used, and the registrar accepted, the district’s current boundaries and population size to determine the number of signatures needed to trigger an election and who should get to vote. Griffin denied the request Tuesday during a hearing in Santa Ana and scheduled another court date for January 2024. Tim Rush, who chairs the recall campaign against Lopez, said his group followed what they thought was the law. “We did exactly as we were told by the election official,” he said. In this case, the election official is the Santa Ana city clerk. The registrar’s office is administering the election on behalf of the city.

Kansas: Attorney General Kris Kobach made his case to state Supreme Court justices that voting rights should not be given the same protection as other constitutional rights, hoping to sway them over to his side in the latest twist of a long-lasting legal battle over 2021 election laws. “If any of us wishes to exercise our freedom of speech, we may do so whenever we choose,” Kobach said, making his case. “If we wish to worship, we may do so whenever we choose. We have absolute autonomy, and we really don’t rely on anyone or any entity for us to do that. The same cannot be said of voting.”  Kobach is asking the high court to overturn of a court of appeals decision that declared voting a fundamental state constitutional right. If Justices choose to uphold the ruling, the Republican-dominated Legislature would be restricted in the extent to which they can pass election legislation in the future, because the right to vote would be held to the same high standard of protection as other constitutional rights, such as abortion.  Kobach’s underlying argument is that Kansans’ right to vote has not been impeded by state law restricting the number of advance ballots a person can deliver to an election office. He also argues that state law requiring election volunteers to verify signatures on advance ballots is not unduly burdensome — a notion voting advocacy groups have fought against. His opponent Elisabeth Frost, an attorney representing several voting rights advocacy groups in the case, said “signature matching is worse than flipping a coin,” in terms of accuracy, and said Kansas had been “securing elections just fine” without the additional measures.

Minnesota: The Minnesota Court of Appeals took action against a judge who barred at least six defendants from voting as part of their sentences, seemingly breaking with state law. The court granted a writ of prohibition against Mille Lacs County District Court Judge Matthew Quinn two weeks after Quinn handed down sentences that contained an identical memo calling a new voting law unconstitutional. In the order, Chief Judge Susan Segal wrote that Quinn had no authority to declare unconstitutional the law that allows people with felony convictions to vote after they complete their prison sentences. And Segal said Quinn’s actions were “unauthorized by law.” Two of the individuals barred from voting as part of their sentences appealed the rulings and called on the Court of Appeals to prevent Quinn from issuing similar sentences in the future. State Public Defender Bill Ward, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Secretary of State Steve Simon and the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota signed on in support. The court’s legal direction vacates the orders and blocks similar actions in the future.

New Hampshire: Merrimack County Judge Charles Temple has dismissed a pair of lawsuits challenging New Hampshire’s new provisional ballot law. The law, which took effect in January, created a new type of “affidavit ballot” for first-time voters who don’t show proper identification and proof of residency at the polls. Those who fail to provide the documents within seven days will have their ballots thrown out, and the vote totals would be adjusted. Previously, such voters filled out affidavits promising to provide documentation within 10 days, and those who didn’t could be investigated and charged with fraud. But the votes themselves remained valid. Several individual voter and advocacy groups filed lawsuits last year, days after Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed the bill into law. They argued that it violates the right to privacy the state added to its constitution in 2018 because it would diminish the secrecy of ballots and tie voters’ names to the candidates for whom they voted. But a judge recently granted a request from the secretary of state and attorney general to dismiss the cases. Temple agreed with the defendants that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the law. The individual plaintiffs already are registered to vote and thus can’t argue the changes will harm them, he said. And they don’t have standing as taxpayers objecting to the expenditure of public funds, he said, because the law doesn’t appropriate money.

