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Election News This Week

Signature Issues: Both The Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press had articles over the holidays about the impact a changing education system can have on vote-by-mail signatures. According to the LATimes article, in California, voters younger than 25 made up 10% of the November electorate, but had nearly 3 in 10 of the ballots set aside for signature issues, according to an analysis by voter data firm Political Data Inc. More than half of the state’s ballots with signature issues were from voters younger than 35. “Most people my age just kind of scribble,” Taylor Johnson, 20, told the Times after his vote was not counted. Johnson told the paper he had only perfected his signature about a month before the election and knew what he signed on the mail ballot probably did not match what the county had on file. “There’s been a big push toward mail voting over the last few years, and I think the tradeoffs aren’t always clear to voters,” Larry Norden, an elections and government expert at the Brennan Center for Justice told The AP. He said it’s important for states and local governments to have procedures that ensure large numbers of eligible mail ballot voters aren’t being disenfranchised. In Nevada in 2024, county election offices rejected about 9,000 mail ballots primarily because of signature problems. “We’ve had signature curing problems since we adopted universal mail-in voting during the pandemic in 2020, and it seems to be getting worse,” said Sondra Cosgrove, history professor at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas and executive director of Vote Nevada, a civic organization. “This is something that’s a crisis level that needs to get fixed.” The potential for signature match problems to affect close races has led some voting rights groups in the state to call for an overhaul of the verification process. “We have to find the best option going forward for people that is more accessible, that gets their votes and ballots counted on time, because it’s crazy when you think about the difference-maker being eight or nine votes,” said Christian Solomon, the state director of Rise Nevada, a youth-led civic engagement group.

Automatic for the People: In 2020, then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo approved a new law to automatically register New York residents as voters when they get a new driver’s license or enroll in benefits from the state. That was supposed to start in January 2023. But the launch of automatic voter registration in New York is far behind schedule. The state Board of Elections now says they will be ready to start the effort in the second quarter of 2025 — more than two years after the implementation date for the law. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia use automatic voter registration systems, according to Voting Rights Lab, a nonpartisan organization that tracks election legislation. Those states took an average of about 14 months from legislative or administrative approval to launching their automatic voter registration processes, the Times Union found. Maine’s implementation appears to have taken the longest at just over three years. “It’s no small thing,” said Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat who introduced the legislation. “There’s up to 2 million people in the state who are eligible to vote and not registered. That means another (election) cycle went by with many New Yorkers being disenfranchised. Hopefully soon, that will no longer be the case.” The late launch of automatic voter registration comes on the heels of delays in implementing online voter registration, which also kicked off more than two years late. Both registration reforms were delayed by the pandemic. Automatic registration also suffered multiple bidding issues.

Personnel News: Lane County Clerk Dena Dawson will be the new Oregon director of elections. January 6 will be Polk County Florida Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards last day in the office after serving for 24 years. Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts Town Clerk Colleen Morris is retiring. East Lansing, Michigan Clerk Marie Wicks is stepping down. Denise LaVancher is the new Hernando County, Florida supervisor of elections. Cole Jester is the new Arkansas secretary of state. Peggy Bickford has retired as the Oswego County, New York Republican elections commissioner. Deidra McCollum is the new DeWitt County, Texas elections administrator. Lucrecia Wonsor has retired after more than 24 years as the Killington, Vermont clerk. Peggy Neisner is the new Killington, Vermont clerk. Bonnie Chang has resigned as the deputy director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission. Santa Fe County, New Mexico Clerk Katharine Clark has been appointed to the executive committee for the EI-ISAC. Liz Torres-Potter has resigned as the Washington County, Iowa elections administrator. The Orleans County, New York Legislature has reappointed Janice Grabowski and Mike Mele to two-year terms until the end of 2026. Price County, Wisconsin Clerk Jean Gottwald is retiring effective Jan. 6 after choosing not to seek re-election in 2024.

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Alaska Ballot Measures: Two petitions were filed this week in new efforts to repeal ranked choice voting and open primaries in Alaska. Alaska voters narrowly approved retaining the voting system during the Nov. 5 election. The margin was 743 votes after a recount was requested by the Alaska Republican Party. The dueling proposed initiatives are similar. The first petition was filed by Philip Izon, the Wasilla resident who led the signature-gathering campaign for the recently defeated repeal effort. Izon’s new ballot measure is all but identical to the first one. It would again repeal ranked choice voting and the top-four open primary system Alaska voters narrowly approved four years ago. The second petition, filed by former Eagle River Republican Rep. Ken McCarty, would also eliminate the voting system. But it would go further. McCarty’s initiative would repeal a provision intended to combat “dark money” that was also approved by Alaska voters in 2020. Both repeal petitions were submitted to the lieutenant governor’s office Dec. 16 — the first step to getting an initiative on the 2026 ballot. Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom has until Feb. 14 to determine whether the petitions will be certified for signature gathering.

