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Election News This Week

Threats to Democracy: A group of hooded and masked people broke dozens of windows and spray painted anti-government graffiti on the Multnomah County Elections building in what Portland police called an “orchestrated attack.” The attack happened just before 2 a.m. Jan. 20 and suspects fled as police arrived at the office, which was not occupied at the time. “It indicates, or demonstrates, what I would consider to be an orchestrated attack on this building,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day told reporters at a press conference. “It’s about eight to 10 folks. They were on scene for probably two minutes. So they definitely showed up with a plan … and were gone just as quickly just after they did the damage.” The graffiti was anti-establishment and anti-government, he said.The damaged windows were boarded up as of 9am Jan. 20 and the office was open for business as usual Tuesday, Denis Theriault, spokesperson with the Multnomah County Communications Office, said in an email. “Nothing like this has happened before in the 17 years I’ve been with Multnomah County,” Elections Director Tim Scott told the AP in an email. A contractor has been hired to measure the windows, with hopes to replace them by next week, he said. Also in the Pacific Northwest, last week the FBI gave an update on the investigation into the incendiary devices that were placed in drop boxes in Oregon and Washington in advance of the 2024 election. The devices used to spark the three ballot drop box fires were made of a “very volatile mix” of thermite and scrap metal, FBI agents said Thursday. Thermite devices are made of metal shavings and iron oxide, and can burn as hot as 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,204 Celsius), Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson told reporters at a news conference at the FBI’s Portland field office. He said the person who made the devices welded them using scrap metal for the exterior and inserted thermite inside. Thermite can be easily made, he added. “We’re very worried that this person may harm himself or others if he continues to experiment with thermite,” Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington said. “In addition to the physical risks, these devices can cause significant damage to homes, storage areas or testing locations such as fields and forests.”

Board of Elections News: The North Carolina State Board of Elections dismissed along party lines complaints about county elections board members in Wake and Rowan Counties who declined to remove ballots of voters who had died before Election Day, contrary to instructions. Complaints about three Wake County elections board members and four Rowan board members sought removal from their posts. Democrats on the state elections board voted not to move forward with the complaints, while its two Republican members said they had enough evidence to call for hearings.  Two of the state board’s Democrats said the law is unclear.  “It is disturbing when our memos are not adhered to,” said Jeff Carmon, a Democratic member. “The lack of clarity from our legislature gives them an out.” The Virginia Board of Elections is seeking to remove Waynesboro Electoral Board Vice Chair Curtis Lilly II from his post after he attempted to prevent the certification of last November’s election results. Lilly, who was chair at the time and was part of a conservative majority on the three-person local board, said he would not certify the election results unless all ballots were hand-counted. The attempts to thwart the certification of the votes failed after a band of Waynesboro voters filed a countersuit and the state requested the case be dismissed, calling it “dubious” and “contrived.” The state board’s 5-0 vote on Jan. 15 petitions that same court to remove Lilly from his post. 

