electionline Weekly

Effective Election Policies  

Carter Center and Rice’s Baker Institute Say U.S. Election System Must be a National Priority
National framework developed for bipartisan and effective election policies  

As U.S. democratic principles are being tested, The Carter Center and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy have proposed guiding principles to ensure that elections are conducted in ways that give Americans greater confidence in their outcomes.

“Too often, elections processes are used in ways intended to give political advantage to one side or the other,” said David Carroll, Director of the Democracy Program at The Carter Center. “And too many political and elected leaders obfuscate and peddle fear about the mechanics of elections, the laws governing them, and the process leading to election results, in order to motivate votes for their side.”

Such political gamesmanship has resulted in a greater lack of confidence in election outcomes, said John Williams, co-director of the Baker Institute’s Presidential Elections Program.

“The guiding principles offered in the report are designed to instill confidence among people on both sides of the political aisle,” Williams said. “If we can agree on such principles, then perhaps policymakers can develop laws and regulations that govern elections in sensible and pragmatic ways.”

When former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III chaired the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform in 2005, both worried that democracy could face dangers if the elections are perceived as defective. “Elections are the heart of democracy,” Carter and Baker wrote in the introductory letter to their final report.

Since 2020, The Carter Center and Baker Institute have established a collaboration to continue studying election issues.

Americans use the election system – specifically, their ballots – to communicate their ideas, priorities, and values. Elections allow Americans to combine with other voters to make concrete choices for the future of their nation, states and local communities. However, unlike most countries around the world which have uniform voting rules and procedures, the U.S. system is widely decentralized.

The Carter Center and Baker Institute identified ten guiding principles that are crucial to a healthy election system everywhere – even as individual policies and procedures continue to vary from community to community. The goal is to provide a framework on a national level for bipartisan and effective policies that balance what is required for Americans to have faith in their elections and the twin needs for equitable access and integrity of the results:

1. America’s election system – and the democracy it supports – must be a national priority.
2. Election laws and policies should be clear, transparent and well-communicated to the public.
3. Voter registration should be widely available, easily accomplished, secure and well-run.
4. Voting – specifically, the act of receiving and casting a ballot – should be flexible enough to meet voters’ needs equitably, especially between rural and urban populations.
5. Voting technology should be a gateway, not a barrier, to the voting process.
6. States and localities should prioritize policies that allow ballots to be cast and counted on or before Election Day so that the final count can be completed as soon as possible after the close of polls.
7. Military and overseas voters should continue to have the opportunity to cast timely and valid ballots.
8. Tabulation of election returns should be transparent – and proceed in an orderly fashion.
9. Jurisdictions should commit to regular and rigorous audits of the election process.
10. The U.S. should embrace recognized standards and best practices for election observation.

Learn more about the recommendations

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Election News This Week

2024 Primaries: Democrats in South Carolina and both parties in Nevada held their Presidential Preference Primaries this week and overall it was smooth sailing. In Horry County, the county previously announced it would be combining some precincts for both the Democratic and Republican presidential preference primaries. Officials said it was based on guidance from both parties and the South Carolina Election Commission. Some voters said they arrived at the wrong polling place due to the combined precincts or didn’t know where to go due to signage in the area. Horry County elections director Sandy Martin said their office “addressed each issue” as it came up throughout the day. “There are signs at all locations that are closed instructing the voters where to go,” she said. “If we received a complaint, or our rover notified us of issues with signage, we have provided more at locations where needed. We are making notes of all these precincts so that extra signage will be sent for the Republican primary.” It was slow going at the polls in North Charleston, but that didn’t deter poll worker Annette Green from noting the importance of her job. “I find that to be important for young kids to learn. Democracy was not ours. We had to earn it, and we’re earning it when we teach our young children – like my daughter’s coming out here to work the election poll – it taught them how important it was for them to keep encouraging each other to get out and vote.” Nevada’s first presidential primary in decades was drawing light voter interest Tuesday, with Democrats having banked ballots through early and mail-in voting while Republicans looked ahead to competing caucuses to be held Feb. 8. Ultimately, only about 125,000 Nevadans voted in the Democratic primary and 80,000 in the Republican primary, NBC News estimates. There was some confusion about the Republican primary and caucus system. The Washoe County interim registrar of voters, Cari Ann Burgess said the Nevada Secretary of State’s office asked her team to stay late and count as many ballots as possible on election day. She called the election successful and said her office has fielded many questions about the caucus. “We just give them the phone number for the Republican Party. We’re a nonpartisan office, we don’t get into that,” Burgess said. “We do a very honest and fair election, and try to be as transparent as possible to make sure that everybody has the right information.” Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said polls opened on time and there were no issues to report across the state. He said while Washoe and Clark counties had sufficient election workers, rural counties needed more support, particularly Douglas County. “Clark and Washoe were able to use some creative recruiting to be able to fill the spots that they had open,” Aguilar said. “I know some of the rural communities struggled a little bit. And we tried to help supplement some of that staff and that team to be able to make sure that there were enough poll workers in those counties. We now have four months to figure this out.”

Hearing on The Hill: Funding of elections was front and center at a hearing before the House Committee on Administration this week with the majority Republicans railing against outside funding for elections and some saying they’d be willing to fund elections with taxpayer dollars. “Americans deserve to have confidence in their elections, which means elections should be free from undue private influence,” House Committee on Administration Chair Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) said. Democratic members agreed with Republican colleagues that election administrations should be publicly funded, but argued GOP lawmakers’ specific focus on who the private funders were drew attention from the reason for the hearing — helping underfunded local election administrations. “All of us can agree that no private funding should be funding our elections — it should be public funding,”  Rep. Teri Sewell (D-Ala.), said. “I really have no tolerance for the unrelenting assault perpetrated by the partisan and extreme organizations represented by today’s Republican witnesses,” Sewell said. Zachary Mohr, associate professor at the University of Kansas testified that through auditing the more than 8,000 election jurisdictions, the University of Kansas estimates these local election administrations shoulder a collective $2 billion in cost to operate. “I really think that with states banning private funding, which there may be valid reasons for that, but if that’s going to be the case, elections administration has been underfunded for years, now it is getting critically underfunded because it doesn’t have the resources it needs – we need the federal government to step in here,” Mohr said.

Public Opinion on Election Administration: A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds deep partisan divisions over some voting policies, especially voting by mail while other proposals draw widespread public support, including from majorities in both partisan coalitions: Requiring paper ballot backups for electronic voting machines (82% favor this), Requiring people to show government-issued photo identification to vote (81%), Making early voting available for two weeks prior to Election Day (76%), Making Election Day a national holiday (72%) and Allowing convicted felons to vote after serving their sentences (69%). The Pew Research Center survey, conducted Jan. 16-21 among 5,140 adults, also finds smaller majorities supporting allowing anyone to vote by mail if they want to (57%), as well as automatic and Election Day voter registration (57% each). Americans are more divided on whether groups should be banned from collecting completed ballots to return to official voting centers (47% favor, 50% oppose) and whether people should be removed from registration lists if they have not voted recently or confirmed their registration (44% favor, 55% oppose). Nearly half of Americans (47%) favor banning groups from collecting completed ballots to return to official voting centers, while roughly the same share (50%) oppose this. The public is also relatively divided over removing people from voter registration lists if they have not voted recently or confirmed their registration, with slightly more opposing this (55%) than supporting it (44%). Republicans are about twice as likely as Democrats (60% vs. 27%) to support the removal of inactive records from registration lists. Republicans are also more likely than Democrats (56% vs. 41%) to favor banning groups from collecting and returning ballots. The single widest partisan gap on the voting policies asked about in this survey is over “allowing any voter to vote by mail if they want to.” And that gap is now substantially wider than it was in April 2020, the result of a sharp decline in support among Republicans: Today, just 28% of Republicans say any voter should be allowed to vote by mail if they want to. Four years ago, 49% of Republicans said this. An overwhelming share of Democrats (84%) continue to say voting by mail should be available to all voters. Democratic support is essentially unchanged over this period.