Maryland: Lawmakers plan to introduce a bill requiring a special election if a legislator is appointed during the first half of their four-year term, aiming to ensure voters have a greater say in who represents them in the General Assembly. Currently, under Maryland’s constitution, when a state legislator vacates their seat, the political party committee from the district selects a replacement. The committee’s recommendation is then sent to the governor, who typically approves the appointment. This process has raised concerns about democratic representation, as replacements can serve substantial portions of a term without ever facing voters. Del. Linda Foley, D-Montgomery County, the bill’s sponsor, said this system can leave constituents without an elected representative for as long as four years. The bill would: Maintain the appointment process to fill vacancies in the General Assembly. Require a special election for lawmakers appointed during the first half of their term, aligning with the presidential primary and general elections to minimize costs.

New Jersey: A bill to delay the 2025 New Jersey primary election by one week to avoid conflicting with a Jewish holiday is on the governor’s desk after winning approval from both legislative chambers December 19. The measure would reschedule the primary to June 10. The current date, June 3, overlaps with Shavuot, during which observant Jews cannot write, drive, or use electronics. The bill won unanimous approval in the Senate and the Assembly. Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign it. Under the bill, some deadlines related to the primary would shift to correspond with the new June 10 date, though deadlines for nominating petitions, ballot position drawings, and sending vote-by-mail ballots to voters would still correspond to the original primary election date.

The Assembly approved the overhaul of the county line ballot design. A select committee met six times to discuss and listen to experts and advocates weigh in on how primary ballots will look in New Jersey moving forward. The committee’s efforts followed a pledge from legislative leaders of both parties in March to consider redesigning New Jersey’s ballot after a federal lawsuit was brought by now-Sen. Andy Kim during his U.S. Senate run. The bill would require county clerks to design office-block ballots which group candidates by office and would not allow candidates running for different offices to be bracketed together. It would also eliminate the existence of so-called “ballot Siberia,” which isolated some candidates seeking the same office as others to the outer edges of the ballot. The legislation does allow candidates running for the same office to be bracketed and have their names drawn as a group as opposed to individually. It also allows for election officials such as the secretary of state, town clerk or county clerk, to reject slogans that are similar to those used by other candidates and does not allow the use of the name of candidates running for other office in a slogan.

The Assembly also passed a bill increasing the number of signatures required for candidates to appear on the ballot in primary, general, nonpartisan municipal and school elections. For general elections, the bill would require signatures of 5%, up from 2%, of the entire vote cast for members of the Assembly at the last Assembly election for their direct nominating petition. Candidates for statewide office would need 2,000 as opposed to 800 for their direct nominating petitions, and candidates running for any other office will be required to collect no more than 250 signatures on their direct nominating petitions, up from 100. For primaries, candidates for statewide office would need 2,500 signatures, up from 1,000; candidates for congression will need 500 signatures, up from 200 and candidates for the state Senate and Assembly will need 250 signatures, up from 100. The bill would require candidates for countywide office to collect at least 1% of the total vote cast by the voters of that political party at the last primary election held for the election of that party’s candidates for Assembly, or at least 300 signatures, whichever is less.

Ulster County, New York: The Ulster County Legislature has unanimously approved a resolution establishing minimum staffing levels at the county board of elections. The policy requires the board of elections to maintain a minimum of four employees in addition to the commissioners and deputies and has built in requirements to employ two additional employees for every 20,000 active registered voters above 40,000, as determined by the New York State Board of Elections. As of November 1, 2024 there are 140,431 registered voters in Ulster County. Presently, there are 10 employees working at the board of elections, already in compliance with the new requirement.