Ohio: Ian Ridgeway, the former deputy director of the Miami County Board of Elections, who was investigated for alleged fraud involving procurement of office supplies, said he “inadvertently violated the law” and would be held accountable for his “error in judgment.” “While I did not intend to engage in any activity that was inappropriate or illegal, I recognize that I have inadvertently violated the law,” Ian Ridgeway of West Milton wrote in a statement provided by his attorney, Jeremy Tomb of Troy. He was put on paid administrative leave in early August by the elections board after Sheriff Dave Duchak notified the board a complaint had been received about questionable procurement practices.  The sheriff’s office has completed the investigation, and Prosecutor Tony Kendell said a criminal charge is pending. Ridgeway acknowledged that in his statement, writing, “I understand that criminal charges will be issued, and I will be held accountable for my error in judgment.” A date for a court hearing was not yet available. The report filed by sheriff’s investigators and obtained this week stated the complaint came from the county auditor’s office and involved allegations of forgery and tampering with records.

Thomas McCabe, 56, director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections and also the county Republican Party Chairman, was charged with OVI after refusing to be tested for blood alcohol content, according to the court filing. McCabe had a hearing in Boardman Court  where he pled not guilty to the charges, according to the court. No future court has been set at this time.

Utah: Criminal charges have been filed against the former Juab County Clerk, accusing her of destroying ballots from the 2020 and 2022 elections. Alaina Lofgran was charged by the Utah Attorney General’s Office on Thursday with eight counts including willful neglect of duty, destroying ballots, destroying public records, all third-degree felonies; tampering with ballots, a class A misdemeanor; improper distribution of ballots and unofficial misconduct, a class B misdemeanor. The case against Lofgran began when Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson sought an investigation earlier this year. An affidavit filed with the charges accused Lofgran of not preserving thousands of ballots from the 2020 election for the 22 months required by law. They were discovered missing as a result of a lawsuit over elections in the county. Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes’ office alleges ballots from the 2022 election were found in a shred bin. “A week or two later, shortly after Thanksgiving 2022, the deputy county clerk observed Defendant putting the 2022 ballots in the shred bin again. The deputy county clerk asked Defendant what she was doing. Defendant responded that they had completed the election reports and stated, ‘we don’t need them anymore,’ referring to the 2022 ballots,” Utah Attorney General’s investigator B. Smith wrote in the affidavit. “The deputy county clerk questioned Defendant, asking if the office had ‘learn[ed] our lesson’ about throwing the ballots out. Defendant repeated that the county did not need the ballots anymore.”

Tennessee: Ten people have been indicted, arrested and are being prosecuted in Clarksville on charges of voter fraud.  The charges allege the people knew they weren’t entitled to vote or to register to vote because of a past felony conviction, but did so  anyway. That’s also a felony, and if convicted, they could be sentenced to two to 12 years in prison, fined, and never be able to regain the right to vote. The Montgomery County District Attorney and the county’s administrator of elections have said generally that prosecutions of this type have occurred in the past as part of a continuing effort to maintain accurate voter rolls. The current cases were brought before a Montgomery County grand jury in August, and defendants were indicted that month. Arrest warrants went out in August, defendants were arrested and cases went to  court in September.  Bond was initially set at $2,500.

Texas: The Justice Department has announced its findings that four Texas counties violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by maintaining election websites that discriminate against people with vision or manual disabilities. In public letters issued to Colorado County, Runnels County, Smith County and Upton County, the department detailed its findings following its investigation and asked the counties to work with the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas to resolve the identified civil rights violations. The election websites for the four Texas counties provide important information about how to vote, such as registration requirements, identification requirements and voting information for people with disabilities. The websites also link to other critical information, including details about early voting and voting on election day. The department found that the websites are not accessible to those who are blind or have low vision, or who cannot grasp a mouse, and use screen readers, keyboards or other assistive technology. For example, on all four of the election websites, menus and links do not function properly for people who use a keyboard to navigate, and posted documents are inaccessible to people who use assistive technologies. Because the election websites are inaccessible, the counties deny people with vision and manual disabilities equal access to election programs and online services provided through these websites and fail to ensure effective communication with people with disabilities.