Sticker News: Actions have consequences and that became abundantly clear recently when the South Carolina Election Commission had to send local elections officials a warning not to use the iconic “I Voted” stickers provided free of charge to counties by the nonprofit Palmetto Project. Under Act 150, county elections offices “may not receive, accept, or expend gifts, donations, or funding from private individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, or any third party not provided through ordinary state or county appropriations.” State Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, was involved in the elections reform that was ultimately signed into law in May 2022. He said he never imagined these innocuous stickers getting banned. “That’s not the type of thing we were targeting,” Campsen said, admitting the language was meant to prohibit outside donations and grants like the so-called “Zuckerbucks” that flowed into local elections office around the country to help them deal with the coronavirus pandemic. “But with the ‘I Voted’ stickers, there’s no element of those stickers trying to put the thumb on the scale,” Campsen said, adding, “I didn’t know that they came from a nonprofit.” That means the S.C. State Election Commission is picking up the tab. In the fall of 2023, the state agency paid $23,255.26 for stickers, according to agency spokesman John Michael Catalono. The latest shipment added up to $16,264. “Moving forward, the State Election Commission will print and provide our own stickers to the county offices,” Catalono said, adding that counties also have the option to buy their own stickers from third-party vendors.

Podcast: “The Voting Booth” is a podcast from The American Enterprise Institute featuring AEI’s John Fortier and U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Don Palmer discussing the inner workings of American elections. Joined by state and local officials and election experts, Fortier and Palmer take you into the heart of America’s democracy, with crucial conversations ahead of the 2024 elections. The podcast is currently on Episode 11, “How Redistricting and Recounts Affect Election Administration”, Fortier and Palmer are joined by E. Mark Braden, counsel at BakerHostetler, to discuss how the redistricting and recount processes affect the administration of our elections. Past episodes have discussed everything from making elections work in emergency situations to election skeptics to ranked choice voting and more. 

Personnel News: Shasta County, California Clerk and Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen will retire in May after two decades in office. Gary Holmes is the new Cecil County, Maryland board of elections director. Cheryl Williams and Jenni White have been removed from the Oklahoma County, Oklahoma election board. Congratulations to St. Clair, Michigan City Clerk Annette Sturdy for obtaining her Master Municipal Clerk certification. Miguel Nunez is the new executive director of the Rhode Island board of elections. Monroe County, New York Board of Elections Republican Commissioner Lisa Nicolay announced her resignation this week after 32 years of service.

In Memoriam: Michael Gill, a former member of the D.C. Board of Elections was shot and killed during a carjacking. He was 56. Gill, a senior vice president of the Housing Policy Council — a trade association — was married and the father of three grown children. A St. Louis native, he was a graduate of the University of Dayton, the former coach of his daughter’s youth soccer team and a member of the parish council at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He served three terms as an appointee to the D.C. Board of Elections, his wife said in a statement, where his “unwavering sense of fairness” found a home. He didn’t shy away from difficult policy problems and brought warmth and humor to every discussion. “He was dedicated … to ensure that our elections are open and fair,” the board said in a statement Saturday, “and he contributed to that mission in hundreds of meetings, events, and interactions over his seven years on the Board.” According to The Washington Post, people who knew him described him as highly competent and also self-effacing. He was devoted, they said, to his work and to his community, and was genial and good-natured, smart, outgoing, and witty. He brought people across the political spectrum together — ensuring everyone felt included and creating an extended family of friends.

Election Security Updates

#Protect2024 Resources Page:  As part of its commitment to safeguarding the security and integrity of the nation’s elections infrastructure, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) launched its new #Protect2024 webpage today. Election security remains a paramount concern for CISA, the lead federal agency entrusted with securing the nation’s elections infrastructure. The agency continues to proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with state and local election officials who are on the frontlines of defending our electoral process, and is committed to providing them with the resources, capabilities, and actionable information to help them ensure the security and integrity of the elections process. As part of the #Protect2024 initiative, CISA developed a webpage to serve as a central point for consolidated critical resources, training lists and security service offerings to support the over 8,000 election jurisdictions for the 2024 election cycle. These efforts build upon prior years of working with elections officials to mitigate the cyber, physical, and operational risks to election infrastructure. “The #PROTECT2024 website provides a consolidated set of free resources for state and local election officials, those on the front lines of securing the democratic process,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly. “This year, we are placing particular focus on support to local election offices in order to help them strengthen their security posture.” CISA encourages stakeholders, government officials, and the public to explore the #Protect2024 website, joining the collective effort to ensure a secure and resilient 2024 election cycle. For more information, please visit: Protect 2024 I CISA

New Research, Reports and Studies

Costs for Replacing Voting Equipment in 2024: When the Brennan Center and Verified Voting first reviewed the status of voting equipment nearly a decade ago, and found that almost a quarter of all Election Day voters in 2016 would cast their votes on machines that did not produce a paper backup of their vote. Election experts consider a paper backup to be a critical security measure to ensure that ballots are counted as the voter intended. By 2024, that number has dropped dramatically, with only three states likely to still use paperless voting equipment in 2024. Indeed, we estimate that in the upcoming presidential election, nearly 99 percent of all registered voters will live in jurisdictions where they can cast a ballot with a paper record of the vote, including 100 percent of voters who will cast ballots in battleground states. Much of the progress that has been made since 2016 is due to an influx of federal funds for election security. In 2017, in the wake of unprecedented cyber threats to elections, the Department of Homeland Security designated election equipment as critical infrastructure. After this designation, Congress provided $380 million in 2018 to help states acquire secure election technology, followed by another $425 million in 2020. Since the 2020 election, Congress has continued to provide election security grants, but in far lower amounts — just $75 million in both 2022 and 2023. This federal funding is the first of its kind since 2010 and helped make it possible for many states to replace outdated equipment. But upgrading voting technology is a continuous process. Like any type of electronic equipment, voting machines age and need to be upgraded, and continued funding for elections makes this possible. Read the full report here. 

Legislative Updates

Alabama: The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved a bill to place additional restrictions on absentee voting, which supporters called ‘ballot harvesting,’ after a public hearing and a confusing lead-up to the vote. SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, passed the committee on a 7-3 party line vote. The bill, substituted prior to the vote, would make it illegal to “knowingly” provide an absentee ballot that is pre-filled with any voter information and would require applicants to submit their own applications. The legislation would provide an exception for voters who receive emergency treatment by a licensed physician within five days before an election. The legislation would make it a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for a third party to “knowingly” receive payment or a gift for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, prefilling, obtaining or delivering an absentee ballot application. A person who “knowingly” pays or provides a gift to a third party to distribute, order, request, collect, prefill, complete, obtain or deliver a voter’s absentee ballot application would be guilty of a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. A voter who needs assistance due to blindness, disability or inability to read “may be given assistance by an individual of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union.”  Military stationed overseas would not be impacted by the legislation.

Alaska: The House of Representatives has voted along bipartisan lines to shorten the time needed to remove someone from the state’s voting registry. The move is part of an effort to deflate the state’s voter rolls, which currently contain many more people than are eligible to vote in the state, an artifact of the state’s transient population and the fact that it’s much easier to add someone to the rolls than it is to remove them. If signed into law, House Bill 129 would allow the state to remove someone from its rolls in six years instead of eight. Alaska’s existing eight-year timeline is one of the longest in the country, according to records kept by the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the new six-year timeline is longer than the four-year minimum in federal law.  In addition, the bill would put into law best practices for maintaining the list and require the Alaska Division of Elections to promptly notify voters if their information is released in a data breach. One such breach took place in 2020, but elections officials didn’t notify the public until after the election.

Arizona: The Arizona House of Representatives passed a bill today that would ban the use of voting centers and require precinct voting across the state. HB2547 would tie areas of 1,000 voters to a certain voting location, instead of being able to vote at any voting center in their county. At a hearing, House Republicans like Rep. Rachel Jones (R-17) spoke in favor of the bill and said precinct voting helps preserve election integrity and reduces wait times. “It’s actually more convenient because they are right there, whether it’s at their neighborhood, school or church, they can go before work or after work,” Jones said. 12 Arizona counties currently use voting centers, including the two with the highest populations. Pima County started using them in the 2022 election, while Maricopa County has been using them since 2016. Democrats in opposition like Rep. Laura Terech (D-4) said densely populated areas would struggle to find the number of poll workers the bill would require. With 2.7 million registered voters in Maricopa County, the bill would mandate 2,700 voting locations and require 16,000 poll workers to staff them. Pima County would require at least 625 precincts.

A bill sponsored by state Sen. John Kavanagh sets a minimal bar of a 25% turnout in local elections that aren’t held in conjunction with a statewide or federal election. If less than 25% of the electorate votes, the results are declared void and the election gets repeated on a date when a statewide or federal office is on the ballot. Kavanagh said he’s not targeting any particular offender or type of election. He cited as an example — presumably theoretical — a sanitation district that’s proposing a fee increase. “It’s the principle of the thing,” Kavanagh said. “Elections with fewer people are simply undemocratic.”

