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Election News This Week

Federal Update: This week, more than 165 local election officials from 40 states signed a joint letter urging Congress to appropriate $400 million in FY 2026 to support the secure administration of American elections. The request highlights the urgent and growing need for increased, sustained federal investment to protect the integrity of the voting process.  In recent years, federal support for election infrastructure has been limited, with just $70 million provided over the past two fiscal years. The current $400 million request—authorized under Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and distributed through the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill—would restore funding to levels seen during the first Trump Administration, enabling states to modernize equipment, bolster cybersecurity, train workers, and address emerging threats. “Election officials across the country are doing everything they can to protect our democratic process, but they cannot do it alone,” said Keara Mendez, Executive Director of Project for Election Infrastructure (PEI). “While we appreciate the Trump Administration’s recognition of election security as a national priority, Congress must now step up and deliver the federal investment local officials have called for. Without this support, election offices won’t have the tools they need to ensure secure and reliable elections for all Americans. The upcoming FY 2026 appropriations package should reflect the scale of need facing election offices in every corner of the country.” The letter underscores how jurisdictions—especially in rural and underserved areas—are grappling with escalating costs tied to cybersecurity, equipment upgrades, and staffing. One elected official in Kansas noted, “Without federal support, the financial burden of updating voting equipment and securing our elections would fall heavily on our local taxpayers. As a small county, investments from the federal government aren’t just helpful, they’re essential.” The call for federal investment follows the 2024 election, which was widely viewed as well-run by voters, but nonetheless revealed how easily under-resourced jurisdictions can be stretched by preventable issues on and around Election Day. Without consistent federal investment, local election officials warn, the risks to voter trust and system integrity will only grow. The voting section of the U.S. Department of Justice has only three attorneys left on staff, according to an estimate provided by Justice Connection, a group working to support the department’s remaining staff. Prior to January 20, there were an estimated 30 attorneys assigned to enforce voting rights laws. According to the group, staff attorneys in the voting section either resigned as part of the deferred resignation program, or were reassigned to another department in the DOJ. According to Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, the Department of Homeland Security won’t tell Congress how many employees at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency it has fired or pushed to leave. “You’ve overseen mass reductions in the workforce at CISA and” the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Thompson told DHS Secretary Kristi Noem at a hearing of the panel. “Despite repeated requests from this committee on how many people have been fired or have been bullied into quitting … DHS has refused to share that information. “It should worry every American that we do not know how many people are left at FEMA to respond to disasters and how many cyber defenders still work at CISA as China and other adversaries attack our systems every day,” he continued.

More Accessibility in Bexar: Bexar County, Texas will add virtual sign-language services for deaf voters at every polling site. County Commissioners Court unanimously agreed to spend $998,500 on 750 electronic voter check-in systems with software that will allow San Antonio-based DeafLink to offer the services of American Sign Language interpreters.  Each polling place will have at least two iPads equipped with the DeafLink software. “This is deaf history, and they have waited a long time just for this to be on your agenda,” DeafLink CEO Kay Chiodo told the county commission according to the San Antonio News Express. “They come today to show you they want to vote. They want to be part of the process, and you’re opening that door for them.” For years, the Bexar County Elections Department’s headquarters was the only polling site with deaf-accessible equipment. That increased to five locations in the presidential election last November, out of more than 300 polling sites. About 100,000 deaf people live in Bexar County. “I know it’s not necessarily the county’s job to get people to the polls, but it’s our job to make sure that access is maximized,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez said. “Rather than saying that we’re OK with 17 folks showing up, we gotta push for access for that 17,000 or 170,000 who show up who need it.” “It has been a long, long, long time struggle for our deaf community to gain equitable access to polling locations,” said Melanie Cawthon, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group disABILITYsa. “After seven years of pushing and pushing, today we have the opportunity to say, ‘Let’s bring (American Sign Language) and language access to all of our polling locations for all of our residents.'”

More Ballots in Milwaukee: Nine polling sites in Milwaukee ran out of ballots before polls closed on April 1, while 69 of the city’s 180 polling sites experienced ballot shortages. Moving forward, Paulina Gutiérrez, the executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, said the city is planning to order one ballot per registered voter for future spring elections. Milwaukee saw 38 percent voter turnout during the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, Gutiérrez said. She said they were planning for 45 percent voter turnout in April. Instead, voter turnout was nearly 50 percent in Milwaukee for the election. “A nearly 50 percent turnout for a spring election is record-breaking,” Gutiérrez said. Milwaukee is the only city in Wisconsin that is allowed to print its own ballots in-house. Gutiérrez said the city printed about 5,000 additional ballots before election day, a process that took “several days.” But that wasn’t enough. “It is a big problem, and that’s why we can’t let this happen again,” Gutiérrez said.  In response to the mishap, Gutiérrez said the Milwaukee Election Commission is moving forward with a one-to-one ballot order — or ordering one ballot for each registered voter in the city — for future spring elections.  “We are significantly increasing the number of ballots we order because it’s just the right thing to do,” Gutiérrez said. “Now, every voter has a ballot for them. They can come and vote in a spring election knowing that they have a ballot.”

Podcast News: In this episode of High Turnout Wide Margins, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Amanda McColley. She’s the Regional Supervisor for the Division of Elections Region III office in Alaska, which covers Fairbanks and the interior of Alaska. They spoke about some of the unique challenges Alaskan election administrations can face – think having to load election equipment onto small charter planes – as well as some of the challenges they share with the lower 48, such as voter education around rank choice voting and training election staff.

Personnel News: Brandy Warnecke is the new Kodiak, Alaska city clerk. April Quintanill is the new Tracy, California city clerk. The US Postal Service Board of Governors announced that David Steiner, a board member at FedEx, will be the next postmaster general. Arizona’s Election Director, Lisa Marra, has officially joined the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Board of Advisors. Preston County, West Virginia Clerk Linda Huggins is reigning.

New Research & Reports

2024 Turnout: A new study from States United Democracy Center found that women and gender-nonconforming people were more likely than men to fear violence and harassment while voting in the 2024 election, and those who expressed concerns about safety were more likely not to vote at all. The study found that the 2024 election was, as a whole, safe, fair and securely conducted, with voters overwhelmingly reporting feeling safe at the polls and confident in the safety and security of the election. But rising incidents of political violence, heightened political polarization and gender-based harassment had a measurable impact on how women and gender-noncomforming people especially viewed the safety of voting in the 2024 election — and whether they turned out to vote at all, the study says. Researchers surveyed voters before and after the 2024 election in partnership with research data and analytics group YouGov and held a series of seven focus groups before the election — with three groups of White women, three groups of women of color and one made up of gender-nonconforming participants. They also fielded surveys of state lawmakers, election administrators and law enforcement officials in partnership with the nonprofit CivicPulse. The study is also one of the first of its kind to study the voting experiences of gender-nonconforming voters, who are subject to gender-based discrimination and harassment at the polls. “Tens of millions of Americans ultimately cast their ballots in 2024 without incident,” the report said. “But voting was not straightforward and safe for all Americans. Many were harassed, and a limited number were subjected to physical violence.”