Legal Updates

Arizona: Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney has ruled that Secretary of State Adrian Fontes exceeded his authority in several instances when making changes to the state’s election manual in 2023. The state will now be blocked from enforcing these particular rules, including one that would have allowed the secretary of state to finalize statewide election results without the results of a county, if the county failed to certify its results by the deadline. That rule had already been suspended by a federal judge in a separate case challenging Fontes’ manual. That challenge was filed in July in federal court by the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute. “Nothing in the statutes permits the Secretary to exclude a particular county’s canvass and/or, by extension, disenfranchise the entirety of the county’s voters,” Blaney wrote. Blaney also voided other rules in the manual. These include: A rule that explains the authority of county supervisors when certifying election results; A rule telling county recorders that, if they receive notice from a jury questionnaire that a voter is not a citizen, they may place the voter’s registration in inactive status. Under state law, the recorder must instead cancel their registration; and A footnote that relieves petition circulators of their responsibility in state law to properly list their address and contact information when applying to the secretary of state to act as a circulator. Blaney found in favor of Fontes regarding a line explaining the timing for a new state law that requires county recorders to remove voters from the state’s early voting list if they don’t vote by mail in two election cycles. The first removals must occur in 2027, not 2025, Blaney ruled.

The Arizona Court of Appeals has rejected an Arizona official’s argument that felony charges against him for delaying certification of his rural county’s 2022 election results should be dismissed because he has legislative immunity. In an order December 31, theCourt concluded Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby’s duty to certify the election results wasn’t discretionary. The court also said certifying election results is an administrative responsibility and that legislative immunity doesn’t apply to Crosby’s situation. Crosby and Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd, both Republicans, were criminally charged after they balked at certifying the results. Two months ago, Judd pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to perform her duty as an election officer and was sentenced to probation. Crosby has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and interference with an election officer. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 30.

Colorado: No criminal charges will be filed in connection with the inadvertent leak of voting systems passwords by a Colorado secretary of state’s office employee, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann announced December 20. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold disclosed in late October that a document posted to her office’s website included a hidden but accessible worksheet containing Basic Input Output System — or BIOS — passwords to election equipment in counties throughout the state. Days later, McCann’s office formally launched an investigation into “whether the BIOS passwords were knowingly published on the website and if there was any official misconduct on the part of any (Colorado Department of State) employee,” according to a 26-page report released. “After an extensive investigation by prosecutors and investigators in my office, we have concluded that there were no criminal violations of the law regarding the publication of the voting machine passwords,” McCann said in a statement. “Based on everything we have learned, the passwords were published in error and not ‘knowingly,’ as required to prove a violation of C.R.S. 1-13-708(2), or ‘knowingly, arbitrarily or capriciously,’ as required to prove a violation of CRS 18-8-405(1). “There is no indication that the passwords were published in an effort to influence the outcome of an election,” McCann added.

The Colorado Court of Appeals vacated a contempt citation against former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters, after finding insufficient evidence to support the claim that she violated a court prohibition on recording in the courtroom in 2022. “Peters is correct that the contempt judgment lacks several required findings, without which it cannot stand,” wrote Court of Appeals Judge Stephanie Dunn in a 9-page opinion. On Feb. 7, 2022, before the district attorney’s office filed charges against Peters, she attended a court hearing. During the hearing, the district attorney’s staff told 21st Judicial District Judge Matthew Barrett they saw Peters recording the proceeding on an iPad. At the time, prosecutors claimed, Barrett had issued a decorum order prohibiting recording and relayed the information by posting a sign on the courtroom door. The next day, law enforcement seized the device from Peters. On Feb. 24, 2022, the district attorney’s office filed to cite Peters for contempt. Following Barret’s recusal, Fifth Judicial District Chief Judge Paul Dunkelman presided over Peter’s 2023 contempt trial and ultimately ordered her to pay a $1,500 fine. Peters appealed the contempt conviction, arguing the DA’s office failed to meet its burden of proof by not presenting the court order, or the door sign, announcing the prohibition on recording.

District of Columbia: The D.C. Court of Appeals declined to throw out the contested election results for two Advisory Neighborhood Commission seats representing American University’s campus, ruling that the city election board’s assertion that some students had probably been given the wrong ballots was not enough to redo the race. Adah Nordan, 20, a candidate for one of the seats, had challenged the November election results because she suspected some voters in her district, 3E07, had mistakenly received ballots for the other American University district, 3E08, as she herself had. The D.C. Board of Elections asked a court this month to void the results for both districts and call new elections. But the D.C. Court of Appeals rejected that motion, concluding that Nordan and the board had not proved that significant mistakes had produced erroneous results. The Board of Elections asked the appeals court to void both elections. But on Friday, three judges on the court ruled that they could void elections only if there was “act or omission, including fraud, misconduct, or mistake serious enough to vitiate the election as a fair expression of the will of the registered qualified electors voting in the election,” and if the petitioners could prove that the wrong election result was the outcome. They said the board had acknowledged that it could not determine whether and to what extent voters had cast ballots in the wrong district.