Florida: A bill that would criminalize intimidating election workers is advancing in the Senate — with requests that it be amended to add equal protections for poll observers some say are in part responsible for the harassment. The measure (SB 562) would make it illegal to harass, intimidate, threaten or coerce an election worker with the intent to impede or interfere with their official duties or to retaliate against them for doing so. First-time offenders would face a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines. “This bill is a safeguard of the integrity of the election process by deterring and penalizing harassment against those individuals involved in its administration,” said its sponsor, St. Petersburg Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson. “The most critical component of our republic is the right to vote. We protect voters. Certainly, we should protect those who administer the elections process.” Rouson’s peers on the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee agreed this week, voting unanimously to send his bill to the second of three panels it must pass through before reaching the Senate floor.

Georgia: The Georgia Senate voted along party lines this week to abandon the use of bar codes on ballots. Instead, ballots would be counted from the printed text or filled-in ovals next to candidate names.= Republicans supporting the bill said it would improve election security and reduce the risk of hacks or tampering that could flip votes. There’s no indication that Georgia’s voting machines have been breached during an election. It’s unlikely that the change could be made in time for this year’s presidential election. “The biggest challenge that a voter has is knowing that their vote was correctly recorded,” said Sen. Max Burns, a Republican from Sylvania. “Let’s eliminate QR codes. Let’s make sure that electors can read the ballot and be clear about how they voted.” Democrats critical of the proposal said it would be expensive and impractical to implement before this November’s presidential election. Under Senate Bill 189, ballot scanners would count votes directly from the ballot text or a machine mark, such as a computer-printed oval filled in with voters’ choices. The text or bubbles would become the official vote rather than the QR code. The cost of technology changes needed to count ballots from the text starts at $15 million — and possibly much more — for thousands of new ballot printers and election computers across the state. So far, lawmakers haven’t appropriated money in the state budget for replacement election equipment. The legislation cleared the Senate on a 31-22 vote, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed. The bill now advances to the state House.

Indiana: A bill slated as “election security” advanced from the House to the Senate this week. House Bill 1264, authored by Rep. Tim Wesco, R-Osceola, would require new voters and in-person registrants to provide photo identification and proof of residency when registering to vote in person at registration agencies. The bill would also allow the state to “crosscheck” voters’ addresses from the Statewide Voter Registration System with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ list of temporary credentials. “Election security is and always should be a top priority in our state,” said Wesco, chair of the House Elections and Apportionment Committee. “Verifying voting records will ensure that every vote cast is legitimate and makes sure our elections are held to a high standard.” Wesco said his bill would also provide the state with the ability to identify noncitizens who are registered incorrectly.

 

Kansas: The Legislature is focusing on issues of election integrity for the third year straight after unfounded allegations of widespread fraud circulated after the 2020 presidential election.So far, seven bills that would limit advanced voting, increase verification processes and ban ranked-choice voting have been heard in either the House Committee on Elections or the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs. House Bill 2512, however, would end early in-person voting on the Sunday before an election. Clay Barker, general counsel for the Kansas secretary of state, remained neutral on the bill and said it was mostly a resource debate on what counties can accommodate on a weekend. Some smaller communities with fewer staff may welcome the shorter timeframe as they prepare for the election, said Harvey County Clerk Rick Piepho, who added that it’s a popular time to vote. “About 10% of our total in-person voters vote in that four-hour period on Monday,” Piepho said, referring only to early-in person votes in his county. Further restrictions were proposed for counties sending advanced ballots to voters in Senate Bill 366. Under the bill, voters would have to request an application for an advanced ballot and counties would be prohibited from pre-writing portions of it, such as the name and address of the voter. Legislators backing the bill said counties can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars mailing prefiled applications to voters, while supportive citizens claimed mail-in voting is more susceptible to fraud.

Maryland: The House Judiciary Committee reviewed proposals this week focused on public safety and protecting elected officials. The bills are part of Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) legislative agenda comes in response to increased threats and attacks, around the nation, on government officials as well as a shortage of law enforcement officers. Eric Luedtke, the governor’s chief legislative officer, testified on House Bill 585 (Protecting Election Officials Act) that would create a new misdemeanor charge in state election law for threats against election officials or someone in their immediate family. According to the legislation, election officials include state and local administrators of elections, members of state and local boards of elections, employees of state and local boards of elections and election judges. Immediate family members include a spouse, children and parents. As defined in the bill, a threat can be made orally, by electronic communication or in any written form whether or not it’s signed “with a fictitious name or any other mark.” In the bill, harm includes serious injury or serious emotional distress. The charge would be a misdemeanor and a person found guilty could be sentenced up to three years, be fined up to $2,500, or both. Under current law, a person who interferes or hinders an election official who is performing official duties could be found guilty of a misdemeanor. The punishment could be a fine from $50 to $1,000, a sentence of up to a year in jail, or both. The state Office of the Attorney General wrote a letter of support but requested that the definition of election official be amended to include “counsel to a local board of elections or counsel to the State Board.”

Ohio: Some state lawmakers are working on a bill that would effectively ban ranked-choice voting in Ohio, a method of voting that isn’t used anywhere in Ohio at this time. Senate Bill 137, if passed in its current form, says any municipality that approves the use of ranked choice voting would lose its share of the local government fund from the state. State Senator Theresa Gavarone from (R – Bowling Green), one of the sponsors of Senate Bill 137, along with Democrat William DeMora, told WTOL’s sister station WBNS in Columbus that it comes down to time and money. “It takes longer, it can takes several weeks to come up with a result, and with each tabulation increases costs to our boards of elections. So it undoes a lot of the good we’ve been trying in Ohio, so we want to ban it,” said Gavarone.

 

 

South Dakota: Native Americans should be able to use their tribal identification cards to register to vote in state and county elections, the South Dakota Senate has decided. Senators voted 29-3 this week for the proposal from Democratic Sen. Shawn Bordeaux. SB119 now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Democratic Rep. Linda Duba is the lead House sponsor.

Primary voters would pick their party’s nominees for attorney general and secretary of state under a bill that cleared a state House committee. House Bill 1198 is the third attempt in recent years – and the second in 2024 – to take candidate selection for some offices out of the hands of party conventions. Rep. Tyler Tordsen, R-Sioux Falls, presented his latest proposal during a House State Affairs Committee hearing less than a month after his resolution with similar aims failed in the same room. Currently, legislative, federal and gubernatorial candidates are selected by primary voters in South Dakota. The state is one of three that still chooses its candidates for the remaining constitutional offices – lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, commissioner of school and public lands, and public utilities commissioners – at a convention of party delegates. Tordsen’s initial effort to change that would have placed a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot asking voters to switch some nominations to a primary system. That proposal, House Joint Resolution 5001, failed 8-5 during the second week of the legislative session.

Utah: A bill introduced in the Legislature seeks to strip the Lt. Governor of oversight of the state’s election system, creating an independent state elections director. House Bill 490, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, would create a separate state elections office with a director hired by the Governor, Lt. Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, Auditor, Treasurer and Attorney General. Wilcox insisted his bill was not being run for nefarious reasons. He dismissed claims of election fraud in Utah. “What it does not do it does not support a premise that there is some kind of fraudulent activity happening in our elections,” he said of his legislation. But Wilcox said he was responding to consistent claims of election improprieties and pointed to anger in other states. Wilcox announced on Feb. 7 that he was dropping the bill. 

 

Virginia: Members of the General Assembly are considering legislation aimed at protecting election workers from threats and harassment. Election workers across Virginia increasingly face harassment and intimidation. That’s the reason why Senator Adam Ebbin, a Democrat from Alexandria, introduced a bill to protect them. “The reasoning for this bill is that there’s been violent and relentless threats against election officials and poll workers as a trend in recent years,” Ebbin says. Republican Senator Mark Obenshain of Rockingham County worries that the new felony charges might be too broad. Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell says intimidating election workers is unacceptable. Ebbin’s bill is expected to be considered by the Senate Finance Committee this week.