Youth Vote: According to a new CIRCLE estimate of youth voter turnout based on aggregated voter files, close to half of young people (47%) ages 18-29 cast a ballot in the 2024 presidential election. This revises an earlier estimate, based on exit polls available immediately after the election, which had put youth turnout at 42%, and it places young people’s electoral participation in 2024 much closer to 2020 (50%), which was a historically high year for voter turnout. All measures of voter participation are estimates based on the best available data at the time. CIRCLE’s analysis of publicly available voter files aggregated by Catalist includes data from 40 states which have enough age data in their voter files to allow for reliable estimates. States with less reliable data by age are not included in our estimates or analyses. While a slight drop from 2020, the 47% youth voter turnout in 2024 is a marked improvement from the 2016 presidential election, when CIRCLE estimated that just 39% of young people cast ballots.

Protecting Local Democracy: Hostility against public officials is on the rise. Data collected by BDI, supported by the Brennan Center for Justice, indicates that threats and harassment against local officeholders increased last year, mirroring trends in national-level data on hostility targeting federal judges and members of Congress. The impact is clear: many officials are withdrawing from civic engagement, avoiding work on controversial issues, and reconsidering public service altogether due to safety concerns. However, there are steps state and local policy makers can take to push back on these trends. This policy brief presents two critical recommendations that can advance efforts to mitigate the risk facing local officials: 

1. Expanding access to funds for personal security in the short term; and
2. Investing in independent, sustained threat monitoring systems to inform holistic policy solutions over the long term.

Understanding Federal vs. State Control Over Elections: The United States election system is unique globally due to its decentralized structure. The Constitution gives primary authority over elections to the states, with supplementary authority to Congress. Local jurisdictions handle day-to-day operations like managing polling places and poll workers, creating a patchwork of over 10,000 election jurisdictions nationwide. The balance between federal standards and control at the state and local level has evolved over time in response to changing circumstances and emerging challenges. As threats to our democratic institutions increase, maintaining this delicate balance is essential. This brief explains the constitutional framework for elections, explores the roles of state and federal authorities, and explains how recent broad assertions of presidential power risk destabilizing our democracy.

Testing: As federal support for election security faces major cutbacks, a study in the journal Operations Research introduces a scientifically backed, low-cost solution to strengthen the integrity of U.S. elections. The study, “Improving the Security of United States Elections with Robust Optimization,” presents a novel approach that helps detect vulnerabilities in voting machines before ballots are cast. Developed in collaboration with the Michigan Bureau of Elections, the method equips election officials with a practical strategy to detect important kinds of attacks and human error in vote counting—without placing additional strain on already limited budgets. “As federal support for election security diminishes, it’s imperative that we find practical solutions to safeguard our democratic processes,” says co-author Bradley Sturt of the University of Illinois Chicago. “Our method enhances preelection testing without imposing significant financial burdens on local jurisdictions.”

New Mexico 2024 Report: Observe New Mexico Elections released a report on its findings from the state’s 2024 election that mostly gave high marks after observing operations at a majority of voting sites during early voting and on election day. Specifically, the nonprofit election transparency group dispatched 50 watchers to 91 sites in 24 counties during early voting, and had 160 election site watchers in 29 of New Mexico’s 33 counties on election day. “This important, nonpartisan information-gathering effort — led by and for New Mexicans — found that elections went well, votes were counted, and problems were limited,” ONME co-leader Carmen Lopez said in a statement. “We are pleased to see that the findings reflect sufficient staffing levels, poll timeliness, proper functioning of tabulators and voter privacy. All of these things in conjunction made it possible to ensure every vote was counted and New Mexicans’ voices were heard this election cycle. The findings of our report — showing both successes and room for improvement — will allow us to make the voting process and poll worker training even stronger and more transparent in the years to come.” Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver told Source New Mexico she had not seen the report yet, but had heard about its findings. “That’s what we always shoot for,” she said when Source conveyed the report’s overall positive findings. “So, that’s good.” The report did identify a handful of issues, such as same-day registration overwhelming the system. The ONME report recommends  “the state ensures robust stress-testing of the bandwidth available to accommodate processing of same-day voter registrations and works closely with county clerks to increase the levels of staffing necessary to process same-day registrations in a timely manner.”

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Alabama: Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed Senate bill 158 into law this week. The measure strengthens restrictions around noncitizen voting and passed the state legislature with bipartisan support. The bill prohibits the use of foreign national driver licenses as a form of photo identification for voting in the state, an exclusion that did not previously exist.  

Arizona: Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) has vetoed a series of elections-related bills. One proposal that would have closed Arizona schools on Election Day and forced them to allow their gymnasiums to be used as polling places. Another bill vetoed by Hobbs would have effectively created a bounty system to reward Arizonans who sued local governments that present election information “in any manner that is not imperial or neutral,” while another would have required the Arizona Department of Transportation to also send voter registration information directly to county recorders instead of solely to the Secretary of State’s Office. Other vetoed election bills include Senate Bill 1036, which would have expanded the existing prohibition on using government resources to influence an election to include presenting information about the election “that is not impartial or neutral.” It also aimed to give every Arizona resident the chance to sue the governmental body — and directly collect the civil penalty of up to $5,000 if a court agreed an election was illegally influenced. And the two voter registration bills — House Bill 2767, directing ADOT to send voter information to counties, and House Bill 2206, barring participation in ERIC — both place “significant” costs on county recorders, the governor wrote in her veto letters.

California: A new bill aims to standardize the ballot cure process. Common mistakes include accidentally filling in the wrong bubble, signing the witness signature box or signing their spouses’ envelope. If there is time, the county will often send a new ballot. Assembly Bill 1072 would require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to come up with clear answers, applicable statewide. Kim Alexander, founder and president of the California Voter Foundation, said the problem causes widespread delays in counting. “In Orange County in the last election, officials had to duplicate over 40,000 ballots,” Alexander pointed out. “There are other reasons why ballots have to be duplicated, but the primary one is that the voter made a mistake filling out their ballot, indicated a different choice, and it has to be remade.”

