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Election News This Week

Public Opinion: According to a new poll from The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs, a majority of Republicans say they are confident in the 2024 vote count after Donald Trump’s win. About 6 in 10 Republicans said they have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence that the votes in last year’s presidential election were counted correctly nationwide, according to the poll. That’s a sharp rise from about 2 in 10 Republicans who were confident in an AP-NORC poll in October. And about two-thirds of Republicans in the new survey said they were confident in their state’s vote count, up from about 4 in 10 before the election. That helped drive up the share of Americans saying they have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence in the accuracy of the election to about 6 in 10. That’s higher than in October, when roughly half of Americans said they were highly confident the votes would be counted accurately. Threats toward local election officials soared after 2020, leading to a wave of veteran administrators leaving office. In a potential sign that those hostilities might ease, the poll found that about 7 in 10 Americans have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence that votes in the 2024 presidential election were counted accurately by their local election officials, up from about 6 in 10 in October. 

Uncounted Ballot Investigation: The Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously authorized an investigation into Madison’s mishandling of nearly 200 absentee ballots from the November 2024 election that were never counted. According to Votebeat, it’s the first such investigation that the bipartisan commission has authorized since becoming an agency in 2016. The review will allow the agency to probe whether Madison Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl violated the law or abused her discretion. Democratic Commissioner Ann Jacobs told Votebeat that her priority wasn’t “punishment” but to figure out “what on earth went wrong here.” “Our lack of knowledge, information that wasn’t given to us in a timely fashion, I think we need to do something more formal,” Jacobs said at the meeting. The late discovery that 193 absentee ballots from voters in the state capital weren’t counted appears to have resulted from mistakes at two separate polling locations and the lack of a comprehensive system for poll workers to track whether they’ve counted every absentee ballot. The city’s election results were certified without any acknowledgment of the 193 missing ballots. Some of the missing ballots were discovered on Nov. 12, as the county canvass was still going on, though most weren’t found until nearly a month after Election Day. “My issue is not with the magnitude,” GOP Commissioner Don Millis said. “While the magnitude is significant, the issue is why was this not determined or caught by the time of either the local canvass or county canvass.”

Special Swearing-In: When you’re being sworn into office for the fourth time, it can seem sorta routine, but not for Hillsborough County, Florida Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer! For his fourth swearing-in, ceremonies were held at Hillsborough Academy of Math and Science. In addition to the swearing-in ceremonies, Latimer was on hand to teach a civics lesson to 8th graders. “This is Civics 101,” Latimer told Spectrum News. “We’re going to show these students what it is to be sworn in when you’re elected to office, and the responsibilities that you have.” Hillsborough County Judge Daryl Manning presided over the ceremony and explained to students what it means to take an oath. “That’s an oath, that’s what people take, so you can be responsible, not only to yourself, but to the person sitting to the left and the right of you,” he said. And making the day even more special for Latimer, his grandson, Keaton, held the Bible for the swearing in ceremony.  Keaton is a student at the school, and while he’s always been a part of his grandfather’s swearing in ceremonies, it was his idea to bring the ceremony to his school, and with a little help from his teacher, he made it happen. “My history teacher is the one who helped us be able to do all this, so he was very excited about it because I’ve told him before, you know my grandfather is the supervisor of elections, he’s my civics and my world history teacher, so he loved the idea about that,” said Keaton. Latimer said sharing this memory with his grandson, and his fellow students, made it one of his most special ceremonies, and he hopes seeing civics in action inspires students to get involved as adults. Latimer was first elected to his position in November 2012, and was re-elected in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

EAC Clearie Awards: This week, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) opened the submission period for the ninth annual national Clearinghouse Awards, also known as “The Clearies.” This award program recognizes the exceptional and innovative work of election offices across the country during the 2024 election cycle and their invaluable role in the foundation of U.S. election infrastructure. Programs are judged on creativity and innovation, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and impact by a committee of peers. Any program used in an election can be submitted for consideration, and election jurisdictions of all sizes are encouraged to participate. The Clearies are just one way the EAC advances its mission to be a source of election administration best practices and showcase outstanding programs that other election offices may implement to better serve voters. All entries must be received by February 14, 2025, with the honorees to be announced in the spring. Visit www.eac.gov/clearies to view all of the submission guidelines. All entries and accompanying materials must be submitted through the EAC’s online form. The 2024 Clearies Award categories are:

• Accessibility: Best Practices for Improving Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities       
• Communications: Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives
• Contingency Planning (new category for 2024): Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts
• Election Administration: Innovations or New Practices in Election Administration 
• Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Grants: Outstanding Use of HAVA Grants in Election Modernization
• Poll Workers: Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers
• Security: Innovation and New Tools in Election Security and Technology
• “I Voted” Stickers: Creative and Original “I Voted” Stickers

Information on the contest and 2023 Clearies winners can be found at www.eac.gov/clearies. Please send any questions to the EAC at clearinghouse@eac.gov.

News from Election Center Board: The Election Center is pleased to announce the new Board of Directors officers for 2025. The Chair of the Board is Tom Wilkey, who is a founding member of the Election Center and is a former Executive Director of the New York State Board of Elections. Tom was also the first permanent Executive Director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. “I am honored to have this opportunity to continue to serve the field to which I have dedicated my professional career,” Wilkey said. “I look forward to working with this diverse group of dedicated election administrators.” The Vice Chair is Steve Moreno, who is a former Weld County, Colorado Commissioner. Prior to serving as a commissioner, Steve was the Weld County Clerk and Recorder. The Secretary is Derek Bowens, who is the Director of Elections in Durham County, North Carolina. The Treasurer is Shauna Dozier, the Director of Elections in Clayton County, Georgia. The former chair, Susan Gill, who is a former Supervisor of Elections in Citrus County, Florida, will remain on the Board. This is an exceptionally experienced group with deep outreach into the election administration community, and they will lead the organization well. 

Personnel News: Ohio Democrat Bryan Hambley, a cancer doctor with University of Cincinnati Health, announced this week he is running for secretary of state. Venitia Shoulders has been elected to serve a full, four-year term on the Richland County, Ohio Board of Elections. Arkansas Senator Kim Hammer (R-Benton) has announced his campaign for secretary of state in the 2026 election. Tobias Reed has officially been sworn-in as the new Oregon secretary of state. Jefferson County, Colorado Clerk Amanda Gonzalez has announced her candidacy for secretary of state. Chattooga County, Georgia Commissioner Andy Allen officially named the members of the newly established Chattooga County Board of Elections this week. Karen Castor has been sworn-in as the new Orange County, Florida supervisor of elections. Missouri Secretary of State-elect Denny Hoskins has announced the appointment of Nick La Strada as the new Director of Election Integrity. Kenya Ponder Williams has been sworn in as the new Gadsden County, Florida supervisor of elections. Sherri Hodies has been sworn in as the new Monroe County, Florida supervisor of elections. New York City Board of Elections Executive Director Mike Ryan has been suspended three weeks without pay after a Department of Investigations report found that he created a hostile work environment. Ryan must also take sensitivity training and will be on probation for one year. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab has announced his candidacy for governor.

In Memoriam: A state funeral was held in Washington, DC. today for former President Jimmy Carter who died on December 29 at the age of 100. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Mark Niesse has a nice write-up about President Carter’s lasting legacy of global election monitoring and transparency. The Carter Center’s election monitoring work started in 1989 with missions to Central American nations and later expanded within the United States after the 2020 election. Carter saw a need for greater accountability through election observation efforts to help ensure the results reflect the will of the voters, David Carroll, director for the Carter Center’s Democracy Program told the AJC. “It’s a critical way to have leaders that can be recognized as genuinely democratically elected,” Carroll said. “Those can be really divisive issues, and we’re helping to make it a more transparent process so that all sides can have confidence in the results.” The Carter Center has observed 125 elections in 40 countries and three Native American nations. Carter led the Commission on Federal Election Reform with former Republican Secretary of State James Baker, which recommended more professional oversight of elections, stronger controls on absentee ballots to reduce the possibility of voter fraud, increased voter registration and photo ID. “It’s hard to imagine anyone who is a greater evangelist for democracy,” said David Becker, executive director for the Center for Election Innovation & Research, an organization that works with election officials to improve voter confidence. “He did the hard work of the nuts and bolts of democracy. He made sure it actually works and gives voters’ confidence that their vote had meaning.” After the 2020 election, Carter spoke out against Georgia’s elections overhaul law. “We must not promote confidence among one segment of the electorate by restricting the participation of others,” Carter said in 2021. “Our goal always should be to increase, not decrease, voter participation.” Since 2020, the Carter Center has expanded its observation efforts to include areas within the United States.