 

 

Wisconsin: As a legal battle over witness addresses on absentee ballots heads towards the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Republican lawmakers say they’re hoping to settle the debate over the definition of “address” before the court does. A bill authored by Wisconsin Reps. Donna Rozar, R-Marshfield; Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa; and Sen. Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee, would specify that a witness’s address must contain the person’s name, house number, street name, municipality, state and ZIP code. It would also bar clerks from filling in missing address information regardless if they can identify where that person lives. If a clerk — or anyone other than the voter — corrects the address, they could face fines of up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail, under the legislation. Current law states that a witness must print their name and address on the absentee ballot envelope, known as a witness certificate, but doesn’t spell out what constitutes an address. Krug said the bill is a response to lawsuits on absentee witness signatures working their way through state courts.

Legal Updates

Arizona: Republican leaders of the Legislature are asking a judge to block provisions of the manual that guides election administration. The leaders allege Secretary of State Adrian Fontes exceeded his authority to create procedures and strayed into creating policy when his office issued the Elections Procedures Manual at the end of last year. The manual  provides guidance to county elections officials on all aspects of running an election, from voter registration to the canvassing of election results. House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Glendale, and Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, outlined in their complaint five specific provisions of the manual that they argue clash with state law. They charge Fontes has selectively pulled guidance from court rulings, “which will inevitably lead to confusion among election officials.” “Secretary Fontes is prepared to defend the EPM that was created to provide uniformity and clarity for elections officials, so they can administer free and fair elections for the people of Arizona,” communications director Aaron Thacker said in a statement.

Colorado: The U.S. Supreme Court  granted Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s request for a 10-minute sliver of time for an attorney representing her office to speak during oral arguments. The justices also will hear from lawyers for Trump and the Colorado voters who challenged his eligibility during the Feb. 8 hearing. The state’s highest court found in a 4-3 ruling in December that Trump was disqualified from becoming president again because of his actions around the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot violated the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But a stay is in place because of the appeal, allowing the Republican frontrunner to appear on Colorado’s March 5 presidential primary ballot. In Griswold’s request, filed late last week, she asked the court for time “to allow her to address the unique state-law and state-level election-administration issues presented in this matter.” She requested 15 minutes but was granted 10 in Friday’s order. Jack Todd, a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office, said Solicitor General Shannon Stevenson would represent Griswold during arguments. The Supreme Court’s order says argument time will be limited to 80 minutes. Of the remainder, 40 minutes will go to Trump’s team and 30 minutes will go to the lawyer for the Colorado voters who filed the ballot challenge.

The Tenth Circuit declined to halt the trial of Tina Peters, a former clerk and recorder for Mesa County, Colorado, who faces criminal charges related to leaking voting machine passwords in 2021. Prosecutors say in April and May 2021 Peters allowed unauthorized individuals to access voting equipment during a sensitive security update and leaked voting machine passwords to the social media site Telegram. The 68-year-old Peters faces three felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant; four felony counts related to impersonation and identity theft; and a misdemeanor count each of official misconduct, violating her duties and failing to comply with the secretary of state’s requirements. Peters pleaded not guilty last September. In public speeches, she has expressed concerns about the integrity of the voting machines in Mesa County, particularly after voters declined to elect several conservative candidates during the 2021 Grand Junction municipal election.

Georgia: Last week, a 17-day trial questioning the security of Georgia’s Dominion voting machines ended with claims that tampering would cause chaos countered by assurances that this year’s presidential election will be safe. The case over whether voting touchscreens are vulnerable is now in the hands of U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg, who didn’t immediately rule on whether the election equipment creates an unconstitutional danger to voting rights. Five hours of closing arguments focused on the potential for subverting the voting system Georgia bought for $107 million in 2019. “The train that is coming at us is the November 2024 election. The question is: Are we going to be ready?” said Robert McGuire, an attorney for the Coalition for Good Governance, an election advocacy group and a plaintiff in the case. “What makes this decision a hard one is the political moment.” Attorneys for Georgia election officials said the case failed to show any actual violation of voting rights because voting machines haven’t been hacked or altered during an election. The possibility of election hacking doesn’t justify changing the voting system used by 94% of Georgia voters who cast ballots either during early voting or on election day in the 2022 midterms, lawyers representing the state said. About 6% of voters used absentee ballots filled out by hand. “This is the most battle-tested and stress-tested election system in the country, without a doubt,” said Carey Miller, an attorney for the state. “The outlandish nature of the claims have taken on a life of their own.”

Fair Fight Action filed notice that it would ask the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the lower court’s ruling. Democratic lawyer Mark Elias said his firm would handle the appeal without charging Fair Fight. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled last month that Texas-based nonprofit True the Vote did not violate the Voting Rights Act when it announced it was challenging the eligibility of more than 360,000 Georgia voters just before a 2021 runoff election for two pivotal U.S. Senate seats. Fair Fight, a voting rights group founded by former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, had sued True the Vote and several individuals, alleging that their actions violated a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that prohibits voter intimidation. Although Jones ruled that True the Vote didn’t intimidate or attempt to intimidate any particular voter, he expressed concerns about the group’s methods. Jones wrote that its list of voters to be challenged “utterly lacked reliability” and “verges on recklessness.”

Maine: The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston has sided with a conservative nonprofit, finding that Maine’s restrictions on the release of identifying information from its voter rolls violates federal law. The Public Interest Legal Foundation is challenging restrictions that the state imposed on the release of data from its voter file, which includes the names, addresses, voter status and other information on all Maine voters. For years, the state restricted the release of that information to only political campaigns. Three years ago, lawmakers added an exception that would allow the data to be shared with other groups, in order to ensure the state is compliant with federal voting laws. But the law said that no information could be shared publicly that would identify specific voters. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has said those measures are intended to protect voter privacy, but the foundation challenged those restrictions. And late last week, an appeals court sided with the group and affirmed an earlier ruling. In its decision, the court said the state law is pre-empted by the National Voter Registration Act, and that releasing information to the public is “necessary” if groups are ever going to “identify, address, and fix irregularities in states’ voter rolls” through federal law. The court also notes that there are other federal statutes that address privacy concerns, and that the “proper redaction of certain personal information in the Voter File can further assuage the potential privacy risks implicated by the public release of the Voter File.”

Maryland: The Supreme Court of Maryland has referred the matter of establishing an early voting center in Hancock to mediation with a court-appointed judge. The court further ruled that it must be notified by Feb. 20 whether an agreement has been reached, according to the opinion issued by Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader. The court heard oral arguments Monday in Derek Harvey, et al v. Jared DeMarinis, et al. Harvey is a Washington County Commissioner; DeMarinis is the state administrator of elections. The suit was filed after the Maryland State Board of Elections rejected the Hancock Town Hall as the second of three early voting centers proposed by the Washington County Board of Elections and approved by the county commissioners. After an Anne Arundel Circuit Court judge upheld the state board’s decision, Harvey appealed that ruling to the state’s Supreme Court.

Mississippi: Republicans are challenging extended mail ballot deadlines in Mississippi, however a similar lawsuit filed in North Dakota has been dismissed. It is a legal maneuver that could have widespread implications for mail voting ahead of this year’s presidential election. The Mississippi lawsuit was filed last week. The North Dakota lawsuit was filed last year. Democratic and voting rights groups are concerned about the potential impact if a judge rules that deadlines for receiving mailed ballots that stretch past Election Day violate federal law. “This effort risks disenfranchising Mississippi voters, but we don’t want that to also be precedent for other states,” Abhi Rahman, communications director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in response to the most recent lawsuit.

Nebraska: Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Rossiter Jr. has approved an agreement between two Indian tribes and Thurston County that gives Native American voters the majority in five of seven county board of supervisors districts. Rossiter called the agreement “fair, reasonable and adequate” in a Jan. 26 order that provides for the settlement of a lawsuit in which the Winnebago and Omaha tribes and several individuals said the county and the board of supervisors had violated the Voting Rights Act with its previous district map in 2022. “The settlement reasonably resolves difficult voting rights issues in a manner that is fair to all parties,” Rossiter said in his ruling. The settlement includes a new district map, which the Thurston County Board of Supervisors has approved for implementation in this year’s election. The map will be in place until after the next census in 2030, when population shifts could require the redrawing of districts.