Colorado: Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed the Colorado Voting Rights Act into law this week, establishing various protections contained in the federal Voting Rights Act at the state level. Senate Bill 25-1, the first bill of the 2025 legislative session, prohibits election practices that limit the participation of people of color and other protected groups, bill sponsors said. It also includes protections for LGBTQ+ voters, expands multilingual ballot access, and requires accommodations for people with disabilities at residential facilities. The state attorney general could enforce voting rights under the Colorado measure, so the state does not need to rely on federal courts to enforce voting protections. The provisions of the bill would apply to all state and municipal elections. Voters whose rights are violated under the act can take action along with civil rights groups. The measure ensures incarcerated voters have the right to vote while in custody and eases access for voters who live on tribal lands in Colorado. Eligible voters in assisted living facilities will also be provided information to make it easier for them to vote. The bill also expands requirements for multilingual ballots to include municipalities in a county already required to provide multilingual ballots under requirements of a 2021 law.

Polis also signed House Bill 25-1225, which adds protections against intimidation, threats or coercion to people voting or helping others to vote.

Connecticut: A bill making its way through the General Assembly would streamline the process of voting for those behind bars who haven’t lost their right to vote. House Bill 7229 has advanced out of the Government Administration and Elections Committee. It would allow for the distribution of absentee ballot applications in detention facility common areas. Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas supports the bill, calling it a first step needed to break down barriers to voting for the incarcerated. “Pre-trial detainees make up almost 40% of our entire prison population here in Connecticut,” Thomas said. “As of February, it was 4,200 individuals.”

Florida: An election bill requiring new voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship failed to advance in the just-concluded regular legislative session. The bill would have mandated that all voter registration applications, including any with a change in name, address, or party affiliation, could only be accepted after the Florida Department of State verified that the applicant was a U.S. citizen in one of three ways: The applicant’s voter record indicated that his or her legal status as a U.S. citizen had been verified. The applicant’s legal status as a citizen was matched against records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Or the voter showing one of seven identification sources, such as a driver license, a U.S. passport. or a birth certificate. The bill resembled the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month. According to Florida Phoenix, the bill’s failure drew sighs of relief from both voting-rights and voting-integrity groups, although for different reasons.

Georgia Rulemaking: The State Election Board voted this week to create a committee to weigh proposed election rules before the board takes them under consideration. Board Chairman John Fervier explained during a public meeting that the purpose of the committee will be to allow “all parties to have a voice in upcoming rules.” He said each of the election board’s five members will select two people to sit on the board and that he’d like to see a mix of election officials, citizens, attorneys and even one or two state lawmakers. The election board will then be able to send a proposed rule to the committee to “have them vet it and smooth it out” before it comes to the board for a vote, Fervier said. The board is tasked with creating rules consistent with state law that ensure uniformity in election practices and promote the “fair, legal, and orderly conduct” of elections.

Kansas: A bill passed into law that changes the legal requirements for a person to be charged with impersonating an election official last month. The measure adds a specific intent requirement for prosecuting individuals accused of falsely posing as an election official. Previous law allowed for prosecution for impersonation based on how their actions were perceived, even without proof that they intended to deceive. The crime is still classified as a level 7 nonperson felony. Gov. Laura Kelly allowed the bill to be passed into law without her signature. Kelly said in a statement that she had concerns with the section dealing with impersonation of election officials. “While this bill cleans up some of the ambiguity and uncertainty regarding the crime of impersonating an election official, it is still unclear about what actions are prohibited,” Kelly said. “It uses the term ‘engaging in conduct’ but only provides one specific example, making it still difficult to discern what is allowed and what could lead to criminal charges.” False representation of an election official now requires a person to knowingly act with intent to deceive, including by using phone, email, websites, or official seals or insignia to impersonate the secretary of state, county election officers, or their employees.

Louisiana: Secretary of State Nancy Landry is backing a change that would further restrict political contributions by noncitizens and foreign entities. As part of this year’s legislative session, two companion measures have been introduced to accomplish that goal: One is a proposed constitutional amendment in Senate Bill 109, and the other is a corresponding change to state statute in House Bill 590. “No funds, goods, or services donated by a foreign government, foreign entity, or noncitizen shall be used to advocate for or against any ballot proposition or question, candidate, issue, or political party, either directly or indirectly,” reads the proposed constitutional amendment, which has already passed the Senate and is awaiting consideration by the House. Louisiana law already prohibits foreign entities and noncitizens from contributing to the election of a candidate to political office. However, legal permanent residents are currently allowed to make contributions under Louisiana law, but the proposed legislation would bar them from doing so. Federal law also prohibits foreign entities and noncitizens from contributing to federal, state and local elections, with an exception for legal permanent residents, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Maine Ballot Measure: A proposed ballot measure to require voter ID is most likely headed to voters. As stipulated by the state constitution, the initiative first had to go to the Maine Legislature for consideration, and lawmakers could either enact the bill as written or send it to a statewide vote in November 2025.  The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee voted unanimously against the legislation last week, with one member absent, which essentially sets it on the latter path to the ballot. The committee also rejected a few other bills with similar aims that could have set up competing ballot measures. The Department of the Secretary of State announced the final wording of the referendum question on May 5, which will capture the other aspects of the initiative in addition to the voter identification requirement following requests from the public during a comment period. “The proposed measure has 28 sections, and Maine law requires that the question be presented in a clear, concise, and direct manner,” Bellows said in a statement to Maine Morning Star on Friday. “318 Mainers spoke up to share their thoughts and suggestions on the initial draft of the phrasing of the question. Given that feedback, the final question describes six changes to the voting process proposed by the underlying legislation.” It will read: “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?” Under law, voters have the right to appeal the final decision on the wording within ten days and Alex Titcomb, campaign manager for the ballot question committee filed a legal petition in Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday, arguing the final ballot language fails to meet the standards of clarity, accuracy and impartiality.

Boston, Massachusetts: The Boston City Council voted to pass a ranked choice voting proposal, which still requires the signature of Mayor Michelle Wu and the approval of the Massachusetts Legislature before Boston voters would decide in a ballot measure. The election system allows voters to list candidates in order of preference with an elimination-style runoff commencing if no candidate receives 50% or more of the vote. “Who wouldn’t want candidates who aren’t ignoring and only just speaking to their base, but are forced to build a broader coalition?” said Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune. “That’s what ranked-choice voting is, and it makes sure that the person who is elected has the majority support of the voters.” Opponents call the system confusing and point to Boston’s past election issues as a reason to keep the current process. Councilors passed the plan during May 14’s meeting and sent it to Beacon Hill in an 8-4 vote. 

Montana: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) has signed Senate Bill 490, which changes the Election Day cutoff for same-day voter registration from 8 p.m. to noon. It also eliminates early registration the Monday before Election Day, shifting the deadline to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Montana’s Supreme Court ruled last year banning same-day voter registration is unconstitutional. In January, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the decision. Zuri Moreno, state legislative director for the advocacy group Forward Montana, said the change especially affects Montanans who drive long distances to vote. “We’ve already heard from the courts that you’re not supposed to mess around with same-day voter registration,” Moreno pointed out. “It just takes away that opportunity for working folks and young folks and rural people across the state.”