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Arizona:  Six bills that could change the way residents vote will be making their way to legislator’s desks in Arizona next week. They are: House Bill 2004, would make changes to who can receive a voter registration card when out of state; House Bill 2005, would allow the county recorder to place the voter registration as “inactive” for those suspected of voting fraud; House Bill 2006, would require non-government entities to include the words “not from government agencies” on the outside of an official election-related document when delivering it; House Bill 2007, would stipulate that money or any other thing of value cannot be traded for voter registration collections; House Bill 2017, would ban voting centers in favor of precincts and increase the amount of poll workers at precincts; and Senate Bill 1011, would quicken the ballot-counting process.

Arkansas: Rep. Wayne Long, R-Bradford, filed a bill that would require candidates to win a majority of votes in order to be elected to the state Legislature. The legislation, House Bill 1078, would undo Arkansas’ first-past-the-post voting system for state legislative races, where candidates have to win only a plurality of votes in order to win office. The system Long proposed through legislation requires a candidate to win more than 50% of the vote before being declared the winner. In a contest with three or more candidates in which none win an outright majority in the general election, the top two vote-getters would again face off in a runoff election four weeks later under Long’s bill. If the runoff election ends with the candidates being tied, then “the State Board of Election Commissioners shall determine the winner of the special runoff election by lot at an open public meeting.”

Idaho: Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, introduced a bill in the House State Affairs Committee this week to amend Idaho’s law related to the voting threshold for statewide ballot initiatives and referendums. Idaho Code currently states that “no measure shall be adopted unless it shall receive an affirmative majority of the aggregate number of votes cast on such measure.” This means an initiative or referendum can pass so long as it receives 50% of the vote plus one. Skaug’s bill proposes to change that language, increasing the threshold to at least 60% of votes. The bill so far has 11 legislative co-sponsors in the Idaho House and Senate. The committee voted to move the bill forward, clearing the way for a full public hearing at a later date. Rep. Todd Achilles, D-Boise, said he has concerns he wants Skaug to address moving forward, pointing out that the Idaho Supreme Court in 2021 ruled that initiatives are a fundamental right to Idahoans. “We’re putting a 60% threshold on citizens, on Idaho citizens, when we as legislators only have a 50% threshold, so I think we have to justify that more clearly,” he said.

Maine Ballot Measure: The Voter ID for Maine Campaign–backed by the conservative Dinner Table PAC–submitted more than 170,000 petition signatures this week seeking to put a ballot measure before Mainers that would, if approved, require voters to present a photo ID.  The petition submitted this week would make changes to additional aspects of Maine election law, such as absentee voting. In addition to including language to require identification at the time of voting, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows explained that it also changes other aspects of Maine elections including absentee voting and the process to challenge a ballot. And because it is a citizen’s initiative, Bellows said the text of the petition has to go to voters as is. It can’t be amended before appearing on the ballot.  Though Bellows said “reasonable people can agree to disagree” on the policy of showing identification at the time of voting, she is concerned by the other aspects of the proposal. Bellows said the petition would politicize the election process. Currently, municipal clerks — which is not a partisan position — are responsible for collecting the content of absentee ballot drop boxes. The petition seeks to change that to a “bipartisan team of election officials.” Details on how those teams would be decided and formed are not outlined in the petition. Bellows also said the proposal would make absentee voting harder, such as by repealing the provision allowing immediate family members to drop off ballots for each other. It also wants to roll back ongoing absentee voting, which allows voters to have absentee ballots mailed to them automatically for each election cycle. This option was implemented last February for voters over the age of 65 who self-identify as having a disability. Additionally, the petition would remove the option for municipalities to get approval for multiple ballot drop boxes, instead requiring them to only have one.  The petition also seeks to change the process for challenging someone’s right to vote. Under current law, it is up to a challenger to prove that someone doesn’t have the right to vote in a certain election. Challenged voters may still cast a ballot, but it is marked as being challenged so that it can be reviewed in the event of a close race. The petition wants to shift the burden of proof onto the person who is being challenged, Bellows explained.