Investigations: Investigations in several states into issues from the 2024 election are ongoing. The Burlington County, New Jersey board of supervisors have agreed to hire an independent special council to look into what caused long lines and hours of delays for voters on Election Day in 2024.  “Burlington County residents deserve accountability and appropriate action to ensure the 2024 election failures are not repeated, and our Board is committed to making sure that occurs,” Felicia Hopson, the Burlington County Commissioner Director, said in a statement this week. “We have decided that it is in the best interest of all parties that the review be performed by an independent third-party.” The election was the first to use ballot marking devices and tabulators at polling locations. Older switch-based machines had been used for the past 25 years. The new machines used a voter-verifiable paper record that is a “significant increase in security that wasn’t present with the old machines,” the county said. In November, the Commissioner Board asked the Superintendent of Elections and the Board of Elections to submit a report about the issues on election day, a county statement said. “While both offices have gathered information, neither has the expertise to complete the review process,” the statement concluded. Commissioners have appointed Connell Foley LLP as independent special counsel. The firm was the only respondent to a request for proposal issued earlier this month. The term for the contract runs through December 31, 2025. Levinsky said a resolution passed this month said the cost for the special counsel service should not exceed $250,000. In Madison, Wisconsin an article from Votebeat indicated that about 70 of the nearly 200 uncounted ballots discovered after Election Day may have been able to be counted if staff members had promptly alerted the county. The clerk’s office staff didn’t find 125 of the uncounted ballots until Dec. 3, after the state already certified the election. But they found 68 of them well before that, on Nov. 12, the same day Dane County certified the election. If the clerk’s office had reported the missing votes to the county within a few days, the county election board could have petitioned the Wisconsin Elections Commission to amend its results to include those ballots. And in Pennsylvania, the state attorney general’s office has taken over the investigation  of alleged fraudulent voter registration applications submitted in several counties ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The counties include Berks, Lancaster and York. The attorney general’s office informed the Lancaster County district attorney’s office earlier this month that the commonwealth would take the lead on the multi-county investigation, according to a news release from District Attorney Heather Adams on Jan. 21. Lancaster County detectives reviewed 1,203 applications received by the elections office. Of those, 367 were verified as accurate, 383 were found to “contain fraud” and 453 were unable to be verified and are therefore suspected to be fraudulent, according to Adams’ office.

Online Voter Registration: Last week, the Elections System of the Virgin Islands launched its online voter registration portal. “Adopting online voter registration reduces costs, enhances government efficiency, and builds more complete and accurate voter lists,” said Elections Supervisor Caroline Fawkes while introducing the portal. Noting that registering voters online was pioneered by the state of Arizona in 2002, Ms. Fawkes said that the practice has grown significantly in the years since. The USVI joined 43 states, the District of Columbia and Guam in offering online voter registration. Fawkes said she hopes the introduction of online voter registration not only increases registration numbers, but also turnout. On the portal, resident citizens will be able to register as a new voter, update their registration information, cancel their registration, or request an absentee ballot for an upcoming election, all from the comfort of their home, office, or the beach, if they choose. Explainer videos in English and Spanish for each process will be available on the ESVI website to guide users along. Any issues encountered during the online registration process will be forwarded to ESVI officials, who will then contact the individuals to assist them in resolving any problems they may encounter. Once the registration information has been submitted, it will be verified by ESVI staff and in two to five business days, the individual’s voter registration status will have been updated. For a new voter, once their registration has been approved, they will have to make a trip to the ESVI offices should they wish to receive a voter identification card. However, not even that is strictly necessary, as Virgin Islanders are able to use any form of government-issued identification to vote. “We’re elated that we’re able to implement this process,” Fawkes said.

Personnel News: Leela Strong, is the new Newhouse Director of CIRCLE. Rita Vaughan is out as Apache County, Arizona elections director. Mark Simon is out as the Beauregard Parish elections supervisor. Kaleb Breaux is the Collin County, Texas elections administrator. Chris Drexel is the new Erie County, Pennsylvania board of elections chairman. Cochise County, Arizona Recorder David Stevens plans to step down. Lily Woo is the new civic and voter education coordinator for the State of New Hampshire. Susan Verble is the new Stark County, Ohio board of elections director. Falmouth, Massachusetts Town Clerk Michael Palmer announced that he is no longer retiring this spring. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Heather Cummings and Paul Cordes to the board of canvassers. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has announced her candidacy for governor. 

New Research and Resources

Young People & the 2024 Election: Young people’s electoral participation dropped notably in 2024. After historically high youth voter turnout of over 50% in the 2020 presidential contest, CIRCLE’s early estimate is that 42% of youth (ages 18-29) voted in 2024. And after several cycles of overwhelming support for Democratic candidates, exit poll data suggests that young voters supported Vice President Harris over President Trump by just 4 percentage points.

CIRCLE’s initial analyses of those exit polls point to some explanations for those shifts—especially young people’s focus on the economy and a more conservative and Republican-leaning group of youth who cast ballots. But exit polls only give us data on youth who voted. To truly understand what happened with the youth vote in 2024, we need data on all young people that directly tackles why many youth didn’t vote and what drove or prevented participation beyond a single issue.