New Jersey: Former Atlantic City council president and Democratic operative Craig Callaway was arrested by federal authorities last week alleging he masterminded a mail-ballot fraud scheme in the runup to the 2022 election. U.S. Attorneys accused Callaway and other unnamed subordinates of paying Atlantic City residents between $30 and $50 to act as authorized messengers and request mail-in ballots for voters whom they had never met. Prosecutors allege that those ballots were later cast without the actual voters’ knowledge. The charges appear to stem from work Callaway did for Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s 2022 reelection campaign. There’s no indication Van Drew (R-02) knew about the alleged scheme. “Holding free and fair elections is a bedrock principle of our democracy,” U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a statement. “As alleged in the complaint, the defendant attempted to deprive New Jersey residents of a fair election by fraudulently procuring and casting ballots. Today’s charges reflect our office’s commitment to hold to account those who try to undermine the electoral process.” Prosecutors did not seek to detain Callaway before trial, though he must provide a $50,000 appearance bond, forgo international travel, and avoid contact with others involved in the case as conditions of his release.

New York: Supreme Court Justice Christina Ryba upheld a new law giving New Yorkers the option to vote by mail instead of in person, dismissing a Republican lawsuit that claimed it violated the state constitution. The ruling by Ryba was a victory for Democratic lawmakers, who passed the mail-in voting bill over Republican opposition last June. They argued it strengthens democracy by giving busy voters another way to cast ballots and increasing their participation in elections as a result. New York became the 36th state in the U.S. to allow or require voters to mail their ballots. The law effectively made permanent a voting option New York offered for three years during the pandemic, when any voter could request absentee ballots without the usual restrictions on who could obtain one. Ryba denied New York’s constitution mandates in-person voting or prevents the legislature from allowing mail-in ballots. She said it simply allowed special accommodations for those who can’t make it to the polls. She wrote in her ruling: “The mere fact that the framers specifically authorized the Legislature to establish a different voting method for a specific category of voters does not necessarily signify their intent to restrict the Legislature’s power to establish alternative voting methods for other voters.”

North Dakota: U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the acceptance of mail-in ballots after Election Day brought by a county election official and backed by a legal group aligned with former President Donald Trump. Traynor said Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski lacks standing to bring the case, and failed to show he was harmed by the law or that his constitutional rights will be violated. The auditor alleged state and federal law conflict as to the counting of mail ballots received after Election Day. “According to Splonskowski, following his understanding of federal law will inevitably result in criminal prosecution under North Dakota law because he will have to forego his duty to follow North Dakota election law,” Traynor wrote, adding later, “This is deeply concerning to the Court that an elected official openly advocates for violating the law he was elected to enforce because he has independently concluded it contradicts federal law.” The judge also said the reasoning in Splonskowski’s lawsuit, if successful, “could be utilized against” overseas and military voters’ rights to vote.

Ohio: Attorney General Dave Yost told the Ohio Supreme Court that rushing a lawsuit filed against him by a coalition of civil rights organizations seeking to place a package of voter protections on the November ballot is unjustified. In a court filing, Yost said the July 3 cutoff for the “Ohio Voters Bill of Rights” to make the fall ballot is a false deadline. Ballot campaigns are often mounted in presidential election years in order to take advantage of high turnouts or to motivate certain voter groups. “Indeed, Relators’ petition is in its infancy and they offer no support for their blanket assertion that their petition will survive the constitutional hurdles in time for the 2024 general election,” he wrote, adding that the group can always try for some future election cycle. The coalition, which includes the A. Philip Randolph Institute, NAACP and others, told the court that needing to sue the attorney general shouldn’t “unduly delay” access to the ballot for the voters on whose behalf they filed the lawsuit. At issue in the coalition’s lawsuit is a Jan. 25 finding by Yost that the proposed constitutional amendment’s title was “highly misleading and misrepresentative” of its contents. He issued the decision even while acknowledging that his office had previously certified identical language, including a Nursing Facility Patients’ Bill of Rights in 2021 and another Ohio Voters Bill of Rights in 2014. In his rejection letter, Yost cited “recent authority from the Ohio Supreme Court” giving him the ability to review petition headings, authority challenged in the lawsuit. The coalition wants the court to order Yost to certify their petition language.

Pennsylvania: Project Veritas and conservative activist James O’Keefe have settled a lawsuit in Pennsylvania over false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election that were initially made by a postal worker who backed former President Trump. A lawyer who represented Erie postmaster Robert Weisenbach, who filed the lawsuit, confirmed to NBC News that it had been settled on undisclosed terms. Weisenbach — who voted for Trump in 2020 election — said accusations of voter fraud lodged by postal worker Richard Hopkins and spread by O’Keefe and Project Veritas forced him to flee his home after his address was posted online, The Associated Press reported. Hopkins, a supporter of former President Trump, gained Republican attention over allegations that officials tampered with mail-in ballots in the swing state that President Biden won in 2020. In a statement posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Project Veritas said Hopkins has “since come to learn that he was wrong,” and that Weisenbach and the U.S. Postal Service did not engage in election fraud. The organization said it is not aware of any other evidence of fraud in the Erie Post Office during the 2020 election.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Artificial Intelligence | Voting Rights Act | Election deniers | Social media | Ex-felon voting rights 

Arizona: Local election officials 

California: Ex-felon voting rights

Colorado: Tina Peters  

Connecticut: Early voting

Florida: Bill Cowles

Indiana: Election security 

Kentucky: Election legislation 

Maryland: Election officials 

North Dakota: Voting rights ruling | Burleigh County 

Ohio: Election security

Pennsylvania: Democracy 

Utah: Vote by mail 

Upcoming Events

A Real Right to Vote with Richard L. Hasen & Erwin Chemerinsky: Throughout history, too many Americans have faced needless barriers to voting. Part of the blame falls on the U.S. Constitution, which does not contain an affirmative right to vote. Richard L. Hasen, Director of UCLA Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project and author of the new book A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy, draws on troubling stories of state attempts to disenfranchise military voters, women, African Americans, students, former felons, Native Americans, and others, arguing that American democracy can and should do better. Joining Hasen is Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law and leading scholar of the U.S. Constitution, Erwin Chemerinsky. Co-presented with the Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA Law. Limited books will be available for purchase. When: Feb. 15, 7:30pm. Where: Los Angeles.

Election Center Special Workshop: The Election Center will hold its February special workshop in Nashville. The workshop will feature presentations of professional practice papers. Additionally several CERA classes will be held in conjunction with the workshop. When: Feb. 21-25. Where: Nashville, Tennessee.

Misinformation and Disinformation: Is Democracy in Crisis, and Is It at Risk of Failing?: According to a 2023 poll, only one in 10 Americans have confidence and give high ratings to the way that democracy is conducted in the United States. Nearly 50 percent of those surveyed believe our country’s democracy is flawed. People are concerned about the state of elections, the performance of Congress, inflation, crime, and the southern border. Fear about these issues is exacerbated by rampant misinformation and disinformation. Join us for an in-person and virtual panel that will provide insights and solutions to these threats to democracy. Panelists will also explain the best way to fight misinformation and disinformation before elections this year. When: Feb. 22, 12pm Eastern. Where: Online and in-person in Washington, DC. 

A Real Right to Vote: A Conversation with Rick Hasen: For many Americans, the freedom to vote is unfairly conditioned on where they live, the color of their skin, or how much money they have. Several amendments to the U.S. Constitution have been passed over the decades extending this fundamental freedom to voters of color, women and citizens who are 18 years of age. However, the lack of an overarching amendment guaranteeing the right to vote leaves our democracy vulnerable because the freedom to vote is treated differently depending on where voters live and how courts handle disputes over their rights.  In his new book, “A Real Right to Vote,” Law Professor Rick Hasen explains why a constitutional amendment is necessary, and why now is the time to begin a campaign in support of such an amendment. As Professor Hasen explains, enshrining voting rights in the Constitution will benefit all Americans, no matter which side of the political aisle they sit on.   In discussion with Campaign Legal Center President Trevor Potter, Professor Hasen will describe his vision for the freedoms an amendment on voting rights would protect, its potential impact on our democracy, and why he believes it’s possible to pass such an amendment, despite a challenging political climate. When: Feb. 29, 3pm Eastern. Where: Online

Race and Risk of Election Subversion: 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. Speakers: Matt Barreto, Lecturer in Law UCLA School of Law; Sophia Lin Lakin, Director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project ACLU; and Spencer Overton, The Patricia Roberts Harris Research Professorship and Professor of Law George Washington Law. When: April 9, 3pm Eastern. Where: Online and Los Angeles

Election Center Special Workshop: The Election Center will hold its April special workshop in Portland, Oregon. Additionally several CERA classes will be held in conjunction with the workshop. When: April 24-28. Where: Portland, Oregon.