Massachusetts: Gov. Maura Healy has signed legislation into law that will allow the city of Granby to hold recall elections. The provision, a home rule petition, was introduced by state Sen. Jacob R. Oliveira and state Reps. Daniel R. Carey and Mindy Domb in 2023. A person connected to the Granby clerk’s office said the bill was introduced via a petition by town residents over a potential future need and not because of any pressing need to recall any town official. The legislation establishes a framework for initiating recall petitions in Granby. To initiate a petition, 100 or more registered voters must file an affidavit with the town clerk, according to the text of the legislation. If the petition is signed by at least a quarter of the town’s registered voters, the Granby Selectboard must call for a recall election. There are about 5,192 registered voters in the town, according to data kept by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office. The bill specifies grounds for recall, including conviction of a felony or ethical violations. It outlines procedures for conducting the recall election and electing a successor if the incumbent is recalled. Additionally, the bill prevents recalled officials from being reappointed to town office for two years.

Oklahoma Ballot Measure: Supporters of open primaries have refiled their initiative petition to clarify some concerns. State Question 835 has been refiled as State Question 836. The new wording clarifies that the constitutional provisions do not impact the selection of presidential electors and ensures that the initiative only addresses the process for partisan primary elections at the state, county and federal levels. Presidential elections would be unaffected. The new language also clarifies that candidates will appear on the ballot identified by party registration. The old language used the term “affiliation.” Under the proposal, Oklahoma primaries would be open to all voters with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election. Voters would only be able to choose one candidate for each office. Supporters need 172,993 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. They are hoping to get it on the November 2026 ballot. “We are refiling our initiative petition out of an abundance of caution,” said Robert McCampbell, an attorney for petition supporters. “While SQ 835 was clear and legally sound, we don’t want to allow (an) opportunity for misinterpretation that could overshadow the real purpose of this initiative – ensuring every voter in Oklahoma has a voice in our elections.”

Utah: A new bill proposed in Utah’s legislature is seeking to raise how many active voters can be inside of a voting precinct. H.B. 27, sponsored by Representative James Dunnigan (R-HD36), is seeking to increase the current 1,250 cap, to 3,000, in an effort to adapt to Utah’s growing population. In an interview with ABC4.com, Dunnigan says the change is important as the population grows. “Utah is growing, our population is growing, so we are going to allow a precinct to have up to 3,000 voters,” Dunnigan explained while speaking of his bill. “It doesn’t mean they will have 3,000, but they can have that many.” According to current law, when precincts reach 1,250 voters, county clerks are required to split those precincts. Regardless of whether those two new precincts are voting in the same elections. The last time that cap was increased was in 2006. Though the bill has been written and introduced, it still has to go through the legislative process. It will need to pass committee votes and go through each chamber of the state’s legislature before being sent to the Governor for signing.

Virginia: Under current Virginia law, adults placed into a guardianship or conservatorship are automatically deemed ineligible to vote. State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40) has introduced legislation that would eliminate the automatic stripping of voting rights of those who come under a guardianship. Prefiled in December, Favola’s Senate Bill 765 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services. It should receive a sympathetic hearing there, as Favola chairs that committee. Favola’s bill, if passed, would require courts to determine if an individual covered by a guardianship or conservatorship has an interest in voting, and only remove voting rights after a formal determination is made on the matter. “Moreover, my bill would prohibit the use of ‘poll test’ questions and would require that the court provide an individual with access to appropriate accommodations, if such accommodations are necessary for the individual to communicate their interest in voting,” Favola told FFXnow. Virginia law allows courts to appoint a guardian or conservator for adults who have been found “mentally incompetent,” meaning they’re unable to process information effectively to the point where they need assistance to address their own health and safety needs and to manage finances.