Hawaii: The state Supreme Court has rejected a lawsuit by Maui County Council candidate Kelly King to overturn the general election results. King lost her race last month to incumbent Tom Cook by 97 votes. She argued the county rejected too many ballots because of missing or invalid signatures, and that voters weren’t offered enough help to fix the problems. In Maui County, there were nearly 1,100 deficient ballots compared to the national average. King says Maui County’s rejection rate was nearly double the state average in 2022. But the high court ruled that the County Clerk’s Office followed state law and all administrative rules to cure the deficient ballots.

Idaho: Idaho 4th District Judge Patrick Miller denied Idahoans for Open Primaries’ request to have the Idaho Office of the Attorney General pay its attorney fees in litigation. Attorney General Raúl Labrador had unsuccessfully sued to block the election reform ballot initiative, arguing that initiative organizers misled some Idaho voters by portraying the initiative as a proposed open primary law when it actually sought broader election reforms. Miller dismissed Labrador’s legal challenge in September. But Miller, in a Dec. 18 decision, ruled he didn’t find that the attorney general lacked a reasonable legal or factual basis to pursue his challenge, even though Idahoans for Open Primaries were the prevailing party in litigation. Miller ordered the Idaho Attorney General’s Office to pay $96 in costs accrued by Idahoans for Open Primaries. But he didn’t order the office to pay almost $65,000 in attorney fees requested by Idahoans for Open Primaries.

Kentucky: Judge Richard Bruegemann of the Boone County Circuit Court has declined to take up a restraining order request that would have prevented the winners of the election for the Union City Commission in November from taking office. He also denied a motion from the Boone County clerk to strike a challenge to the local November election, effectively allowing said challenge to proceed in court. Based on his interpretation of the law, Bruegemann said, the court did not have the authority to toss a certified election result and, therefore, could not grant either motion. “I respect very well what James Madison said in the ‘Federalist Papers,’ and that is a judge’s duty is to rule according to what the law is, not what he thinks it ought to be,” Bruegemann said, “and I shouldn’t stick my finger in the air and try to decide what I think would be the best way to fix this when the statutes don’t give me that authority.” Bruegemann made his decisions at a hearing on December 30. The hearing was called following a request for a restraining order current City Commission Doug Bine and his legal team filed on Dec. 27, which would have effectively prevented the winners of the election  from taking office. 

Michigan: A Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals panel affirmed a lower court ruling that struck down Michigan lawmakers’ attempt to kill voter-backed election law reforms. A three-judge appellate panel found the state senators and representatives, all Republicans, lacked standing to sue over the election law changes, despite their assertion that the reform process violated the U.S. Constitution. “In Michigan, as in seventeen other states, citizens may use ballot initiatives to amend the State’s Constitution. Two Michigan state senators and nine state representatives argue that, if citizens use the initiative to regulate federal elections, that process
violates the elections clause of the U.S. Constitution. Because they lack standing to bring the lawsuit, we affirm the district court’s dismissal,” Chief U.S. Circuit Judge Jeffrey Sutton, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote in the unanimous 10-page opinion. The pair of state constitutional amendments at issue, passed in 2018 and 2022, changed Michigan election laws by ensuring a right to a secret ballot, ensuring ballot access for overseas and military voters, adding straight-ticket voting and making it easier for citizens to vote. The 2018 amendment passed with 67% of the vote and the 2022 amendment got 60%.

North Carolina: Former Gov. Roy Cooper and Governor Josh Stein sued Republican legislative leaders on December 23, seeking to block part of a new law that strips the governor’s office of the power to appoint members of the state elections board. The suit is their second against Senate Bill 382, a wide-ranging law that shifts executive power away from offices held by Democrats. Cooper and Stein have also sued to block the portion of the law making the NC Highway Patrol an independent department. SB 382 transfers oversight and appointment power for the State Board of Elections to the state auditor’s office — soon to be held by Dave Boliek, a Republican. The board has confirmed that if that portion of the law takes effect (in May), control of the board could change hands to Republican. “We have had the same structure for our state board of elections for nearly a century and it has served North Carolina well, with fair and secure elections across our state through every cycle,” Cooper said in a statement. “These blatantly partisan efforts to give control over elections boards to a newly elected Republican will create distrust in our elections process and serve no legitimate purpose.” “In recent years, these legislative leaders have repeatedly tried and failed to seize control of the State Board of Elections for their own partisan gain,” Stein said. “This latest move insults the voters who rejected their power grab, violates our constitution, and must not stand.”