ESRA 2024 Conference: The 8th Annual Summer Conference on Election Science, Reform, and Administration (ESRA) will be held in person from May 16-17, 2024 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. Call for Proposals The 2024 conference Call for Proposals is now open through February 16! Learn more about this year’s conference and submit your proposal here. Registration: Registration to attend the 2024 conference has not yet opened. To hear the news first when it does, please sign up to join our mailing list. When: May 16-17. Where: Los Angeles

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.

Advocacy Campaign Strategist, Elections and Government Program, The Brennan Center– The Elections and Government Program is looking to hire an experienced campaign strategist. The Advocacy Campaign Strategist position reports to the DC-based Deputy Director of the Elections and Government Program. Responsibilities: Contribute to planning and execution of advocacy campaigns to achieve Elections and Government Program goals, including: Provide project management, organization, logistical solutions, and administrative support, as needed. Identify tools and methods to increase effectiveness and efficiency of team’s work. Coordinate communications between program staff and internal/external stakeholders. Engage in field advocacy, including: Participate in coalition meetings, convenings, briefings. Develop and maintain productive relationships with election officials, grassroots allies, civic partners, government staff, elected officials, and other outside stakeholders. Identify and create opportunities to advance program goals in the field, as well as to improve the program’s advocacy with learning and perspectives from the field. Conceive and execute advocacy products, such as blog posts, digital media products, public comments, FAQs, and other assets, in collaboration with communications colleagues where appropriate, with focus on broadening and increasing partner engagement with program’s work. Contribute research and writing for policy and empirical research reports that will form the basis of advocacy campaigns. Contribute to program’s media and public education work, including strategy, talking points, and speaking engagements. Help to train new program support staff, including program associates, and serve as their first point of advice on routine matters. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Application Developer, King County, Washington– This is an amazing opportunity to be engaged in the election process! King County Department of Elections is searching for an energetic and resourceful professional who likes to “get stuff done.” The Applications Developer – Journey position in the Elections Department combines an exciting environment with the opportunity to cultivate talents and apply a variety of skills. The ideal candidate will thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. The Elections IT team is looking for a Journey Applications Developer to aid us in the migration of our small Windows applications to WebApps and help make a difference. This role involves maintaining and developing software solutions in the Microsoft ecosystem. Using the latest versions of .Net, you will develop solutions supporting Election’s business functions across the agency.  The ideal candidate will have C# skills and be versed in Visual Studio development tools. Salary: $93,665.94 – $118,726.82 Annually. Deadline: Feb. 12. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