Nevada: It’s Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui’s second attempt to make election sites gun-free zones. Assembly Bill 105 has already passed out of the Assembly Judiciary. It is now being considered by the Assembly Ways and Means. That’s because the Department of Corrections estimated, if passed, the bill would cost them approximately $66,000 a year. Jauregui told the committee that it’s based on two inmates convicted of the crime every year. AB 105 forbids someone from carrying a gun within 100 feet of an election site, with the intent of disrupting the process. The person would be facing a class D felony, if convicted. The defendant would then most likely serve time in a county jail, not state prison. “Typically, Category Ds ends up getting reduced by plea bargain to Category Es,” Assemblyman Steve Yeager, a member of the Ways and Means Committee observed. “Which I think you indicated would be mandatory probation. If in fact someone was given the benefit of a plea bargain where it ended up a Category E felony that would not be someone who would go straight to prison. They would have a chance at probation. And, then only go to prison if their probation was revoked. If you could confirm that please?” Yeager asked the Department of Corrections representative, Don Southworth.

Ohio: The Senate voted 27-5 to advance Senate Bill 63, in most instances barring electing or eliminating candidates through rounds of vote tabulation. It was reintroduced from the last General Assembly by Sens. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and Bill DeMora (D-Columbus). Of the nine Democrats in the chamber, five voted against SB 63. Under it, counties or cities could administer elections with ranked choice voting under home rule, but the state would levy financial penalties on jurisdictions for doing so by prohibiting them from getting Local Government Fund money. While proponents have said ranked choice voting gives voters more say, opponents generally argue it is confusing and cumbersome both for those administering the elections and those voting in them.

Pennsylvania: A sweeping bill to overhaul the commonwealth’s election laws has passed the Pennsylvania House. Its changes would include creating in-person early voting, giving counties more time to process mail ballots, and requiring counties to use mail ballot drop boxes. But it doesn’t include one provision that will likely be important to its prospects: a voter ID requirement, something that Republicans, who control the state Senate, have always seen as crucial to any election law deal. The broad election bill, without voter ID, passed the narrowly divided chamber 102 to 101, with no votes from Republicans. One of the most significant is the introduction of in-person early voting. At least one early voting location would be required per county, with an additional location for every 100,000 voters. These locations would be open starting 11 days before the election and until the Sunday before Election Day. It would allow counties to start preprocessing mail ballots up to seven days before Election Day. Currently, counties cannot begin to process them until the morning of Election Day. The measure also would remove the heavily litigated requirement that voters hand-write the date on the mail ballot return envelope, and would prohibit counties from rejecting mail ballots for being returned without an inner secrecy envelope. If voters forget to sign the return envelope, counties would be required to notify them within 24 hours and provide them with a form, which could be filled out and returned up to six days after the election, to “cure” the error. The bill would also require a minimum of two mail-ballot drop boxes in every county. It is currently up to individual counties to decide whether they will use drop boxes, and many don’t. Counties would also be required to start using electronic poll books, which speed up voter check-in and post-voting checks, in all precincts by 2027.

Texas: The Legislature has approved Senate Bill 985 a bill intended to roll back a 2023 law that required certain counties to drastically increase the number of polling locations — even in areas where buildings were scarce and funding wasn’t available to fully equip them. The bill would modify a 2023 law that made it harder for counties using the countywide voting program — where voters can cast a ballot anywhere in their county on Election Day — to combine small voting precincts with few voters into larger ones. The bill would effectively remove a late amendment to that law that ended up raising the minimum number of polling places that counties had to offer. Counties have struggled to comply with the new requirements. For example, in Harris County, the state’s largest, the county clerk told party leaders that for the 2024 primary, she had to offer more than 100 more polling locations than in 2020 and 2022. Because of that, Republicans and Democrats had to run their primaries jointly and share voting equipment, because there wouldn’t have been enough for all the locations.  The bill is now headed to the governor’s desk and set to become law.

Wyoming: Of the 22 election-reform bills for which Wyoming’s secretary of state expressed strong support when meeting with state legislators this week in Lander, a legislative committee chose to take up 10 for study. Lawmakers listed 11 but said they’d combine two of those, for a possible load of 10 bills. That doesn’t guarantee that the legislative Corporations Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee will carry all of them into the 2026 legislative session that starts Feb 9. The bills the committee will study in the coming months contemplate: The use of pen and paper ballots as the default in Wyoming elections; Prohibiting ballot drop boxes; Restricting who can deliver a person’s ballot to the clerk on that person’s behalf; Requiring random hand count audits of election results; Requiring hand counts for recounts; A list of provisions colloquially termed the “poll watcher’s bill of rights.”; Requiring independent candidates to swear that they are not registered as a partisan voter; Clarifying procedures for testing voting machines; Repealing school identification cards as acceptable voter identification; Requiring true photo ID to vote; and Election transparency.

Legal Updates

Alabama: A panel of three federal judges says the Legislature intentionally drew its congressional district map to dilute Black voting strength, which is unconstitutional and violates the Voting Rights Act. The judges also said the state can’t use the map in future elections. The 571-page ruling issued May 8 comes in a lawsuit, Allen v. Milligan, that made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court agreed then that Alabama’s 2021 congressional map discriminated against Black voters, in a state where African-Americans make up about a quarter of the population. But the litigation continued, and federal judges held a trial in February. In finding for the Black voters who sued, they wrote, “try as we might, we cannot understand the 2023 Plan as anything other than an intentional effort to dilute Black Alabamians’ voting strength and evade the unambiguous requirements of court orders standing in the way.” The ruling pointed out Alabama’s history of defying federal court orders, and the judges said they were “deeply disturbed” by the way the state responded in this case. “The Legislature knew what federal law required and purposefully refused to provide it, in a strategic attempt to checkmate the injunction that ordered it.”

Arkansas: The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas, Elias Law Group LLP and Shults Law Firm LLP filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit challenging new direct democracy-related laws. The motion was filed  in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas on behalf of For AR Kids and Protect AR Rights. The original lawsuit was filed last month by the League of Women Voters of Arkansas who alleges eight recently approved laws governing direct democracy violate the First and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The case is assigned to Judge Timothy Brooks. Arkansans can propose new laws or constitutional amendments and put them to a statewide vote through the direct democracy process. The majority of the laws challenged in the lawsuit regulate the petition-gathering portion of the initiative and referendum process. New requirements include directing signature gatherers, known as canvassers, to sign a “true affidavit,” to request a photo ID from potential signers and inform them that petition fraud is a criminal offense, among other things. According to the court filings, the intervenors want to challenge additional laws, including a 2023 law that requires petitioners to gather signatures from 50 counties instead of 15 counties and Act 602 of 2025, which prohibits ballot titles from being written above an eighth grade reading level. Attorney General Tim Griffin cited the new law for the first time when he rejected a proposed ballot measure from the League of Women Voters last week. In this week’s filings, the plaintiffs argue that intervening in the League of Women Voters lawsuit is more efficient than filing a separate lawsuit, which they said would likely be consolidated with the League’s complaint under federal court rules.