Virginia: Former Lynchburg General Registrar Christine Gibbons has filed suit alleging that the city’s election board violated her First Amendment right to free political association by removing her for purely partisan reasons. According to The Washington Post, Gibbons’s suit s among the first in the country to make that argument. The Supreme Court has held that it is illegal to fire most government workers over politics. Her attorney hopes it will be a test case, drawing a line in the sand that will help other election workers under partisan political fire. In 2022, Republican Betty Gibbs was installed on the Lynchburg election board, along with one Democrat and another Republican. Gibbons’s lawsuit claims the Republican Party withdrew election Gibbs from a nomination to the election board in 2019 because she had allegedly violated election procedures as a poll worker by twice closing electronic polling books that help election workers track voters during elections. Gibbs denies the allegations in a response her attorney filed to Gibbons’s lawsuit. Gibbons’s lawsuit also alleges that Gibbs told a Republican who worked for the election office, Aimee Mayer, that she planned to delete from the absentee voter rolls anyone whose ballot was returned as undeliverable, in violation of the process set by state and federal law. In court filings in response to Gibbons’s lawsuit, the attorney for Gibbs and Steve Troxel denied any political motivation for the registrar’s removal and said state law allows the board to replace the registrar at the end of his or her term every four years. Troxel and Gibbs seriously considered Gibbons for the job but thought her performance was deficient, according to the filings. They said that Gibbons had communication issues with the board and the public and that her ability to train election workers was poor, and they cited the mistake she made while processing absentee ballots in 2020 as well as other errors. Gibbs also said Gibbons was unwilling to work with her. Gibbons said that was inaccurate. he suit claims that Gibbons’s removal was illegal because the Supreme Court has held that many public employees cannot be dismissed for solely partisan reasons, since it violates their First Amendment right to free speech and political association. The opening paragraph of the lawsuit asserts that the board was intent on pressing Trump’s “big lie” and the “ancillary supposition that local election administrators who are not part of their Republican faction are not to be trusted.” The lawsuit cites Gibbs’s alleged comments about wanting to remove Gibbons even before she was on the election board, her statements on Jan. 6, 2021, and her accusations of corruption in the registrar’s office among other evidence that her motivation was political. Gibbons is seeking a preliminary injunction to be reinstalled as registrar, but a hearing has been delayed while an appeals court weighs the defendants’ motion to dismiss the suit. A lower-court judge denied it.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Voting Rights Act | Voter suppression | Election protection | Election security | Election officials

Alabama: Early voting

Arizona: Conspiracy theories

California: Election integrity

Connecticut: Ranked choice voting

Iowa: Election security

Louisiana: Secretary of state race

Massachusetts: Election integrity

Mississippi: Election Day failures

Montana: Election reform

New York: Paper ballots

North Carolina: Ex-felon voting rights

Ohio: Election security

Oregon: Voter registration

Texas: Bexar County

Virginia: Ex-felon voting rights, II | Election administration

Washington: Election security

Wisconsin: Ballot processing | Election lies

Upcoming Events

America at 250: Democracy and the American Revolution: The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, yet the nation’s founding is controversial now in ways it has not been in decades. In the inaugural symposium of AEI’s “We Hold These Truths: America at 250” project, renowned historians and political scientists will explore what the contested idea of democracy meant to participants in the American Revolution. For some, democracy represented a way to organize government, while others understood it to be the transformative philosophical bedrock of the new republic’s political, social, and cultural institutions. Examining the democratic culture that the American Revolution created can help us understand the framework within which we continue to debate the structure and purpose of the system of government that binds us together today. When: Nov. 15 at 9am Eastern. Where: Online and Washington, DC.