Wisconsin: Senate Republicans pushed forward a proposal this week to amend the state constitution to require that voters provide photo identification when casting their ballots. The state implemented voter ID laws fully for the first time in 2016, requiring voters to show a valid photo ID when casting their ballots. Republican lawmakers said they want to add it to the state constitution to make it harder to repeal the requirement and harder for the state Supreme Court to overrule the law. With the measure added to the constitution, it would take another constitutional amendment to remove it. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee passed the measure January 7, despite Democrats complaining that it was being rushed through, is redundant given current state law and that voter ID laws are harmful.  The Senate approved the measure as a whole this week, so it can then be sent to the Assembly in time for it to be placed on the April ballot. To protect voter ID requirements, Republicans’ proposal would add language in the state constitution requiring that to vote, a qualified elector in any election must first present a photo ID issued by the state, by the federal government, by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band, or by a college or university in Wisconsin. The amendment would require acceptable forms of ID to be specified in law, authorize lawmakers to pass laws establishing exceptions to the photo ID requirement and require that a person unable to present valid ID before voting on Election Day must be given the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot and present a valid photo ID at a later time and place.  To enact a constitutional amendment, lawmakers must pass identically worded proposals in two consecutive legislative sessions before sending it to voters, who decide whether to ratify the change. Republicans passed the proposal the first time in November 2023.

Gov. Tony Evers (D) is proposing that the Legislature create a way for Wisconsin residents to directly create ballot measures that make statutory and constitutional changes through the referendum process. Evers’ proposal for a “binding referendum” process would allow citizens to put proposed measures before the electorate for ratification.  Wisconsin law currently permits the Legislature to place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, after they pass two consecutive legislative sessions. But Wisconsin doesn’t have a way for voters themselves to introduce initiatives or place a binding referendum on the statewide ballot. Republican lawmakers have turned to constitutional amendments in recent years as a way to  bypass the governor’s veto pen. Evers said that if Republicans are going to continue to utilize that process, Wisconsin citizens should also have the opportunity to place questions on the ballot. “If Republican lawmakers are going to continue to try to legislate by constitutional amendment, then they should give Wisconsinites the same opportunities that 26 other states have,” Evers said.

Election officials are considering two strategies to change how quickly ballots are counted. Both would require approval in the majority-Republican Legislature. At least one of them is highly likely to get signed into law in 2025. One proposed measure would significantly simplify early in-person voting procedures. Currently, people who vote early in person receive and fill out absentee ballots, which get set aside in envelopes and aren’t processed or tabulated until election day. The proposal clerks are considering, which is similar to a measure that received some legislative support several years ago, would allow early voters instead to put their ballots right into a tabulator. The other measure, which has been repeatedly pitched and then rejected in one or both legislative chambers, would allow election officials to get a one-day head start and begin processing absentee ballots on the Monday before the election. This past session, the proposal passed the Assembly but stalled in the Senate.

Legal Updates

Alabama: U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco has paused a lawsuit over Alabama’s voter purge program at the request of plaintiffs challenging the action and attorneys for the state. Manasco issued a Dec. 27 order  to stay the case, which stems from Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen’s efforts to remove alleged noncitizens from the voter rolls ahead of the 2024 general election, which affected 3,251 voters. “Despite their disagreement over the reason that a stay of proceedings is appropriate, both private plaintiffs and the state defendants agree as to the outcome,” both parties stated in the request for a stay. The plaintiffs, including the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the League of Women Voters of Alabama, claim that the program disproportionately targeted naturalized citizens and violated federal election law deadlines. Parties had different reasons for seeking the pause. State officials said in the filing that a “different, as yet undesigned, process in 2025” could render some claims potentially moot, with the yet-to-be-redesigned process addressing data accuracy and issues raised in the lawsuit. Plaintiffs said they hope to negotiate a settlement while maintaining their objections to certain procedural delays​. Due to these potential changes, “private plaintiffs believe that a stay of proceedings in light of potential partial or full settlement resolution is the best path forward.”