The CIRCLE Post-2024 Election Poll gives comprehensive data from a nationally representative survey of young people ages 18-34. In this initial analysis from our poll, we answer key questions about what motivated youth to vote and why others stayed home, their diverse issue priorities, and whether campaigns and institutions did enough to reach young voters this past cycle.

• Multiple Barriers: Some youth were ignored by campaigns or lacked support to vote, but 44% of young nonvoters were disinterested or disliked the candidates.
  
• Informed and Qualified: 3 out of 4 youth saw at least some information about registering to vote and felt well-qualified to cast a ballot.
  
• Politically Homeless: Less than 1 in 4 youth, and just 13% of those who didn’t vote, feel like they belong to a group that expresses itself politically.
  
• Issues Are Key: Nearly half of youth who voted said one of their top motivations was the desire to have an impact on the issues they care about.
  
• Diverse Priorities: The cost of living/Inflation was far and away youth’s top issue, but they were also concerned with healthcare, abortion, climate and immigration.
  
• Struggling Financially: More than 40% of youth, and over 60% of young nonvoters, sometimes or often find it difficult to meet basic needs.

New Analysis From BDI’s Survey of Local Elected Officials on Threats and Harassment: Over the past two years, in partnership with CivicPulse, BDI has conducted quarterly surveys with local elected officials on their experiences of threats and harassment. These quarterly surveys allow us to identify spikes or shifts in hostility, monitor important trends in threats and harassment, and contextualize these trends in the larger political environment. In each survey round, local elected officials are asked about their personal experiences with hostility, their concerns about hostility, and their willingness to engage in certain political activities – like running for re-election or attending events – in the future. The survey captures not only the presence but also the intensity of concerns, allowing us to assess the impact of even low levels of worry on democratic processes. This analysis looks at over 4,000 survey responses from the last two years to explore both the contributors to, and effects of, worries about hostility. It additionally investigates whether, and to what degree, demographic factors and personal experiences with hostility are connected to the severity of worries about hostility, as well as their links to willingness to engage in political behaviors such as running for re-election or working on controversial topics.

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Executive Order: President Donald J. Trump has revoked an executive order by former President Joe Biden that calls for federal agencies to promote voter registration. The now-rescinded order covered longstanding federal agencies’ voter registration efforts that are authorized under federal laws — including the State and Defense Departments helping eligible military members and other U.S. citizens living abroad vote. Biden’s order led to new voter registration guides, mailers, updated websites and programs such as Veteran Affairs facilities in Kentucky and Michigan distributing and helping eligible voters fill out registration forms. According to NPR, the move comes after Republican officials ramped up efforts to turn the 2021 order into a partisan flash point ahead of the 2024 election.

Arizona: The Arizona Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee gave the first approval last week to Senate Bill 1011 which could change early voting procedures in the state. The bill’s sponsor, Senate President Warren Peterson, told members of the committee that early mail-in ballots dropped off in person would no longer be accepted on Election Day. Petersen’s proposal also replaces emergency voting on the weekend before Election Day with regular early voting. Anyone turning in a mail-in ballot at a voting site would have to show ID and be checked against the voter rolls under the terms of the bill, which would eliminate the need for election officials to check signatures of those mail-in ballots turned in in-person. Mailed-in ballots would still be accepted until 7 p.m. on election night. The bill passed the committee on a party line vote “For your early ballot there is a cut off of 7pm the Friday before the election, this allows all counties to have on site tabulating from the day that the election starts up until election day,” Petersen said. Gabriela Cazares-Kelly, Pima County Recorder, told Arizona Public Media the bill would disproportionately impact voters in rural and tribal communities. “Especially for household members who are returning on behalf of another in rural areas,” Cazares-Kelly said. While Petersen’s bill includes provisions to add voting locations, Cazares-Kelly noted that rural and tribal areas often only have one voting center in, limiting the impact of the proposal. She also raised concerns about safety, pointing out that Pima County was one of several jurisdictions that received bomb threats during the last

Colorado: Colorado lawmakers will consider passing a state version of the federal Voting Rights Act to protect voting access at the state and local levels. State Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, the assistant House majority leader, has introduced the Colorado Voting Rights Act , along with State Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, and State Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “This bill is our commitment to Coloradans,” said Bacon. “It is our commitment to the sanctity of voting and is our commitment to accountability. All people should be able to engage freely without worrying that they’d either be turned away or that their vote would be suppressed, or a community’s vote would be diluted.” Bacon said the bill will enshrine protections of the federal Voting Right Act into Colorado law and build upon those protections to ensure access to voting at the state and local levels.