City Clerk, San Mateo, California– The City of San Mateo (pop. 105,661) is the largest municipality in San Mateo County, located on the San Francisco Bay Peninsula. This culturally and economically diverse community offers an extraordinary quality of life characterized by safe neighborhoods, quality city services and assets, friendly people, and an ideal location. The City’s increasingly vibrant and walkable downtown area continues to attract a wide array of small-to-medium-sized businesses, some of which, according to community members, include many of the best dining options in the Bay Area. The municipality has benefitted from a steady history of leadership, with just five city managers over the last 30 years and three city attorneys over the last 36 years. The current City Clerk is retiring from her position after twelve years and the City is focused on hiring a qualified candidate that is outgoing, reliable, and professional with an adaptive, solution-based work ethic. The incoming City Clerk must have excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to remain politically astute without being politically aligned. A kind, uplifting, and approachable candidate will be successful in this role. The ideal candidate will value the community and possess high emotional intelligence as an ambassador of the City and liaison to the public. The nature of this position requires an individual who is creative, discerning, and constantly striving to improve. Salary: $195,288 to $215,306. Deadline: March 3. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Counsel, Elections and Government Program, The Brennan Center– The fight for a more secure, responsive, and equitable democracy has never been more urgent. The Brennan Center seeks a talented early career attorney to join its team in the Elections and Government Program, working on a range of issues related to defending the security of our elections, breaking down barriers to political participation, restraining campaign finance abuses, countering disinformation, and bolstering the integrity and responsiveness of government. The Brennan Center’s methods include legislative and policy advocacy, legal and empirical research and writing, litigation, media communications, and public education. This is an in-person position based in New York City or Washington, D.C. It will require occasional travel. Responsibilities Include: Assisting with policy advocacy, sometimes through work in coalitions, to change policies and laws at the local, state, and federal levels. Participating in litigation, including research, brief writing, and strategy development, with team members, allied organizations, and/or pro bono law firm counsel. Authoring and otherwise supporting the preparation of written work (including articles, opinion pieces, speeches, reports, policy proposals, and organizational materials), with opportunities for named authorship. Providing research support for reports and policy proposals, including research (legal, social science, and news-based), fact checking, legal cite checking, and proofreading. Representing the Brennan Center in meetings and other interactions with external stakeholders, including government officials, allies, donors, and journalists. Helping to supervise and mentor program associates and legal and undergraduate interns. Taking on special projects and other duties as assigned. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Counsel, Elections and Government Program (Research and Policy), The Brennan Center– The fight for a more secure, responsive, and equitable democracy has never been more urgent. The Brennan Center seeks a talented attorney to join its team in the Elections and Government Program, working primarily on empirical research and policy advocacy around campaign finance and related money in politics issues (for examples of the type of work this position would do, please see here, here, and here), with opportunities to work on a range of other matters that are the focus of the program’s work. The Brennan Center’s methods include legislative and policy advocacy, legal and empirical research and writing, litigation, media communications, and public education. This is an in-person position based in New York City or Washington, D.C. It will require occasional travel. This position will report to the directors of the Elections and Government program, and work under the supervision/in close collaboration with a senior attorney who leads campaign finance research initiatives. Responsibilities Include: Designing and executing empirical research projects involving campaign finance and similar data, in collaboration with social scientists and other researchers. Advocacy, sometimes through work in coalitions, to change policies and laws at the local, state, and federal levels. Authoring and otherwise supporting the preparation of written work (including articles, opinion pieces, speeches, reports, policy proposals, and organizational materials), with opportunities for named authorship. Public speaking and other representation of the Brennan Center in meetings and other interactions with external stakeholders, including government officials, allies, donors, and the media. Legal strategy, research, and writing. Helping to supervise and mentor junior lawyers, program associates, and legal and undergraduate interns. Taking on special projects and other duties as assigned. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy Director, Swain County, North Carolina– The Swain County Board of Elections is now hiring for its Deputy Director of Elections position. An employee in this position performs clerical functions, voter registration procedures, and other election-related tasks in the daily operations of the Swain County Board of Elections, as may be assigned by the Director or Chair/members of the Board of Elections. This position is open until filled. Desirable Experience and Training: 1. Graduation from high school/GED or higher. 2. Considerable experience in one of the following fields: elections, public administration, clerical work involving public contact, or another field related to this position. OR 1. An equivalent combination of education and experience. Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Swain County is an excellent place to live and work and is a popular destination for tourists across the Southeast. It contains nearly half of America’s most-visited national park and is home to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, Fontana Lake, and the vibrant communities of Bryson City and Cherokee. Apply to join us today! Salary: $38,850 – $51,445 per year. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy Director, Miami County, Ohio— The Miami County Board of Elections is looking to fill the position of Deputy Director. The position of Deputy Director, under the direction of the Director, is responsible for overseeing, directing and managing the Board of Elections staff; conducting fair and impartial elections; managing operational procedures; devising, recommending and adhering to the annual budget; implementing changes required by the Ohio Secretary of State, federal legislation, and Ohio Revised Code, implementing policies of the Board of Elections, and reporting to the Ohio Secretary of State. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Director Board of Elections/Voter Registration, Bucks County, Pennsylvania— Are you ready to play a pivotal role in the election processes in Bucks County, the fourth largest county in the State of Pennsylvania? Are you committed to ensuring the efficient and accurate administration of elections while also maintaining the integrity of vital records of 470,992 registered voters? If so, we invite you to consider the role of Director of the Bucks County Board of Elections/Voter Registration. The Board of Elections office is at the heart of our community’s election governance, overseeing critical functions that impact every Bucks County resident. As a member of our team, you will collaborate with a dedicated group of 20 full-time and 40+ seasonal part-time employees, working under the direction of the Board of Elections/Voter Registration Director. Bucks County has an excellent benefits package including medical, vision, dental, and prescription as well as an employer-matched retirement program. Bucks County is a wonderful community to live, work, and play and is uniquely located along the I-95 Corridor. Directs operation of the offices of Board of Elections, Voter Registration, and Voting Machines. This includes planning and conducting elections, voter registration management, and ensuring compliance with election laws and regulations. The Director is responsible for training election staff, overseeing technological security measures to safeguard voting integrity as well as creating an annual budget. Communicates election information to the Board of Elections, County administration, and the public. Addresses any issues or concerns that may arise during the election process. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Election Protection Hotline Specialist, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law– Are you passionate about safeguarding democratic processes? Join us as an Election Protection Hotline Specialist! This pivotal role involves collaborating with hundreds of legal volunteers to address voter concerns reported to the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline. As part of our dynamic hotline infrastructure team, you’ll be at the forefront of managing day-to-day operations. Expect a fast-paced environment, multitasking, and a commitment to early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Embrace the opportunity to learn and employ cutting-edge technology. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law stands at the forefront of national racial justice legal advocacy. Established in 1963 at the behest of President John F. Kennedy, our organization employs legal advocacy to champion racial justice. We strive, within and beyond the courtrooms, to ensure that Black individuals and people of color have a resounding voice, equal opportunities, and the power to materialize the promises of our democracy. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Election Services Representative, Fort Orange Press— The Election Services Representative is an onsite position at our Albany, NY facility. It acts as a liaison between clients and internal Fort Orange Press teams (i.e., Estimating, Sales, Prepress, Production, Shipping, etc.). The primary focus is gathering election details, and artwork from numerous clients across the United States while coordinating all aspects of day-to-day processes to ensure a successful election cycle. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills and thrive in a high-pressure environment. Providing timely solutions for clients’ ever-evolving needs while building/maintaining quality relationships. Identifying new business opportunities within assigned accounts. This role is a brand ambassador to both current and prospective clients and requires an energetic personality, the ability to multitask, manage multiple clients and elections at the same time and serves as the internal client advocate. Salary: $23– $32 per hour.  Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Election Training Coordinator, Denton County, Texas– The Elections Training Coordinator performs professional level work organizing, managing, developing and implementing training for all Denton County Elections Administration (DCEA) employees, temporary staff, and election workers.  Employee is responsible for assessing the training needs within the DCEA and implementing a curriculum to meet those needs.  Employee is responsible for coordinating, managing, implementing and executing training with minimal supervision with specific deadlines in place. Examples of Duties: Develops, manages, and/or coordinates required training for all election workers. Prepares, schedules, coordinates, and teaches election training for election workers (Election Judges, Alternate Judges, Elections Department, clerks, etc.). Manages CERA, REO, IGO, and other professional election certifications and reporting requirements. Prepares and schedules CERA, REO, and IGO approved training classes for employees of DCEA. Manages the training of help desk personnel and other temporary employees. Schedules, announces, and conducts registration for training classes.Researches changing laws and trends and modifies or revises existing training programs as necessary, based on the need for new material. Manages and maintains training material and tools used for the various types of training and makes recommendations for additional resources. Prepares all necessary handouts for the attendees. Regular and punctual attendance is required. Performs other related duties as required. Salary: $53,909.00 – $62,534.00 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Candidate Coordinator, Buncombe County, North Carolina– Buncombe County Election Services is hiring for a Candidate Coordinator position that will be responsible for campaign finance duties, assisting candidates with candidate filing and petitions, and providing support to the department’s front desk and finance division when needed. The goal of the Candidate Coordinator position is to be an informational resource and point of contact for potential candidates and currently elected officials. This includes auditing campaign finance reports, creating campaign finance and filing materials, training staff in candidate filing, and assisting candidates and treasurers with compiling campaign finance reports. The Candidate Coordinator will also provide the general public with valuable information regarding campaign contributions and expenditures allowing them to make informed voting decisions with knowledge of campaign fundraising and spending. Salary: Hiring Range: $23.38 – $27.31. Deadline: March 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 Technician II, Pima County, Arizona— Participates in the supervision and training of elections personnel and the administration of elections activity. Duties/Responsibilities: Supervises and participates in activities involved in inventory control, ordering, receipt, delivery, and storage of election equipment and supplies; Researches election laws and regulations and prepares reports regarding impact on County election procedures; Supervises the preparation of the ballot order; Participates in preparing forms; Receives and files nomination forms; Assists in generating signature requirements necessary for the candidate or proposition to be placed on the ballot; Supervises and coordinates requisite training of election office and warehouse personnel; Coordinates the transportation and delivery of voting machines, supplies and equipment to polling places; Makes minor adjustments to voting machines to ensure functionality and operability prior to use by the public; Demonstrates voting machine operation and explains voting procedures to the public and elections workers; Participates in updating precinct and district maps; Assists State and local agencies in administering election activities; Participates in coordinating elections activities with other government agencies or departments; Assists in the training of subordinate and volunteer staff. Salary: Hiring Range: $19.14 – $22.49/hr. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Technology Specialist, McLennan County, Texas— Under supervision of the Elections Administrator, the Elections Technology Specialist performs complex and technical duties related to activities in overseeing the County’s voting equipment by creating each election’s ballot using ballot origination software, programing and testing the County’s voting equipment with each elections ballot, processing and scanning returned mail-in ballots with the Ballot Board, and maintaining the County’s voting equipment after each election. Salary: $20.61 – $31.71/hr. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Executive Director, Texas Association of Election Officials– The Texas Association of Election Administrators is a not-for-profit professional association that represents election officials for 254 counties both appointed and elected. TAEA is an established association of more than 30 years. The purpose of the Texas Association of Elections Administrators (TAEA) is to promote the efficient integration of voter registration functions with the actual conduct of elections and to ensure that voter registration, voting, and vote tabulation are all carried out in accordance with the highest legal and ethical standards. The Executive Director position is being developed to administer and support the association. The TAEA seeks a contract Executive Director with diverse non-profit management, governance, conference planning, and communications experience. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors. The Board is elected by the association membership. The duties will be delegated to the Executive Director by the board and under the direction of the President of the Board. Salary: $75,000. Deadline: Feb. 16. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Field Services Engineer, Clear Ballot– Our nation’s elections are being challenged like never before, and the elections industry has historically stifled innovation to improve voting technology. As the first newcomer in the industry in the last 30 years, Clear Ballot rises to the challenge with a simple goal: Let’s create technology that empowers our customers to improve democracy. Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, with the right to vote being one of our greatest freedoms. While most Americans across the country watch and read about elections, Clear Ballot lives them. Great elections require secure and reliable tabulation equipment, full transparency of the process in which ballots are created and cast, and the ability to audit the results. Our mission is to surpass those expectations in a way that will raise the bar for the entire election technology industry. At Clear Ballot, we view collaboration as one of our main drivers for success and we encourage all of our employees to share their thoughts and ideas to help both turn our bold vision into a reality and to make Clear Ballot a great place to work.  This is a great opportunity to combine technical skills with customer interaction and support. As a Field Support Engineer, you will travel to customer sites to upgrade hardware, software, and to provide application training. Travel within assigned territory is required, with the potential to travel to other domestic states as necessary to support our customers.  This position will support the Syracuse, NY area with routine travel to surrounding counties. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Field Services Manager, Clear Ballot – Our nation’s elections are being challenged like never before, and the elections industry has historically stifled innovation to improve voting technology. As the first newcomer in the industry in the last 30 years, Clear Ballot rises to the challenge with a simple goal: Let’s create technology that empowers our customers to improve democracy. Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, with the right to vote being one of our greatest freedoms. While most Americans across the country watch and read about elections, Clear Ballot lives them. Great elections require secure and reliable tabulation equipment, full transparency of the process in which ballots are created and cast, and the ability to audit the results. Our mission is to surpass those expectations in a way that will raise the bar for the entire election technology industry. At Clear Ballot, we view collaboration as one of our main drivers for success and we encourage all of our employees to share their thoughts and ideas to help both turn our bold vision into a reality and to make Clear Ballot a great place to work.  This is a great opportunity to combine technical skills with customer interaction. As a Field Support Engineer, you will travel to customer sites to upgrade hardware, software, and to provide application training. Travel within assigned territory is required, with the potential to travel to other domestic states as necessary to support our customers. This position will support the Allentown, PA area with routine travel to surrounding counties. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Precinct Manager, North Charleston, South Carolina— Are you passionate about democracy and civic engagement? Join us as a Precinct Manager at the Board of Elections and play a pivotal role in ensuring smooth and efficient elections! Welcome to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections, where we are not just an agency, but a dynamic force committed to excellence in democracy. As an award-winning organization, we pride ourselves on our relentless pursuit of improvement to better serve the voters in our community. A major way this is done is through the recruitment and management of those who serve as poll managers. At the heart of our mission is an unyielding dedication to organizing elections with precision, fairness, and strict adherence to the law. Salary: $64,209 – $84,146. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Registrar of Voters, San Bernardino County, California– The Registrar of Voters will foster an environment that promotes civic participation and ensures transparent and fair elections. They will design and implement voter education programs tailored to the needs of County residents. This position requires a deep understanding of the County’s diverse demographics, its unique challenges, and the ability to implement strategies that promote voter engagement, education, and participation. The Registrar will oversee voter registration efforts, ensuring that registration processes are accessible, efficient, and in compliance with state and federal regulations. They will work closely with local community organizations, schools, and governmental entities to create outreach initiatives and workshops to increase countywide engagement. Engaging with the community is at the heart of this role. Building and maintaining strong relationships with various stakeholders, including community leaders, advocacy groups, and residents, is paramount. Organizing town hall meetings, forums, and public discussions will be essential to address concerns, gather feedback, and disseminate essential information related to voting procedures, ballot measures, and electoral reforms. By actively listening to the community’s needs and concerns, they will play a pivotal role in shaping policies and initiatives that resonate with the diverse population of San Bernardino County. This position offers a unique opportunity for development and growth within the realm of civic engagement and electoral processes. As the landscape of voting rights, technologies, and methodologies continues to evolve, staying abreast of emerging trends, best practices, and legislative changes is essential. Participating in training programs, conferences, and workshops will enhance the knowledge base, skill set, and capacity to navigate the complexities associated with administering elections in the County. Salary Range: $153,504 – $218,004 DOE/DOQ. Deadline: Feb. 29.  Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.  