A federal district court judge has denied Republican Jefferson Griffin’s request for a temporary restraining order in his bid to block the North Carolina State Board of Elections from certifying his electoral loss in a race for a seat on the state Supreme Court. That’s strike one in federal court for Griffin, a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, who trails Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs by more than 700 votes following two recounts in the tight race for the associate justice seat. Griffin is protesting more than 60,000 ballots in the statewide contest over alleged irregularities, including purported incomplete registrations. The voters swept up in the wide net of Griffin’s protests included registered Democrats, Republicans, Riggs’ parents, and an editor at WUNC. After the state elections board rejected Griffin’s protests due to a lack of sufficient evidence and a failure to give affected voters adequate notice, the GOP candidate turned to North Carolina’s solidly conservative Supreme Court—the one he wants to serve on—for help. Justice Riggs, Griffin’s opponent in the state Supreme Court race, immediately recused herself. Griffin filed what’s known as a writ of prohibition, asking the high court to block certification of the election, and to invalidate the challenged ballots.

Pennsylvania: The Commonwealth Court on December 31 ruled 6-1 that the secretary of state has the authority to direct counties not to allow “unauthorized third party access” to voting machines or risk having those machines decertified and unable to be deployed for elections. The Commonwealth Court said the Department of State does not have to reimburse counties when they decertify machines, a defeat for Fulton County in a dispute that arose after two Republican county commissioners permitted Wake Technology Services Inc. to examine and obtain data from Dominion voting machines in 2021. That led the state elections agency to issue a directive against such third-party access based on concerns it could compromise security. Fulton’s machines were decertified as a result of the Wake TSI examination and the secretary of state was sued by the county as well as Republican county commissioners Randy Bunch and Stuart Ulsh. Fulton had argued it had broad authority over the voting machines, while the secretary of state said that “would mean that every county board of elections can do whatever it wants” with electronic voting systems under their authority to inspect elections, “an absurd and unreasonable result,” wrote Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer for the majority.  She said a 1937 state election law gave county election boards broad power, but state lawmakers amended it “to give the secretary an important role in ensuring statewide consistency and safety” regarding electronic voting systems. The state and local power balance over elections and voting equipment, the majority said, helps “protect and provide for free and fair and secure elections.” “There is no conflict between those provisions, and it is entirely possible — indeed necessary — for county boards of elections to fulfill their powers and duties while heeding the secretary’s report and directives,” Jubelirer wrote for the majority.

South Carolina: Nancy Ruth Birkner, 58 was charged with voter fraud after using a deceased person’s name to vote in the 2024 presidential election, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Birkner was charged with fraudulent registration or voting on Dec. 18, a SLED news release said. Between Oct. 4 and 29, Birkner allegedly used the name of a person who died in August to cast a ballot in the 2024 general election in Oconee County, SLED said. It’s unclear whether Birkner is accused of casting multiple ballots, including one in her own name. Birkner was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center where she later posted a $5,000bond.

Utah: Fourth District Court Judge Shawn Howell has rejected a lawsuit challenging the disqualification of a school board candidate in Wasatch County — a legal fight that had thrown that race in limbo for about a month, even though the rest of Utah’s election results have been certified for weeks. After a more than two-hour hearing Howell said she would be siding with the Wasatch County county clerk and upholding her decision to disqualify a school board candidate, Tom Stone, after he missed his campaign disclosure deadline. “As I’ve listened to this whole thing, the whole situation honestly, to me, is defined by human error,” Howell said before announcing her ruling, which she said was a legal conclusion based on what is — and isn’t — explicitly required from clerks in Utah’s election laws.