California: On May 7, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a new motion asking the court to step in and block Huntington Beach’s voter ID law from moving forward. It comes after OC Superior Court Judge Nico Dourbetas ruled Huntington Beach could move forward with requiring an ID local elections so long as the elections did not interfere with state and federal elections. Bonta has repeatedly brought up concerns with the law since it was approved by city voters during the primary election last year, saying the voting system is already secure and the city’s efforts are undermining voter integrity.  “Secretary of State Weber and I continue to believe that the Orange County Superior Court got it wrong,” Bonta wrote in a Wednesday statement. “Our elections are already secure, and applicants who register to vote in California are already required to verify their identity during the registration process and at the polls.”   Huntington Beach leaders declined to comment for this article, but in the past have vowed they would continue appealing the case if necessary.

Georgia: A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit spent an hour this week hearing arguments from attorneys about whether a conservative Texas organization’s mass voting challenges during a 2021 runoff violated the federal Voting Rights Act by intimidating minority voters. Plaintiff Fair Fight Action, founded by Stacey Abrams, argued that U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones erred in ruling last year that True the Vote’s challenge to 365,000 Georgia voters’ eligibility did not constitute intimidation prior to historic Democratic Senate victories in Georgia when Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff prevailed in the Jan. 5, 2021 runoff. At least one of the judges expressed skepticism about the soundness of the lower court ruling. According to Fair Fight Action and others who filed suit, True the Vote’s actions likely violated the Voting Rights Act by using inaccurate voter registration information and voter intimidation tactics such as posting citizen watchdogs to monitor people casting ballots. The federal panel peppered the attorneys with questions while acknowledging the case’s national significance on voting rights protections. Attorney Jake Evans, representing True the Vote, asserted that the intent behind the mass challenges was to protect election integrity. Evans said that the mass challenging of voters’ eligibility prior to the 2021 runoff did not amount to voter intimidation. Fair Fight’s attorney, Uzoma Nkwonta of the Elias Law Group, argued that although Jones acknowledged recklessness in his ruling, the district court erred in not following the generally accepted standard for taking a substantial step towards the course of action that led to the injury.

Iowa: The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed a district court decision that cleared the way for election officials to distribute voter materials in languages other than English. Without directly addressing the merits of Iowa’s law restricting the dissemination of government records in languages other than English, the court found that the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa lacked standing to bring its lawsuit challenging the state’s application of the English Language Reaffirmation Act. The ruling is tied to a 2007 case in which LULAC was not a party. In that case, a group that included then-U.S. Rep. Steve King, four county auditors, three state legislators and U.S. English Only Inc. filed a lawsuit against Iowa’s secretary of state and the Iowa Voter Registration Commission challenging the provision of voter registration forms in languages other than English. The district court dismissed the claims of everyone but the county auditors, ruling only they had the standing to challenge the practice, and in 2008 ruled in favor of the auditors, finding that the Iowa English Language Reaffirmation Act unambiguously required all official government documents to be in English. While noting that language barriers could “serve as an impediment to voting” and that exceptions outlined in the law “might justify the use of non-English voter registration forms,” the judge noted that the secretary of state had never raised that argument. The district court enjoined the secretary of state and the Iowa Voter Registration Commission “from using languages other than English in the official voter registration forms of this state.” In 2021, LULAC sued Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, the Iowa Voter Registration Commission, and several county auditors, arguing the law, correctly interpreted, allowed for the dissemination of voting materials in languages other than English.  The district court ultimately granted LULAC’s requests to dissolve the 2008 injunction. Pate’s office appealed, and in addressing the matter, the Iowa Supreme Court said the primary question it faced was whether LULAC had standing to seek dissolution of the 13-year-old permanent injunction issued in the initial case and to seek a court interpretation of a law that did not cause any injury to LULAC itself.  The justices concluded the district court’s 2008 decision “had no effect on LULAC’s rights, status, or legal relations … LULAC asks us to direct Secretary Pate to administer the law as LULAC wishes and to allow county officials to have the discretion to administer the law as LULAC wishes. In effect, LULAC is asking the judiciary to exercise the executive functions of the government at LULAC’s behest. This the court cannot do.”

Louisiana: A coalition of civil and voting rights groups filed a lawsuit this week challenging a law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Senate Bill 436, which took effect Jan. 1, requires voter registration applicants to include proof of U.S. citizenship with their application. The groups bringing the lawsuit call the law “a hackneyed solution in search of a phantom problem” that will “chill voter registration activity and disenfranchise Louisiana’s most vulnerable voters.” In their complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, the plaintiffs claim S.B. 436 creates unfair barriers to register to vote. They argue this burden will disproportionately affect certain groups who are less likely to have access to common forms of citizenship documentation like passports and birth certificates, including Black people, low-income people, college students and the elderly, as well as people who have changed their name like married women. The groups also say the law is unnecessary, as federal law already requires individuals registering to vote to swear under penalty of perjury that they are a U.S. citizen. There is no evidence to suggest noncitizens have voted in Louisiana, the groups argue. They cite Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry’s own statement that just 48 noncitizens have been removed from Louisiana’s voter rolls since 2022 — a tiny fraction of the state’s nearly 3 million registered voters. The rights groups argue S.B. 436 is unconstitutionally vague, as it doesn’t define what qualifies as proof of citizenship for voter registration. They also argue the law violates the First Amendment and that it goes against the National Voter Registration Act, which is a federal law that among other things, requires states to accept a standardized mail-in voter registration form created by the federal Election Assistance Commission.

Maine: Supporters of a voter ID ballot initiative are asking a court to order Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to re-write how the question is worded. A lawsuit filed this week in Cumberland County Superior Court accuses Bellows of writing a “deliberately confusing” ballot question because she opposes requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls. The lawsuit also accuses Bellows of “obscuring the initiative’s primary aims by stressing everything other than the voter identification requirements.” Bellows, meanwhile, said she followed the law when crafting the wording and pointed out that the proponents of the voter ID initiative didn’t submit comments on a draft version of the question. The title of the ballot question is “An Act to Require an Individual to Present Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting.” Yet Alex Titcomb, campaign manager of Voter ID for ME and the lead petitioner in the lawsuit, pointed out that photo ID isn’t mentioned until the very end of a long ballot question. Instead, the question focuses largely on the other proposed changes to Maine’s voting process. “It shows bias that they are trying to bring attention to minor things . . . and then decrease and hide the main change in election law here in Maine — the requirement of a photo voter ID,” Titcomb said. “Having it last, it could influence the outcome because voters, you know, may not get that far into the question before they circle a yes or no.”