Senior Policy Associate, Verified Voting– As we head into an election year, the SPA will play an integral role on Verified Voting’s programs team, helping the organization ramp up work in priority states and respond effectively to new developments as they arise. The SPA will lead our engagement in several priority states related to Verified Voting’s key issue areas, including robust tabulation audits, ballot accounting, chain-of-custody documentation, and other best practices that support public confidence in elections. (The states will be determined in coordination with other team members who serve as state leads.) The SPA will not lobby, but will advocate for improved policies in priority states, engaging with various stakeholders. They will also collaborate closely with election officials, providing procedural and technical assistance related to implementation of risk-limiting audits and other best practices. The SPA will also provide election officials with strategic messaging support to help them effectively communicate the impact of their work to voters. The SPA will work closely with team members on other policy work and may lead research and writing projects. In particular, the SPA will help develop new materials and resources to capitalize on the upcoming conclusions of a new messaging research project. We are a fully remote organization — the only requirements are that you are eligible to work in the US, that your location is in the US, and that you have a workspace that allows you to complete the demands of the position. Verified Voting’s official operating hours are 9am-5pm Eastern Time, but we work together to accommodate team members’ various time zones, circumstances, and work styles. Occasional in-person meetings and travel opportunities are possible. Salary: $85,000–$90,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Temporary Elections Staff Attorney, Public Rights Project— Public Rights Project (PRP) is a public interest legal nonprofit, headquartered in Oakland, with a remote team based throughout the United States. Our mission is to close the gap between the promise of our laws and the lived reality of our most vulnerable communities. Since 2017, we have been working at the intersection of community organizing and state and local government enforcement to build a scalable, equitable community-based enforcement model to protect civil rights and advance economic justice. In the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, PRP is launching its Elections Hub to stand with progressive state and local governments, especially local elections officials, as they fight to protect the voting rights of their residents and secure safe and fair elections. PRP is building a rapid response litigation hub to support up to 200 election officials across 12 or more states. The goal of the hub is to provide training, technical assistance, and legal backup to election administrators to enable them to respond to election threats quickly and effectively. Public Rights Project seeks to hire a Temporary Staff Attorney to join the new Elections Hub. The Temporary Staff Attorney will staff PRP’s in-house efforts to represent and advise state, local, and tribal governments and elected officials in support of election administration and the expansion of voting rights.  Although this position does not incorporate formal supervisory responsibilities, the Temporary Staff Attorney will sometimes lead case teams and may review the work of other attorneys, alongside more independent work or work as a contributor to other case teams. This position reports to the Senior Staff Attorney and 2024 Election Hub Program  Manager. This position will also work closely with the Chief Programs Officer and the Legal Director. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Training and Education Coordinator, Pima County, Arizona— Researches, coordinates and develops materials for use in training staff and educating clients on procedures, rules, regulations, forms, requirements and equipment for area of assignment; Assists management in the identification of training needs for staff and education for clients; Collects, compiles, prepares, updates and assembles training and presentation materials and manuals; Designs new training and education materials and/or updates materials on a regular basis; Conducts initial training/orientation for newly hired staff to increase understanding of procedures and position responsibilities; Delivers training to classes and individuals through lectures, demonstrations, exercises and workshops; Conducts continuing education to comply with changes in federal, state and local regulations, policies and procedures, and to resolve specific performance deficiencies; Coordinates and investigates compliance with federal, state and/or local policies, laws and regulations and conducts quality control audits and reports on findings; Participates in the review of productivity levels for activities and staff, analyzes problem areas, identifies training needs and recommends solutions to management; Assesses implementation of policies and/or procedures and makes recommendations to management regarding changes and/or supplemental training; Provides additional training as needed, under management direction; Serves as the technical advisor for interpreting federal, state, and County policies, laws, rules and/or regulations governing are of assignment; Compiles statistical data and prepares reports for area of assignment for presentation to management and the Board of Supervisors. Develops and evaluates student surveys/assessments on training/education provided; Coordinates and maintains training/education materials, audio-visual equipment, laptops, tablets and supplies utilized for training and education; Maintains manual and computer based documentation on training and/or education conducted, competency checklists and assessment files. Salary: Hiring Range: $54,863 – $65,836. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Training Manager, Charleston County, South Carolina— Are you passionate about democracy and coaching people to their fullest potential? Join us as a Training Manager at the Board of Elections and play a pivotal role in ensuring smooth and efficient elections! Welcome to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections, where we are not just an agency, but a dynamic force committed to excellence in democracy. As an award-winning organization, we pride ourselves on our relentless pursuit of improvement to better serve the voters in our community. A major way this is done is through the training of those who serve as poll managers. At the heart of our mission is an unyielding dedication to organizing elections with precision, fairness, and strict adherence to the law. Responsibilities include: Comprehensive training development, training coordination, community engagement, year-round training program, performance tracking, new hire training, continuous improvement, collaboration with precinct manager.  Salary: $64,209 – $84,146. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Training Program Coordinator, Charleston County, South Carolina— This position is responsible for the recruiting, coordinating, and training of Election Day poll managers on the policies, procedures, and SC State law regarding the administering of fair, honest, and accurate elections within the polling places on Election Day and during early voting. This position will also train all temporary Early Voting staff. This position will be responsible for developing all instruction manuals and materials. This position reports directly to the Deputy Director of Election Operations. Salary: $53,248 – $69,784. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Voter Registration Coordinator, Denton County, Texas – The Voter Registration Coordinator performs administrative work to ensure that all activities in the Voter Registration Division of the Elections Administration Department are carried out properly. This position is responsible for directing daily voter registration operations and plans, directing special projects, and delegating, coordinating, and assessing activities within deadlines. Supervises activities of voting and voter registration; ensures staff work is in compliance with established policies and procedures. Downloads and uploads reports from Secretary of State as necessary. Acts as liaison and primary voter registration contact person for the Elections Administration office with computer software companies, voters, vendors, and representatives of other county’s Voter Registration offices and other Denton County Departments. Performs duties as database administrator for the Voter Registration Database. Oversees the content and timely processing of all reports to the Secretary of State’s Office regarding Voter Registration. Prioritizes and delegates all voter registration tasks. Maintains all voter registration files including hard copy and computerized files. Sets and prioritizes performance goals for voter registration staff and monitors progress toward completion thereof. Trains and supervises all persons utilizing the voter registration computer system. Composes uniform policies regarding performance of voter registration tasks and uniform documentation of all voter registration processes. Designs and supervises modifications and upgrades to the voter registration computer software. Verifies and writes voting precinct descriptions. Posts and reconciles postage for postage accounts. Regular and punctual attendance is required. Performs other related duties as required. Salary: $50,388.00 – $58,450.00 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

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