Connecticut: State Rep. Craig Fishbein, R-Wallingford introduced a bill last week that would require residents to present valid photo identification to vote. Fishbein, submitted H.B. No. 5157 to the Connecticut House of Representatives, which referred it to the Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections. The required photo identification would need to have the voter’s name and address, according to the bill. In a statement, state Fishbein said a right to vote should have the “same level of protection” as processes like boarding a plane or buying alcohol. “It only makes sense – to me at least. You can’t rent a car, stay at a hotel, buy alcohol, or board an airplane without photo identification,” he noted. “Those rules and laws are there to ensure the provider that the person is who they say they are. The right to vote should be afforded (at least) that same level of protection.” Current Connecticut law requires voters to tell poll workers their name and address.

Guam: The chairperson of the legislative committee with oversight of the election process, Sen. Telo Taitague, said she plans to introduce a bill to discontinue the voter registration policy known as “motor voters.” Taitague said “while the intentions behind Public Law 33-34 are understandable, the law has unfortunately proven to be both an inefficient process and an unnecessary burden on our government resources.” The motor voter registration law was passed in 2015 and implemented in 2019 and allows individuals to register to vote at the same time they are registering their vehicles at the Department of Revenue and Taxation’s motor vehicle division. During a Jan. 9 Guam Election Commission meeting, commissioners discussed that while motor voter registration has led to a record number of registered voters, it has also resulted in an all-time low voter turnout. Taitague said her bill will help “to end these inefficiencies and stop the financial pressures this law has inadvertently placed on the (GEC).”

Illinois: State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) is introducing a new bill that he says will help make voting smoother. It’ll require voters to start using a photo ID in order to cast a ballot. The 51st district lawmaker brought up Senate Bill 181 on Friday and is now hoping to get it passed. The full document is 87 pages long. Senator Rose said it’ll simplify the process. Rose wants to make it mandatory for voters in the state to bring the IDs to the polls. Right now, IDs are not required to cast a ballot unless you are also registering to vote at that time. But, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons isn’t a fan of the idea. “I am absolutely opposed to what he’s putting forward. We already have photo ID requirements for registration and same day registration as the bill also says that you can’t register to vote on the same day,” Ammons said. Ammons said requiring IDs at the polls could lead to voter suppression. Rose said making the change will help cut back on slip ups and hopefully get people in and out faster. The bill also aims to make ballot harvesting a crime and eliminate the use of drop boxes for ballot submissions.

Kansas: Secretary of State Scott Schwab (R) urged the Legislature to increase the penalty for threatening a poll worker, impose a ban on political parties nominating candidates without an individual’s consent and broaden state authority to compel counties to securely deploy ballot drop boxes. Schwab encouraged lawmakers to carefully craft bills amending the way people participated in elections to avoid lawsuits challenging constitutionality of reforms. He reminded legislators use of one or two ill-chosen words could swing a case against the state and lead to costly awards of attorney fees to plaintiffs. Schwab said complaints about the accuracy of Kansas elections and the tabulation of votes was misplaced, because the three elections conducted in Kansas last year went smoothly. There was a poorly attended presidential preference primary in March, which cost nearly $3 million, as well as the regular August primary and November general elections. The primary had the lowest turnout of this century, while the general election had record-high participation. “Election administration is a complex process governed by a framework of federal and state laws designed to ensure the integrity and security of Kansas elections,” Schwab said.