Conspiracies on Social Media: When Nothing Is True, and Everything Is Possible: Conspiracy theories are intriguing, shocking, and often ridiculous. But too often, these theories take hold and have very real consequences, including undermining public trust in the media and our government, and in extreme cases, inciting violence and ripping families and communities apart. When accepted at scale, conspiracy theories threaten the stability of our democracy. Social media has given new life to conspiracy theories and false information, propelling them around the world in the blink of an eye, giving greater power to conflict entrepreneurs, and forming powerful communities around conspiracies. Over time, conspiracism eats away at the broader information ecosystem, making it difficult to differentiate fact from fiction. This is especially true in non-English speaking communities, where content moderation has been less robust. Conspiracies on Social Media: When Nothing Is True, and Everything Is Possible — an event sponsored by Issue One’s Council For Responsible Social Media — will convene experts in democracy, technology, and information integrity for an analysis of how we reached this point, what about the design of social media makes it such a powerful tool for false information, and what we can do to fortify our information ecosystem ahead of the 2024 election. When: Nov. 15, 2pm Eastern. Where: Online

Defending Democracy: Authoritarian exploitation of the world’s natural resources — with China and Russia at the forefront — is increasingly an issue of national and global security. It is a threat to the resurging alliance of democracies and the effort to roll back authoritarian actors globally. China’s appetite for natural resources to feed its economic growth has undermined democratic institutions and environmental commitments, leaving local communities across the globe exposed to environmental exploitation and degradation with little political recourse given the involvement of their government in opaque and illicit deals. Similarly, Russia’s war against Ukraine has had severe environmental impacts, and its access to natural resources in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East help bypass sanctions, and fund its growing network of state-supported private military groups, like the Wagner Group, to prop up unpopular, exploitative regimes that are its allies. Both China and Russia exploit the environment as an instrument of authoritarian political and economic control, such as in Tibet and in Ukraine’s eastern provinces. Simultaneously, there is growing awareness and unified action among the community of democracies to stem the worldwide rise in authoritarianism, and to demonstrate the ability of democracies to better deliver on the issues that matter to citizens globally, like the environment. Against this backdrop, join NDI and Foreign Policy as we highlight the people and policies that have become “game changers” to strengthen democracy and civic activism, protect the environment and natural resources, and help defenders of democracy counter illiberal influences in their own countries. When: Nov. 15, 10 a.m. 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.

EAC Virtual Meeting on E-poll Book Pilot Program Report: On Friday, November 17, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) will host a virtual public meeting on the 2023 EAC Voluntary Electronic Poll Book Pilot Program Report. The event, which will be live streamed on the EAC’s YouTube channel, will review report findings and discuss testing and certification programs for electronic poll books or “e-poll books.” Registration for this event is not required. During the meeting, the EAC Commissioners will moderate panels to discuss the pilot program, the certification and testing of e-poll books, and the impact of these programs on state and local jurisdictions. Panelists include pilot participants, e-poll book developers, Voting System Test Laboratories (VSTLs), and state and local election administrators. The Commissioners will also hear a presentation from Jay Phelps, Director of the EAC’s Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP), on the pilot report. When: November 17, 2pm Eastern. Where: Online

Structural Election Reform: What is Happening in the States?: A bipartisan bill recently introduced in the Wisconsin legislature would enact final-five voting for state elections. Next year’s mayoral election in Burlington, Vermont, will be conducted using ranked-choice voting. And Idaho citizens may be voting in 2024 on a ballot initiative to consider opening its partisan primaries. Various states, counties, and municipalities are enacting systemic election reforms, aiming to improve governance by altering the incentives of candidates running for elected office. These reforms include preferential voting (e.g., ranked-choice voting), open primaries, jungle primaries and runoff elections, proportional representation, and nonpartisan redistricting. Where are these reforms occurring, and what concerns are prompting these changes? Join AEI’s Kevin R. Kosar and a panel of experts for a discussion on how efforts to enact systemic election reforms might shape the future of American politics. When: Dec. 4, 10am Eastern. Where: Online

EAC Technical Guidelines Development Committee Annual Meeting: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) will hold its annual meeting on December 5, 2023, at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Rockville, Maryland. This meeting will be held in person and live streamed. Registration is required to attend in person, and attendees must be registered no later than November 20, 2023. A registration link and a live stream link will be added to this page. The TGDC is composed of 14 members appointed jointly by EAC and the director of NIST. Members will discuss program updates for EAC Testing and Certification and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Voting Program. The meeting will also include the status of the Voluntary Electronic Poll Book Pilot Program, the annual review of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG), lab testing strategies, and more. When: Dec. 5, 8:30am Eastern. Where: Online and Rockville, Md.