Washington: Anyone who shares useful tips related to the October ballot box fires in Vancouver, Washington may be rewarded with up to $30,000. On December 19, the Arson Alarm Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks to increase arson awareness, announced it was offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest or conviction of the person responsible for setting fire to ballot boxes in Vancouver before the general election. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is already offering a reward of $25,000 for the same information, so the AAF reward boosts a potential tipster’s possible earnings to $30,000. The AAF is partnering with the Northwest Insurance Council (NWIC) and Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) to offer the reward.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Election security | Election litigation | Illegal voting | Open primaries | President Jimmy Carter, II, III, IV, V, VI | Noncitizen voting | U.S. Department of Justice | Voter disenfranchisement | Election Day 2024

Alaska: Election reform ballot measure 

California: Recounts | California Voting Rights Act 

Idaho: College voters 

Kansas: Poll workers 

Michigan: Ranked choice voting; 

New Mexico: Ex-felon voting rights 

New York: Ranked choice voting | Automatic voter registration

North Carolina: Voter challenge | Voting rights 

Pennsylvania: Westmoreland County 

South Carolina: Recounts 

Utah: Vote by mail 

West Virginia: Mac Warner

Upcoming Events

EAC Technical Guidelines Development Committee 2024 Annual Meeting: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) will hold its annual meeting on January 14, 2025, at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) in Rockville, Maryland. The TGDC is composed of 14 members appointed jointly by EAC and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The meeting will include updates on the EAC Testing and Certification Program, the NIST Voting Program, and more from the 2024 fiscal year. When: January 14, 9am to 5pm Eastern. Where: Rockville, Md. 

Caltech 2024 Election Integrity Project Information and Misinformation in Elections 2025 Conference: We plan a two-day conference at the California Institute of Technology on January 16-17, 2025, to discuss research regarding information and misinformation in the 2024 U.S. elections.  Research topics may include how campaigns used innovative new approaches to target and persuade voters, how social media influenced voters, what the electorate knew (or did not know) about the candidates and issues, misinformation in the election, election rumors and denialism, rhetoric about election integrity, disinformation dissemination and impact on the election, and conspiracy theories regarding the candidates and the administration of the election. While we will likely focus on research from social sciences and computer science, we welcome research from all disciplines and methodologies.  Our main focus will be on the 2024 U.S. elections, but we welcome research proposals from previous elections or elections in other nations. When: January 16-17, 2025. Where: Pasadena, California. 

Fair Elections and Voting Rights: What’s Ahead in the Next Four Years?: 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. This webinar will feature Amy Gardner, The Washington Post, Pamela Karlan, Stanford Law School, and Stephen Richer, Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona (until Jan.1, 2025). Moderated by Richard L. Hasen (Director, Safeguarding Democracy Project). When: Jan. 28, 2025, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online

National Association of Secretaries of State Winter Conference: Join NASS at its Winter Conference in Washington, DC. The event will include workshops, committee meetings and awards luncheon. When: January 29-February 1, 2025. Where: Washington, DC. 

National Association of State Election Directors: Join NASED for their 2025 Winter Conference in Washington, DC. For security purposes, information about the agenda is limited, but a notional agenda is available here to help with scheduling. Tuesday, February 4 is closed to NASED Members only. Information about the conference venue and conference room block will be provided with your registration confirmation. Be advised that the NASED conference is not taking place concurrently with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) conference. When: February 2-5, 2025. Where: Washington, DC.

Job Postings This Week

electionlineWeekly publishes election administration job postings each week as a free service to our readers. To have your job listed in the newsletter, please send a copy of the job description, including a web link to mmoretti@electionline.org.  Job postings must be received by 5pm on Wednesday in order to appear in the Thursday newsletter. Listings will run for three weeks or till the deadline listed in the posting.

Campaign Manager/Director, Supreme Court Reform– The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve our systems of democracy and justice. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to court reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving constitutional protections in the fight against terrorism. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting-edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them — in the courts, in Congress and the states, and in the court of public opinion.The Brennan Center’s Kohlberg Center on the U.S. Supreme Court was established in 2024 to advocate for reform of the Supreme Court to prevent ethical abuses, reduce partisanship and extremism, and ensure that the Court plays a more  balanced and appropriate role in our constitutional democracy. Building on the Brennan Center’s long-standing work, including in support of Supreme Court term limits and ethics reform, the Kohlberg Center promotes research and policy development, pursues policy advocacy, and engages in broad public education. Salary: $90,000-$140,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