Alaska: Prosecutors will again attempt to convict a former state legislator on election-tampering charges after their first attempt ended with a hung jury late last year. In a court hearing this week, Alaska Chief Assistant Attorney General Jenna Gruenstein confirmed that the Alaska Department of Law is continuing its case against Gabrielle LeDoux, a Republican who represented Kodiak in the Alaska House from 2005 to 2009 and an Anchorage district from 2013 to 2021. In spring 2020, state prosecutors accused LeDoux of illegally encouraging people who lived outside her district to cast votes within the district. Some charges were dismissed, but LeDoux faced five felony charges and seven misdemeanor charges this year. Her case was repeatedly postponed and reached trial in November, more than four years after initial charges were filed. After a week of court arguments, jurors split for and against LeDoux’s guilt, and Judge Kevin Saxby declared a mistrial.Saxby set Feb. 3 as the date of the next hearing between the two sides.

Georgia: Election officials gave the wrong ballot to dozens of voters in a South Georgia school board race in November, requiring a third election for the same seat after previous errors during the initial election last summer. Superior Court Judge John Pridgen ordered the new election for Ben Hill County Board of Education this week because the race was left off the ballot for 88 voters. The race was decided by just 29 votes. After last May’s school board election in Ben Hill County, a judge threw out the results because 26 voters who live on the same street were given ballots for the wrong district. Then in the second election in November, election officials inadvertently excluded eligible voters when they updated registration records before Election Day. Pridgen’s order for a new election attributed the problem to an analyst for the secretary of state’s office who reviewed voter registration records the weekend before the election. Both candidates said the Ben Hill County elections office is ultimately responsible for ensuring voters receive the correct ballots. Ben Hill Elections Supervisor Rachel Roberts declined to explain what went wrong and referred questions to the county attorney, Nicholas Kinsley, who didn’t respond to emails seeking comment. “I’m not certain (what happened),” Roberts told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I just know we have to rerun it.”

Judge Lewis J. Liman found Rudy Guliani in contempt of court this week for failing to properly respond to requests for information as he turned over assets to satisfy a $148 million defamation judgment granted to two Georgia election workers. Liman ruled after hearing Giuliani testify for a second day at a contempt hearing called after lawyers for the election workers said the former New York City mayor had failed to properly comply with requests for evidence over the last few months. Liman said Giuliani “willfully violated a clear and unambiguous order of this court” when he “blew past” a Dec. 20 deadline to turn over evidence that would help the judge decide at a trial later this month whether Giuliani can keep a Palm Beach, Florida, condominium as his residence or must turn it over because it is deemed a vacation home.

Minnesota: The state Republican Party and conservative Minnesota Voters Alliance have asked the state Supreme Court to void Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to hold a special election Jan. 28 for a DFL-held House seat. The legal challenge is among the unsettled issues that will determine which party controls the Legislature in the 2025 session. The GOP petition seeks to delay the special election — and prolong the party’s advantage. Regardless of when the election occurs, the DFL is heavily favored to retain control of the seat, returning the House to a 67-67 tie. The GOP petition claimed Walz prematurely called the special election before the seat was vacant because incumbent Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, DFL-Roseville, remains in office. The 33-page GOP and Voters Alliance petition said Johnson can’t “resign” from a seat he was ineligible to hold. In a statement, Walz’s office defended his action. It said state law requires the governor to call a special election “as soon as possible”. The GOP petition called Walz’s order rushed, unlawful and premature. “Petitioners have found no other example in any special election in the history of Minnesota with similar facts and such an impetuous timeline,” it said. The Supreme Court has yet to act on the petition, which was announced Saturday. The court could reject it outright or request written briefs and schedule oral arguments.