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.  When: January 10-14, 2024. Where: Arlington, Virginia.

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

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

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 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.

Customer Support Manager, Hart InterCivic— The full-time Customer Support Consultant role is an on-site position located in the Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area. The role’s primary responsibility is to support Hart’s commitment to extraordinary service by ensuring customer satisfaction through prompt issue resolution and effective communication. The successful candidate will be responsible for resolving customer questions and issues and will collaborate with related teams to assist with technical issues, provide training, and maintain customer records. 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.

Director of Elections, Greene County Georgia— The Greene County Board of Commissioners is looking for a Director of Elections who is a competent, effective, and experienced manager with elections experience to join their team. Under supervision of the County Manager, with oversight from the Greene County Board of Elections & Registration, the Director oversees the operations and staff of the Elections & Registration Department that serve the registered voters and citizens of Greene County. While the department is funded by the Greene County Government, a 3-member citizen board comprised of one member each appointed by the county Democratic and Republican parties, and the Chairman appointed by the Board of Commissioners is responsible for conducting all county, state and federal elections that are held in Greene County as well as serve as an election resource for municipalities within the county. As such, the Board shall have jurisdiction over the performance of primaries, elections and the registration of electors and may provide guidance, policy and direction to the Director of Elections. However, the Director is responsible to run the day-to-day operations of the election office and its employees. Application: For the complete 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 Operations Specialist, Clark County, Nevada— The Clark County Election Department is seeking qualified candidates to apply for the Election Operations Specialist position. This position coordinates and manage all aspects  supervises the Call Center. As a member of our team, you will provide support in various task within the Mail Ballot and Registration Division. Recruits election board officers and absentee ballot processors through a variety of media and techniques; notifies, schedules and coordinates the work of election board officers, ballot processors and/or precinct workers. Develops and implements training materials for election board staff; schedules and coordinates the training of part-time staff by County or contract personnel; obtains and coordinates the use of training facilities. Maintains records regarding election board officer and absentee ballot processor activities to ensure that such workers are paid in a timely manner. Processes requests for absentee ballots; determines eligibility for such ballots and forward appropriate materials to the requestor. Oversees the receipt and counting of direct and absentee ballots; supervises and reviews the accuracy and performance of workers and maintains appropriate evaluation records. Researches and assembles varied files and databases and prepares reports; creates forms and newsletters and specialized election documents; coordinates efforts to retain an adequate and experienced part-time work force. Coordinates activities with local City Clerk’s offices during City or special elections. Inventories materials and supplies; orders and maintains an inventory of appropriate supplies; prepares basic budget figures for election operations. Provides factual information to the public, election workers and voters, in person or over the telephone. Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit’s service to its customers by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team. Uses a variety of standard office equipment, including a computer, in the course of the work. Drives a personal or County motor vehicle to precincts and training sites or to deliver ballot materials and supplies. Salary: $23.37 – $36.27 Hourly. Deadline: Nov. 21. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Administrator, Pinellas County, Florida— We are seeking an Election Administrator who is passionate about public service and upholds the highest standards of integrity. The successful candidate should have an extensive knowledge of election laws, as this individual would lead and coordinate functions of the election process, including reviewing, interpreting, and implementing government codes, legislation, policies, and procedures in federal, state, county, and local elections. In addition to leading over complex projects, this supervisory role demands an articulate communicator and resilient team player adept at managing a dynamic and collaborative environment. An eagerness to learn and adapt to new ideas is key, as innovation and flexibility are cornerstones of our operations. Strong leadership qualities and a commitment to our mission are essential, backed by a solid work ethic and exceptional organizational skills. Candidates should possess a detail-oriented mindset, excellent time management abilities, and the capacity to work harmoniously with our team. Open-mindedness and adaptability are vital, as our processes are continually evolving. The ideal candidate will preferably hold a Certified Election and Registration Administration (CERA) certification, be a Certified Florida Elections Professional (FCEP), or possess a Juris Doctor (JD) or MBA. However, we place the highest value on an individual’s drive and ability to fulfill the role’s requirements. We are committed to equipping our team for success, offering robust resources and training for professional growth. Salary: $100,000 – $120,000. Deadline: Dec. 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 Equipment/Operations Analyst, Jackson County, North Carolina— This position performs intermediate skilled technical and operational support work assisting the Director with planning, directing, coordinating, and supervising the elections process. Duties and Responsibilities: Assists in Implementing changing election laws, coordinating elections, and supervising activities of the office. Oversees set up of One-Stop voting sites and network. Sets up all E-poll books according to polling place. Assists in machine logic and accuracy. Administers Campaign Reporting schedule. Provides requested information such as registration analysis, voting analysis, lists of precinct officials, precinct locations, precinct political committees, and campaign reports to the various candidates, campaign committees, party chairs, news media, and the general public. Provides requested information   regarding the North Carolina Campaign Reporting Act to prospective candidates, candidates, elected officials, media, and the general public, provides and notices of required reports to Candidates. Assists with audits submitted campaign reports, reviews, and verifies records to ensure that required information is provided and correct. Assists with polling sites database. Prepares campaign reports for public viewing. Assists with planning for and coordinating all early voting site, including the set up and close out of all sites.  Assists in training of one-stop workers.  Assists in canvassing the returns of all elections. Explains policies, laws, rules, regulations, and procedures to the public and other inquiring parties. Assists with voter registration verification procedures. Assists in ADA compliance and Campaign zones at polling places. Assists in processing and verifying petitions. Assists in preparing and conducting elections. Assists with state reporting requirements. Interacts with elected officials, candidates, the North Carolina Campaign Reporting Office, the general public, and the media. Performs other related job duties as assigned. Salary: $40,694. 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 Outreach and Education Specialist, Pierce County, Washington— The Pierce County Auditor’s Office is seeking an experienced Elections Outreach and Education Specialist to dramatically increase voter awareness and turnout. This newly tailored position has the unique opportunity to establish and implement an outreach and education program. Your engagement and drive will connect you to a variety of communities throughout Pierce County. You will register people to vote and provide diverse and equity-focused education on voting, elections and other election-specific laws, rules, and deadlines. You will coordinate events and develop partnerships to engage with key parts of the County’s nearly one million residents. This includes devising ways to communicate with the County’s approximately 550,000 registered voters, including overseas voters, voters living with disabilities, voters with non-traditional addresses, diverse language communities, and other populations. There will be a particular focus on students. Your work also includes serving on the County’s Accessibility Awareness Committee and coordinating the County’s Jail Voting program. Partners in your effort include non-partisan community groups, library systems, and the Washington State Secretary of State’s Office. Internal teams will support your efforts for information awareness, publications, and social media. Increasing voter awareness and turning the tide of low voter turnout will be the focus here! This is a hybrid position that—after a three-month in-office training period—includes working remotely, working in the office during times of elections, and working in the community for presentations and events. Evening and weekend work will be needed as we strive to meet our diverse community where our communities live, work and play. Salary: $33.62 – $42.52 Hourly. Deadline: Nov. 17. 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.