City Clerk, Vernon California– The City Clerk position plans, directs, supervises, and coordinates all activities of the City Clerk’s Office related to Council meetings, City elections, and public records in accordance with applicable laws, codes, policies, and procedures. The City Clerk oversees two full-time staff members: the Deputy City Clerk and Clerk Specialist. This position maintains the City Municipal Code, certifies City documents, and attests to proper execution of all public documents. The City is seeking a detail oriented, thorough, and responsive candidate to serve as the next City Clerk. The ideal candidate is politically astute with excellent customer service. A team player who is approachable and engaged will do well in this role. The next City Clerk must have the ability to research, review, correct, and maintain complex and extensive public records; monitor the City’s compliance with all laws, regulations, and rules; encourage civic engagement; and assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects, and demands. Salary: $189,584 – $230,441. Deadline: Jan 12. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy County Clerk, III, Boone County, Missouri– This position provides general supervision in the voter registration department, manages the recruitment, training, payroll, and assignment of election judges for polling places and early voting in Boone County, and provides election information to the public. Join the Boone County team and Make a Difference! Boone County Government offers a competitive benefits package that includes comprehensive health/dental/vision insurance on day one (with options for medical/dental with NO employee premium!), a pension plan, two matching deferred compensation plans, 14 paid holidays, generous sick and vacation leave, and no-cost disability and life insurance options. Boone County is a Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness qualifying employer. Visit our website and apply at: www.showmeboone.com/HR. Columbia, MO is a thriving college town and the cultural hub of mid-Missouri, hosting popular events such as the True/False Film Festival and the Roots N Blues BBQ Festival and a diverse art, music, and restaurant scene. Columbia is the fourth most populous and fastest-growing city in Missouri with an estimated 126,254 residents in 2020. Resting upon the forested hills and rolling prairies of Mid-Missouri near the Missouri River valley, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the surrounding Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Mark Twain National Forest, and Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, in addition to hiking over 278 miles of our local trails! Many popular destinations are a short drive away, including the Capitol of Jefferson City, the Lake of the Ozarks, Saint Louis, and Kansas City all within a two-hour drive or less. Salary: $18.04 – $27.06 per hour. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Director of Elections/General Registrar, Richmond, Virginia–  The Richmond Virginia Electoral Board is seeking a Director of Elections/General Registrar to provide professional and technical leadership to the Office of Elections and manage the day-to-day operations of the Voter Registration Office.  The General Registrar is responsible for ensuring the necessary resources are acquired and in place to maintain the list of registered voters and assure elections are well-prepared and conducted in an accurate, efficient, and transparent manner.  The General Registrar is to be responsible for planning, overseeing and administering the electoral process in the City of Richmond, Virginia. The General Registrar must be self-directed and will have no direct immediate supervisor but will report to and seek guidance from the Richmond, Virginia Electoral Board.   Additionally, the General Registrar will receive guidance, training and advice from the Virginia Department of elections as well as various Richmond City departments and will be tasked with the responsibilities of keeping the Board informed of all relevant matters pertaining to the smooth operation of the Voter Registration Office. This is a “termed” position appointed by the Richmond Electoral Board with an ending date of June 30, 2029. Salary: $128,297.00 – $214,244.00 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Election Judge Supervisor, Boone County, Missouri – This position provides general supervision in the voter registration department, manages the recruitment, training, payroll, and assignment of election judges for polling places and early voting in Boone County, and provides election information to the public. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, preferably with concentration in English, history, or political science; or equivalent combination of education and experience; demonstrated interest in local government; and previous supervisory/managerial experience. Strong interpersonal skills and familiarity with computer software programs. Registered voter of Boone County or become registered within 60 days of hire. Salary Range: $18.04 – $27.06 per hour. 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 Manager, Boone County, Missouri– Provides supervision of office personnel; assigns work, trains, and reviews work; organizes schedules and election calendars; administers all aspects of election activities including Election Day voting, no excuse absentee voting, voter registration, and daily election processes. Prepares the layouts for the ballots and public notices; proofs the ballot to ensure complete accuracy; programs and tests ballot counting equipment; oversees printing and final proofing of the ballot. Reviews election policies and procedures and makes recommendations on improvements or changes, including changes due to new legislation or regulations. Assists media and public with general election questions and information. Develops and maintains office procedures concerning all aspects of voter registration and election administration; sorts and prints all computer-generated election related materials; inventories and purchases office supplies. Salary: $58,531 – $73,174 per year.  Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Operation Manager, Boone County, Missouri– This position is responsible for the inventory and maintenance of voting equipment and warehouse operations, including polling place support and supervision of temporary workers. Join the Boone County team and Make a Difference! Boone County Government offers a competitive benefits package that includes comprehensive health/dental/vision insurance on day one (with options for medical/dental with NO employee premium!), a pension plan, two matching deferred compensation plans, 14 paid holidays, generous sick and vacation leave, and no-cost disability and life insurance options. Boone County is a Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness qualifying employer. Visit our website and apply at: www.showmeboone.com/HR. Columbia, MO is a thriving college town and the cultural hub of mid-Missouri, hosting popular events such as the True/False Film Festival and the Roots N Blues BBQ Festival and a diverse art, music, and restaurant scene. Columbia is the fourth most populous and fastest-growing city in Missouri with an estimated 126,254 residents in 2020. Resting upon the forested hills and rolling prairies of Mid-Missouri near the Missouri River valley, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the surrounding Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Mark Twain National Forest, and Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, in addition to hiking over 278 miles of our local trails! Many popular destinations are a short drive away, including the Capitol of Jefferson City, the Lake of the Ozarks, Saint Louis, and Kansas City all within a two-hour drive or less. Salary: $20.92 – $31.38 per hour.  Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Training & Communications Coordinator, Coconino County, Arizona– At Coconino County, public service matters. Our dedication to public service promotes a culture that elicits employee growth, cultivates inspiration, and creates future leaders by empowering employees to solve internal and external customer needs and exceed customer service expectations.  As an award-winning organization with high regard for cultural diversity and the positive contributions of the many thriving cultures within our county, our nation, and our society, Coconino County leads a variety of initiatives that celebrate diversity; from our Annual Diversity Day, and monthly Heritage Lunch & Learns, to book clubs, and professional development academies which target diverse workforce segments. Coconino County’s respect for diversity is shared throughout the organization. Be part of this optimistic, innovative team where outstanding customer service creates dynamic solutions and engages leadership at every level. Under general supervision performs complex work managing the delivery of information and training to elections workers, the media, the public, candidates and political parties; performs related duties as assigned. This position may require work after hours, weekends, and Holidays. Salary: $52,889.28 – $76,807.28. Deadline: Jan. 17. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Harris Regional Services Technician, Hart InterCivic – A Harris Regional Services Technician responds to all customer requests ranging from training requests to phone support requests, to onsite repair of voting equipment requests. This individual is one of the local customer support routes. The position requires residency in Harris County, Texas. The Regional Service Technician handles all Return Material Authorization (RMA) requests for external customers for all Hart InterCivic Verity products within his/her region and provides on-site customer support and troubleshooting on an as-needed basis. This position will adhere to the Proprietary Information and Intellectual Property Agreement as it defines and communicates this position’s responsibilities to protect the Company’s information and information security. This responsibility extends outside the organization’s premises and outside normal working hours, e.g., in the case of work-from-home. 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.