North Carolina: Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Myers II sent a lawsuit challenging the results of a state Supreme Court election to the state’s highest court. Jefferson Griffin, a North Carolina court of appeals judge, challenged the results of his race for a Supreme Court seat against Supreme Court Associate Justice Allison Riggs after she secured a lead over him more than a week after the election. This is his first win in several legal challenges he has filed over the race, protesting the processing timeline and claiming that the state is counting ballots he considers to be unlawfully cast. Myers found that Griffin’s challenges do not raise an issue of federal law, and remanded the merits of Griffin’s request to the Supreme Court. “Should a federal tribunal resolve such a dispute?” Myers, a Donald Trump appointee, wrote in his order. “This court, with due regard for state sovereignty and the independence of states to decide matters of substantial public concern, thinks not.”  Griffin originally asked the state Supreme Court to intervene and keep the state board of elections from counting the disputed ballots and prevent it from certifying the election. Attorneys for the elections board moved the case to federal court, but Griffin is expected to have a much higher chance of success with his arguments now that they have returned to the Supreme Court, where Republicans hold a 5-2 majority.   The challenge raises unsettled questions over state constitutional and statutory law, Myers said, that the court is choosing to abstain from deciding. “The court ends as it began: a sitting state court judge seeks a writ of prohibition (a form of judicial relief authorized by the state constitution) from the state supreme court that would enjoin the state board of elections from counting votes for a state election contest that were cast by voters in a manner allegedly inconsistent with state law,” Myers said. Riggs — who was appointed to the court in 2023 by former Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat — has said that she plans to recuse herself from the case if the state Supreme Court hears it. She has announced her win, but Griffin has not conceded the race. On January 7, the state Supreme Court halted the election certification process, granting Griffin a temporary stay while legal proceedings in his challenge to ballots cast in the race are pending.

Pennsylvania: The Department of Justice has filed a voting rights lawsuit against the City of Hazleton on Tuesday. It alleges that its method of electing councils results in fewer opportunities for Hispanic citizens to participate in the city’s political process and to elect candidates of choice, violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It details that despite the population of Hazleton being 40% Hispanic voting-age citizens, Hispanic-preferred candidates run and routinely lose.  The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, alleges that changing the method of election can allow Hispanic voters to elect candidates of their choice to the city’s council. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that all citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process and elect candidates of choice. We look forward to working with officials to achieve a more perfect union by bringing Hazleton, Pennsylvania, into compliance with the Voting Rights Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Tennessee: Washington County Chancellor John Rambo has dismissed a lawsuit asking for a rerun of November’s Johnson City election. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of candidates who fell short of winning seats on the city’s school board and commission, against the Washington County Election Commission. “The plaintiffs’ complaint cannot be sustained,” Rambo said during a lengthy explanation of his decision. The complaint, filed and argued by plaintiffs Jay Emberton (a city commission candidate) and Ryan Berkley, Zaire Gary and Sam Pettyjohn (school board candidates) stemmed mainly from a mistake in Carter County’s administration of ballots in the Johnson City election. At least some Heather Lane voters — up to 44 — were given Johnson City election ballots even though that street is not inside the city limits. Joe Wise defeated Aaron Murphy by 38 votes overall. While he didn’t spare the Carter County Election Commission from criticism, Rambo said the plaintiffs didn’t claim fraud, and the mistake appeared to be an honest one. “Voiding an election is a drastic remedy,” he said. Lawyers for the Washington County Election Commission filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in December. They argued that the six votes at issue in Washington County weren’t enough to tip the election, and that because Murphy wasn’t a plaintiff, the three unsuccessful school board candidates and Emberton, who finished out of the running in the City Commission election, didn’t have standing. “It is not the responsibility and it is not proper for a judge to void an election due to mistakes being made that do not change the results of the election for the parties who are before the court,” Rambo said. Citing a section of Tennessee law on elections, Rambo said it “would require Aaron Murphy to be a party.”