New York: Republicans have appealed to the state’s highest court the case involving a new state law that will move many local elections to line up with state and federal elections in even-numbered years after an appeals court ruled against them earlier this week and upheld the law’s constitutionality. Led by Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, challengers to the law petitioned to the state Court of Appeals. At issue is a law passed by the New York state Legislature and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in December 2023 that moves several local elections outside of New York City to even-numbered years starting this year, with the exception of some city or village elections, and races for county clerk, sheriff, district attorneys, local judges and others protected in the state Constitution. Republican-led challenges to the law have argued that it conflicts with individual county charters. Twenty New York counties are chartered, meaning they have locally drafted and approved laws outlining the structure and authority of county government, and there have been three separate amendments in the state Constitution allowing for and protecting counties’ abilities to govern through charters. An appeals court dismissed that argument, ruling that the state Constitution gives local governments the right to a “a legislative body elective by the people” and to adopt alternative forms of county government, “but neither of those provisions gives a county exclusive local control over the manner in which local elections will be held or the specific details of each office.”

North Carolina: According to Courthouse News Service, a Fourth Circuit panel appears ready to strike down a Reconstruction-era voting law its opponents say discriminates against Black voters in North Carolina. The voting rights organizations North Carolina A. Philip Randolph Institute and Action NC argued Friday at oral arguments in Richmond, Virginia, that the state’s felony voter law was enacted in 1877 to disenfranchise freed Black citizens after the Civil War. The discrimination continues as Black residents remain disproportionately impacted by the law, the groups say. The statute makes it a crime for a convicted felon to cast a ballot before his or her voting rights have been restored. Critically, criminal intent is irrelevant — a person can be convicted even if he or she voted under the mistaken belief they were eligible to do so. The law was struck down last year by U.S. District Judge Loretta C. Biggs, a Barack Obama appointee, who wrote in an opinion that the law was “enacted with discriminatory intent” and “continues to disproportionately impact Black voters.” North Carolina’s district attorneys and the State Board of Elections appealed the decision. The General Assembly amended the law in the fall to add intent as an element of the crime, which state officials argue makes the issue moot in future elections. But the old law was not repealed, raising questions of whether it remained in effect.

North Dakota: The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Spirit Lake Nation don’t have standing to bring a voting discrimination claim against the state of North Dakota. In a 2-1 decision overturned a 2023 decision by a North Dakota federal judge that found the state’s 2021 redistricting plan unlawfully diluted the tribes’ voting power. The ruling will have implications for North Dakota’s legislative districts. Attorneys representing the tribes say the appellate court’s ruling eliminates voters’ ability to challenge racial discrimination under the Voting Rights Act in North Dakota and the six other 8th Circuit states. The appellate court already limited voters’ ability to challenge potential violations of the Voting Rights Act in 2023, when it decided private citizens cannot bring lawsuits under Section 2 of the law, which protects voters against racial discrimination. Only the U.S. attorney general can file such claims, the court ruled. For a time, the question remained open as to whether voters have the right to bring those same allegations under a separate federal civil rights law: Section 1983 of Title 42 of the United States Code. This week, a panel of 8th Circuit judges decided the answer is no. The language of the Voting Rights Act does not authorize citizens to file race discrimination claims through Section 1983, Judge Raymond Gruender wrote in the majority opinion. Chief Judge Steven Colloton dissented. He noted that Section 1983 says people may sue for “the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws.” “The reference to ‘and laws’ encompasses any law of the United States,” Colloton wrote. His dissent also criticizes the court’s 2023 decision, writing that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act “expressly forbids ‘a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.’” Since 1982, private plaintiffs have brought more than 400 actions based under Section 2, he wrote.

Texas: Cynthia Stairs, a Dallas County alternate election judge has accused Commissioner John Wiley Price of assault. Stairs filed a police report with Dallas Police days after the alleged incident on May 3 at Friendship West Church polling location, according to a statement by the Dallas County Republican Party chairman. Dallas Police spokesperson Corbin Rubinson said the victim reported that the suspect knocked her phone out of her hands and demanded she leave the location. DPD transferred the report to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office after it was filed May 5 because the sheriff’s office has jurisdiction over polling places. Sheriff spokesperson Doug Sisk said investigators will review the report and decide whether an offense occurred. “From what I understand, it’s an accusation of a physical contact thing,” he said. “So all it’s going to be is, basically, probably boil down to a Class C traffic ticket — Class C assault.” Assault by contact — a misdemeanor different than a felony assault — means a victim was not necessarily injured.

West Virginia: Richard Allen Chapman of Huntington who pled no contest to election fraud has been fined for illegally casting two ballots for U.S. President in the 2020 General Election. Chapman admitted in Wayne County Circuit Court that there was enough evidence to find him guilty of voting twice. “He cast two ballots in the 2020 general election. So one was in person here in Wayne County, and the other, he cast an absentee by mail ballot in Florida,” said Secretary of State Kris Warner.  At the time, that offense was a misdemeanor.  But in 2022 the West Virginia Legislature made it a felony to vote illegally, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Chapman was ordered to pay a $250 fine.

Wyoming: The Equality State Policy Center has sued the secretary of state and county elections officials, arguing that a new state law imposing ID requirements when registering to vote is unconstitutional. In its federal suit the group claims that House Bill 156, which becomes effective July 1, will impose burdensome and unnecessary hurdles, especially for women, Hispanic, youth and low-income people. “Wyoming has a proud tradition of fair and secure elections, and there is no evidence of non-citizen voting or widespread fraud to justify the harsh new restrictions in HB 156,” said the center’s Executive Director Jenny DeSarro. “This unnecessary law creates significant barriers that will prevent eligible citizens from exercising their constitutional right to vote, particularly young voters, women who changed their names when they married, low-income voters, and Hispanic voters. These hardworking Wyomingites must be allowed to exercise their rights and freedoms at the ballot box.” The nonprofit is seeking declaratory judgment that the new law’s ID requirements are unconstitutional, as well as preliminary and permanent injunctive relief from its enforcement. The law will require people registering to vote in Wyoming to produce one of the following: a valid state driver’s license or identification card; a valid tribal ID card from a federally recognized tribe; a valid state ID that’s Real ID compliant; a valid U.S. passport, certificate of citizenship or naturalization; a military draft record or selective service registration card; a consular report of birth abroad; or an original or certified copy of a birth certificate. The center says that the law allows county clerks to reject driver’s licenses, state or tribal ID if there’s an indication the holder isn’t a citizen. However, the law offers no instruction on how to make that determination, and no proof of non-citizenship is needed to reject a potential voter.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Local newsrooms | Veterans | Down ballot races 

Alaska: Ranked choice voting 

Florida: Ballot measures 

Missouri: Poll workers 

New Jersey: Election integrity task force 

North Carolina: State board of elections, II, III

Ohio: Poll workers 

Pennsylvania: Ballot cure 

Texas: Polling places 

Wyoming: Election litigation 

Upcoming Events

International Institute of Municipal Clerks Annual Conference: Meet the IIMC for their annual conference in St. Louis! When: May 18-21. Where: St. Louis, Missouri. 