New Hampshire Customer Success Representative, Voting Works– The Customer Success Representative will work under the Head of Customer Success to ensure the success of all VotingWorks customers with a special focus on New Hampshire customers by maintaining customer support systems, providing remote and in-person technical support, conducting training, and providing product feedback to the hardware and software teams. If you consider yourself a solution-driven or process person with strong election administration experience, with a knack for teaching, troubleshooting, and supporting election officials, this position is for you. The ideal candidate will have a strong election administration and technical background and an interest in supporting election officials. They will be able to build trust with customers. Salary: $56-80,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Organizing Associate, Center for Tech and Civic Life– When you think about elections, you might think about popular candidates, “I voted” stickers, and all sorts of paperwork and deadlines. Behind the scenes are thousands of people in state and local government working hard to make sure accurate election information is published, ballots are counted, and voices are heard. We are seeking a motivated and outgoing community organizer and advocate to help foster valuable and lasting relationships with local elections offices across the country. As CTCL’s Organizing Associate, you will support CTCL’s nonpartisan advocacy strategy to empower elections officials in administering inclusive and secure elections. The ideal candidate thrives in social environments and is eager to get out from behind a screen and into the field. You will visit small towns and major cities across the country to connect with local election administrators and their staff at association meetings, support the development of campaign resources and materials, and build relationships with potential partners to better understand how to connect elections offices with helpful information and public resources. You’ll report to one of our Organizing Managers and work in collaboration with other members of the CTCL team. This is a new role in a growing department that is focused on the resiliency of election infrastructure and educating individuals about the need to secure public funding for local election offices.  As an Organizing Associate with CTCL you will contribute to a nonpartisan program that is supporting our country’s local election officials to make meaningful community change. Salary: $58,914 – $75,410. 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.

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