Virginia: Two Waynesboro electoral board members  are continuing their challenge of ballot-counting machines. A month before election day last year, two of Waynesboro’s three electoral board members sued state election officials over how Virginia uses ballot-counting machines, refusing to certify the results under current procedure. In response, five local voters sued them. Judge Paul A. Dryer ordered the board members – Curtis Lilly II and Scott Mares – to certify the city’s election results, which they ultimately did. Dryer wrote in an opinion letter that their concerns would be best raised via the legislative process, and “the personal beliefs of a local board of elections cannot derail the election process for the entire commonwealth.” Since then, the electoral board members’ attorney filed to voluntarily drop their lawsuit against the state officials. But they’ve appealed the court order that made them sign off on the 2024 results. The Court of Appeals of Virginia has not yet indicated when they’ll review the case. Ranieri said in an email that they’re going to “make some adjustments to the original case theory” before bringing that back to the courts.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Investing in election administration | What to watch in 2025 | Election legislation | Voting rights

California: San Benito County | Special elections

Indiana: Accessibility 

Louisiana: Voter registration 

Michigan: Smooth elections | Election security 

Montana: Cascade County 

North Carolina: Ranked choice voting 

South Carolina: Election legislation 

Wyoming: Secretary of state

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.

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: January 12. 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; and 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. Why Lane County? Lane County, the fourth most populous county in Oregon, offers a rich and diverse landscape stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade Mountains. Our county seat, Eugene, is a vibrant community with ample opportunities for living, working, and recreation. We are proud to offer an excellent benefits package and the chance to make a meaningful impact in public service. Salary: $90,625.60 – $133,286.40 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Departmental Technician – Filing, Disclosure, and Compliance, Michigan Dept. of State: This position is responsible for helping state and local government in many of the essential functions of democracy by performing essential paraprofessional functions at the Bureau of Elections. This position assists staff in accepting and processing statewide proposal, recall, and candidate petitions as well as other documents required to be filed to run for office. This position assists and organizes the petition processing and counting processes and reviews petitions from candidates. This position supports staff with election night reporting, assists county clerks in the completion of the county election results review and coordinates with staff in the State election results review. The position will assist in the development of documents to guide the public in filing appropriate forms and petitions and will process general filings, mailings, payments & reports for the Division. Salary: $46,904.00 – $64,438.40 Annually. Deadline: Jan. 21. 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 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 Education Supervisor, Portland, Oregon – The Elections Division, within the City Auditor’s Office, is seeking a mission-driven, versatile elections professional to expand its public training and engagement across the fields of voter education, lobbying, and campaign finance. Particular emphasis will be on engaging historically underserved Portlanders by coordinating and conducting a community-based voter education grant program, managing curriculum design and public-facing information across regulations, and increasing understanding, trust, and transparency with Elections Division stakeholders. This position reports directly to the head of the City Elections Division. The Elections Division serves Portlanders by providing elections cycle management as well as oversight of campaign finance and lobbying regulations. Following the passage of measure 26-228 in 2022, the division has a new mandate to provide voter education. This role leads public education across these fields with travel throughout the Portland metro region. The position has a broad focus but will center voter education and recent electoral reforms with flexibility to prioritize campaign finance and lobbying education when necessary. Campaign finance and lobbying regulations govern the sources and limits of contributions in candidate campaigns (campaign finance) and attempts to influence City decision-making efforts (lobbying). Elections cycle management ranges from ballot qualification of candidates, initiative, referendum, and recall petitions, to ranked-choice voter education and results certification. The Auditor is an elected position, independent of City Council and accountable only to the public. The Auditor’s Office ensures open and accountable government by providing impartial reviews and investigations, access to public information, and services to City government and the public. It employs over 50 people across six divisions. Salary: $97,505.28 – $126,683/year. Deadline: Jan. 27. 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.

Security & Standards Section – Emerging Topics Specialist, Michigan Dept. of State – This role is responsible for acting at the Election Administration Emerging Topics Specialist, offering specialized support to the Bureau of Elections (BOE) Security and Standards Section. The specialist provides expert guidance on emerging issues and new solutions needed statewide, as well as at the at the municipal or county level. The incumbent will serve as BOE’s liaison with national, state, county, and local election administration experts, focusing on best practices for election day voting, early voting, absentee voting, and county and local election duties. Additionally, the specialist will identify opportunities to enhance statewide procedures and assist individual jurisdictions with unique or emerging issues that require expert resolution. Salary: $64,604.80 – $96,428.80 Annually Deadline: Jan. 16. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Marketplace

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