NACo WIR Conference: The NACo Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference brings together county officials from across the nation to focus on pressing issues facing Western counties and our residents. Each year the conference is hosted by a county within the fifteen Western states—Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming—and provides attendees with the opportunity to interact with federal, state and regional policymakers, participate in educational sessions and take home tools to address challenges. When: May 21-23. Where: Rapid City, South Dakota. 

Redesigning Democracy: Join The Center for Election Science and McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University for a live event that brings together the brightest minds in election reform! “Redesigning Democracy: Research on Election Systems and Reform” is an essential gathering for researchers, policymakers, community leaders, and advocates shaping the future of our democracy. Expect an engaging and thought-provoking evening featuring: Insightful Discussions – Explore the latest research on election systems and innovative reforms that can transform how we vote. Research Award Presentation – Celebrate the work of Steven J. Brams Professor of Politics at New York University and the author, co-author, or co-editor of 19 books and over 300 articles. Lively Reception – Connect with fellow change makers over drinks and conversation in an inspiring atmosphere. As our democracy faces new challenges, now is the time to reimagine how we vote and ensure fair, representative elections for all. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the movement shaping the next era of electoral reform! When: May 19. Where: Washington, DC

25 Years of Vote at Home with Adrian Fontes: Join The Vote at Home Institute for an insightful discussion on the current state and future of Vote at Home, featuring voices who have played key roles in shaping this system. Hear an update on Vote at Home practices, challenges, and opportunities from Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. Look back at Oregon’s pioneering Vote at Home system, led by the state’s Secretary of State, Phil Keisling. Finally, the Executive Director of the National Vote at Home Institute will share future opportunities in Vote at Home. When: June 4, 1pm Eastern. Where: Online

Election Science, Reform & Administration Summer Conference: The 9th Annual Summer Conference on Election Science, Reform, and Administration (ESRA) will take place from Monday, June 9 through Wednesday, June 11 2025 at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Planning for the conference is currently underway! Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates as information becomes available, including notifications about conference registration and programming. When: June 9-11. Where: Tallahassee, Florida. 

iGO Summer Conference: The International Association of Government Officials will hold their summer conference in Kansas City, Missouri from June 20-24. Please refer to the iGO website for more information and to register for the event.

2025 National Association of Counties Annual Conference & Exposition: The National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference is the premier gathering of elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs. Conference content includes discussion of federal policies impacting counties, workshops lifting up county best practices, engaging general sessions, mobile tours across our host county, and more. NACo members also have the opportunity to influence the association’s direction and future during the Annual Business Meeting on the final day of the conference. When: July 11-14. Where: Philadelphia. 

NASED Summer Conference: The National Association of State Election Directors will hold its summer conference in Oklahoma from July 22-24. Please refer to the NASED website for more information and to register for the event. 

NASS Summer Conference: The National Association of Secretaries of State will hold its summer conference in Biloxi, Mississippi from August 4-7. Please refer to the NASS website for more information and to register for the event. 

National Conference of State Legislatures Summit: NCSL is bringing the Legislative Summit back to Boston! Join us Aug. 4-6 to connect with legislators and staff from across the nation at an event jam-packed with great speakers, eye-opening policy sessions and after-hours experiences at some of Boston’s coolest venues. Help NCSL celebrate its 50th anniversary in style. When: August 4-6. Where: Boston

Election Center Annual Conference: The Election Center Annual Conference will be held in Salt Lake City. The conference will run August 20-22 and CERA courses will be offered August 23 and 24. The CERA courses offered will be: Course 5 (Ethics); Course 6 (Communications & Public Relations); and Two renewal courses to be announced. When: August 20 to 24. Where: Salt Lake City.

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.

Candidate Services Coordinator, Seminole County, Florida – The Candidate Services Coordinator is a key member of the Supervisor of Elections Office, responsible for ensuring smooth administrative operations with a focus on candidate services and assists with accounting functions and payroll processing. This position requires attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to effectively handle multiple responsibilities while maintaining confidentiality and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This position is responsible for managing the candidate qualifying process, serving as primary point of contact for candidates, maintaining accurate records related to candidate filings, financial disclosures, and other required documentation, and coordinating candidate workshops and providing training on election procedures and campaign finance rules. Salary: $36,000 – $46,000 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Chief Financial Officer II, New Mexico Secretary of State– The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team for the Office of the Secretary of State, providing strategic direction and oversight for all financial and budgetary operations. This position ensures fiscal integrity, compliance with state and federal regulations, and responsible stewardship of public funds. The CFO plays a critical role in supporting the office’s core functions, including elections administration, business services, ethics oversight, and campaign finance transparency. This role is responsible for managing financial planning, budgeting, procurement, grants management, and audit coordination. The CFO ensures that resources are aligned with the agency’s goals and that financial operations are transparent, efficient, and accountable. Salary: $68,302 – $109,283 Annually. Deadline: May 18. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