Ranked Choice Voting Project Manager, Multnomah County, Oregon— Are you a development dynamo? An engagement expert?  A project management pro? Are you a firm believer in the power of collective voice and passionate about finding ways to uphold the voices of our community, especially those who are underserved? Are you looking to serve the common good? Yes? Good. Let’s talk. Multnomah County’s Elections Division is looking for someone extraordinary to help in bringing the voices of the people of the county to fruition by bringing Ranked Choice Voting to the Elections Division. Not only will you be responsible for helping deliver this monumental change in the election administration process, you will also assist the teams developing strategies for communication, education, and outreach with all communities and populations, particularly those that are historically underrepresented and non-English speaking community members.  We’re looking for someone with significant project management know-how and the right blend of vision, experience, and drive to become the Ranked Choice Voting Project Manager (Limited Duration). In this role, you will lead the implementation of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for the Elections Division. This will include the implementation of RCV for the City of Portland in November 2024 and planning for the implementation of RCV for Multnomah County in November 2026. You will act as the coordinator and liaison between internal and external partners, contractors, and other contributors to facilitate collaboration, build consensus, and ensure accountability. This will take the form of maintaining partnerships and trust with all communities in Multnomah County. In addition, you will provide informational and technical support to assigned staff and team members, including keeping them apprised of updates and accountable for necessary deliverables along the way. Salary: $42.58 – $52.42 Hourly. Deadline: Nov. 12. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Registrar of Voters, Riverside County, California— The County of Riverside is seeking a highly experienced elections executive to serve as the Registrar of Voters. This position is located in Riverside. The Director position is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and serves under direction of the County Executive Officer. The incumbent has the primary responsibility for conducting Primary, General, and Special Elections within the County of Riverside, and directing the operations of a department with more than forty dedicated and hard-working permanent employees, and more than nine hundred temporary employees, which are a critical component of the services provided each election. This responsibility includes the successful execution of all components of the County’s election management process, including: registration of voters, poll worker coordination and training, polling place establishment aligned with any accessibility requirements, ballot creation, voting system security, ballot processing and tallying, the certification of election returns to the Secretary of State, and the provision of candidate services such as candidate filing. Furthermore, this position has the sole responsibility for ensuring that election processes are in full compliance with County, State, and federal legal requirements. Salary: $143,167 – $253,177. Deadline: Nov. 9. 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.

Voting System Specialist I, Illinois State Board of Elections— Under the general direction of the Voting System & Testing Team Lead, and the Director of Voting and Registration Systems, the Voting System Specialist I, performs functions relative to the operational and procedural aspects of voting systems; performs voting tabulation system testing and certification testing to ensure voting systems are secure and promotes the integrity of statewide voting technology which is used by Illinois election authorities and the general public; assists in the development and planning of on-site and off-site testing; collaborates with agency divisions, election authorities, vendors, and the general public as it relates to voting systems; effectively organizes, coordinates, and independently schedules day-to-day projects and requirements to ensure all assignments receive appropriate attention and that established timelines are met. Assist with the review and evaluation of voting system approval applications for compliance with requirements in the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), the Illinois Election Code, the Illinois Administrative Code, and regulations set forth by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC); assist with certification testing while appropriately applying current laws, rules, policies, and procedures governing election law; develops test plans, and attends jurisdictional field testing of certified voting systems prior to each election; travel required on short notice (< 1 week) for durations up to 2 weeks; significant periods of overtime during travel and during various points in the election and testing cycle, including possible evenings and weekends. Assist in the collection of pre-election and post-election documents, certification and data for each election cycle, including, but not limited to: public test of tabulation equipment, re-tabulation, jurisdictional profile, computer operator logs, and sealed election programs; attends and observes public test and re-tabulation to ensure quality assurance; prepare and provide updates and reports relevant to statutory requirements; performs various functions within the Illinois Voter Registration System (IVRS) related to management of equipment and testing data. Develops working knowledge with the Illinois Election Code and election related issues; provide election authorities guidance and information on new and existing legislation as it relates to voting systems and standards; exercise tact, resourcefulness, and professional communication skills with colleagues, election authorities, vendors and the general public. Assist with inter-agency projects, other division activities and planning efforts; continue education by utilizing computer based learning (CBL) modules, attending training sessions, seminars, and conferences. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above. Salary: $3,750 – $5,834. Deadline: Nov. 15. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

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