County Clerk, Lane County, Oregon– Lane County is seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to serve as County Clerk and Election & Recording Principal Manager, overseeing critical functions that uphold the integrity of our democratic processes and public records. This pivotal role leads a dedicated team committed to excellence, accuracy, and service to our community. As County Clerk, you will: Plan, organize, and conduct all federal, state, and local elections. Oversee voter registration, property tax appeals, and permanent real property records. Manage marriage licensing, domestic partnership registrations, and archived records. Ensure compliance with Federal, State, and Local laws governing elections and records. Lead a team of 14 full-time employees, ensuring exceptional service and operational efficiency. Prepare and analyze data, manage budgets, and oversee technology solutions that support Clerk operations. This is a fast-paced, high-impact role where you’ll serve as Lane County’s Clerk and Election & Recording Principal Manager, working under the direction of the Director of Operations to deliver services that affect all residents. Salary: $112,091.20 – $153,462.40. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy County Administrator – Finance, Property & License Management, Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Otter Tail County is seeking a full-time Deputy County Administrator. This position will be part of the County Leadership Team overseeing the Finance, Property, and License Management Team and Countywide initiatives such as the Long-Range Strategic Plan. This position is responsible for overseeing and administering the duties and functions of an Auditor-Treasurer including financial operations and policy development, property recordings, assessor, elections, property tax administration, state audits, tax increment financing, property forfeitures, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. This position would fulfill the appointed duties of an Auditor-Treasurer. Under the direction of the County Administrator, the Deputy County Administrator assists in managing and administering the affairs of the county and carrying out the policies of the County Board. This position is responsible to provide oversight in the planning, development, management, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of multiple complex functions of one of four service teams in the county organization. Lead interdepartmental and interagency work teams to improve county service alignment and performance. Priorities include service alignment, leadership and accountability to county-wide board goals. The Deputy County Administrator acts on behalf of the County Administrator in that person’s absence. Deadline: May 30. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Election Director III, Baltimore, Maryland–An Election Director III is the supervisory or managerial level of work directing elections in local jurisdictions within the State. The work of this classification may require travel throughout the State to exchange information regarding the election process and promote voter registration. Employees supervise office support staff which may include subordinate supervisors. Employees in this classification receive managerial supervision from the State Administrator or Deputy State Administrator of Election Laws.  Employees may be required to work evenings and weekends. Position allocation to the Election Director series is determined by the size of the local jurisdiction as reflected by the number of registered voters. Copies of this supplemental job evaluation standard can be found in the Offices of the State and local Boards of Elections and in the Department of Budget and Management’s Office of Personnel Services and Benefits. Salary: $95,991.00 – $176,552.00/year. Deadline: May 30. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Election Specialist, Candidate Services, Palm Beach County, Florida– This position is responsible for the management and execution of services provided to candidates, political committees, electioneering communication organizations, political parties, community development districts, and special taxing districts. This includes establishing and maintaining an organized system for managing the required forms and records associated with filing and qualifying for office, candidate petitions, campaign finance reporting, financial disclosures, initiative petitions, and other related activities. Candidate Services staff must be organized and personable with a great attitude, be able to work well in a team environment, and meet deadlines under pressure. Excellent work ethic, including consistent performance, integrity, reliability, and attendance, is a must. Must be detail-oriented, be able to handle simultaneous projects, and be a self-starter. Salary: $21.63 – $24.04. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Director, Twin Falls County, Idaho– Performs a variety of administrative and logistical duties in administering the County’s elections. The Election Director ensures compliance with Federal, State and local requirements; sets up ballots and prepares test decks; communicates with and prepares candidate filing packets; processes campaign financial disclosures; secures polling places; reviews and adjusts voter list per statutory requirements; and interfaces with political parties, candidates and the general public. Employees in this class use independent judgment in applying existing policies and procedures to complete assignments, involving knowledge of multiple procedures and program guidelines to make decisions. Employees respond to non-routine inquiries and explain department services, policies, procedures and rationale for decisions to candidates and customers. Employees typically utilize a variety of computer operations and/or specialized software to complete daily assignments.  The Election Director reports directly to the County Clerk and Chief Deputy Clerk.  The principal duties of this class are performed in a general office environment and polling places. Salary: $25.75 Hourly. Deadline: May 26. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

IT Assistant Manager, Palm Beach County, Florida– The Assistant IT Manager plays a supportive role in the smooth operation of the IT department, ensuring that both the technical infrastructure and the team are aligned with the organization’s goals. This position involves collaborating closely with the Election Technology Director to oversee the implementation of technology solutions that meet the needs of the organization. The Assistant IT Manager helps maintain an efficient and effective IT environment. Oversee daily operations of the IT department, including help desk operations and performance, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring efficient workflow. Hold department meetings and provide weekly performance summary. Manage IT projects under the direction of the Election Technology Director, ensuring timely completion, budget requirements, and organizational needs. Enforce IT policies and procedures to ensure data security, network access, and system availability. Assist in the management of IT staff by developing skills, coaching, and communicating job expectations. Coordinate vendor renewals, assist with IT budget development, and manage grant applications. Evaluate and assist in maintaining the organization’s disaster recovery and business continuity plans for IT. Assist with IT Public Records requests research and fulfillment. Assist the Election Technology Director in all facets of IT operations. Lead projects and mentor team members. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Physical Security Specialist, Palm Beach County, Florida– This position is responsible for administration of the physical security programs in a manner consistent with Supervisor of Elections Office policies, procedures, quality standards, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations. These programs include conducting facility security risk assessments, assisting with access control, monitoring alarms and CCTV systems, and providing security related training. Must be organized and personable with a great attitude, be able to work well in a team environment, and meet deadlines under pressure. Excellent work ethic, including consistent performance, integrity, reliability, and attendance, is a must. Candidate must be detail-oriented and understand the importance of security and safety for all. Must be available 24/7 365, be able to handle simultaneous projects, and be a self-starter. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Senior Elections Supervisor, Placer County, California– The Placer County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office has a current vacancy for a Senior Elections Supervisor. The Office is looking for someone with experience in the development, supervision, and administration of elections programs. The ideal candidate will have supervised in an elections office or similar agency that emphasizes cooperation, accountability and transparency and has the ability to communicate effectively with management, staff, other county departments, jurisdictions and the voters of Placer County. To learn more about the Elections Division of the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office please click here. In addition to the minimum education and experience, the ideal candidate will possess experience and vision in the following areas: State and federal election laws; Voting systems; General operating policies and functions of the California Secretary of State’s Office; Best practices and current trends in successful election administration, community education and outreach programs; Principles and techniques of effective employee supervision and development, training, management practices and public administration. Salary: $69,056.00 – $86,195.20/year. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Voter Registration and Absentee Manager, Charleston County, South Carolina– Are you driven by public service and committed to ensuring the accuracy of voter registration? Join us as the Voter Registration and Absentee Manager and lead a team dedicated to upholding the integrity of our processes. 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. This role is pivotal to ensuring secure, accurate, and accessible voter registration and absentee voting services. Salary: $70,000.00 – $82,000.00 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Voter Services Clerk, Seminole County, Florida – The Voter Services Clerk serves as the primary customer service representative for the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Office. This position is responsible for the accurate maintenance and entry of voter registration information, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of voter data, and providing essential assistance to voters, including answering inquiries and processing voter-related documents. The Clerk will also be involved in various clerical and administrative tasks associated with voter services, ensuring compliance with applicable state and federal election laws. Responsibilities include processing new voter registrations, updates or changes to existing registrations, vote-by-mail ballot requests, and returns, as well as petition verifications and other voter record-related tasks, providing accurate voter registration and election information to the public in person, by phone, or via mail, in accordance with Florida state laws, regulations, and procedures, conducting research to resolve issues related to voter registration records, utilizing sources both within the voter database and external government websites or online resources, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of voter registration records by verifying information, validating signatures on candidate and initiative petitions, maintaining and update street maintenance files to ensure an up-to-date and accurate residential address database for Seminole County. Salary: $17 – $22 Hourly. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Marketplace

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