A bill proposed in the House seeks to remove people who are not U.S. citizens from the state’s voter rolls through temporary driver’s license records, invoking concern for potential disenfranchisement of Kansas voters. The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office, which supports House Bill 2020, has received a temporary driver’s license list about six times in the past 15 years, Election Director Brian Caskey said. About 38,000 people in Kansas have active temporary drivers licenses as of December. Of the state’s more than 2 million voters, state officials found 202 potential matches when comparing a temporary driver’s license list and the voter rolls. About 120 of those were false positives, and 85 warranted additional investigation. About 21 of the 85 have a voting history attached to them and would require even further investigation to determine citizenship status. Clay Barker, general counsel to the secretary of state’s office, said nothing prevents officials from investigating a case of a potential voter who is not a U.S. citizen.

Lawmakers are once again considering ending the grace period for returning advanced ballots in elections. That’s the three days after Election Day when your local election office continues counting arriving mail-in ballots, as long as they were postmarked on Election Day or before. The Secretary of State’s office was neutral on the idea, saying it’s purely a policy decision.

Mississippi: Rep. Zakiya Summers (D-Jackson) introduced House Bill 753 to allow first-time voters to register via an online platform. The process would only apply to qualified Mississippians possessing valid state identification. Under Summers’ proposal, the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office, which oversees elections, would be tasked with collaborating with the Department of Public Safety to create and manage an online portal to process applications from prospective voters seeking to make an inaugural appearance at the ballot box. There is also an educational component to the bill. Each Mississippi county would be required to provide all public schools with instructions for submitting an online voter application as well as mail-in applications. This would be done in both semesters of the academic calendar, especially before notable primary and general elections. Each public school in Mississippi would have to welcome the county registrar or their deputy to register persons who are eligible to vote and to provide voter education. The goal is to help get young people out to vote as soon as they turn 18 or have the first opportunity to exercise their constitutional right. Per the bill, online applications must be submitted at least 30 days before an election, unless the 30th day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday. Under those circumstances, the applicant would have one extra business day to fill out the online document. Once an application is submitted, county registrars would be required to review it and determine whether or not to accept the document. If an application is given the green light, the county registrar would mail a written letter notifying the applicant that he or she is eligible to vote, along with county and polling precinct information. That letter would operate as the individual’s legal voter registration card.

Senate Elections Committee Chairman Jeremy England, (R- Vancleave), said he intends to move a bill through the Senate that establishes 15 days of no-excuse early voting before Election Day. To cast an early ballot, the measure requires people to vote in person at their local circuit clerk’s office and present a form of photo ID. Mississippi currently allows in-person absentee voting before elections, but voters must meet criteria, such as being over 65 or disabled, or provide one of a handful of valid “excuses,” such as being out of town for work on election day and follow a long list of rules and procedures. England pushed the legislation last year, where it passed the Senate 44-8. It died, however, in a House committee without any debate or a vote.

Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, introduced House Bill 1419 this week. The bill serves to prevent polling precincts statewide from being altered within 60 days of a primary, general, runoff, or special election. This comes after more than 50 voting locations were changed across Mississippi’s 82 counties ahead of last November’s general election. One exception to HB 1419 is that a polling location can be changed in that 60-day window if exigent circumstances exist. In that event, the local municipality or county would be required by law to justify its decision, citing specific reasons for the swap in venue. Afterward, public notice of the precinct relocation would have to be submitted at the local city hall, courthouse, registrar’s office, and the previous polling location for three weeks or weekly for the last three weeks before the election. The bill currently sits in the House Apportionment and Elections Committee. If approved as-is, the new rules would go into effect on July 1.

Montana: House Bill 187 would remove the continuous tabulation requirement for future elections. Rep. Bob Carter, D-Missoula, told the committee that especially when looking at the largest counties, the provision created conditions where there is a higher likelihood for errors in the election process.  “It’s inviting problems to happen,” Carter said. “I submit to you, this actually erodes voter confidence to do things this way.” The 2023 Legislature passed the law requiring continuous tabulation in the name of restoring voter trust, according to former Rep. Lyn Hellegaard, who carried the bill.  At the time, many county clerk and recorders, and election administrators testified against the change, saying it would place additional burdens on their departments and workers — concerns that played out last November. Missoula County Elections Administrator Bradley Seaman said it was difficult to recruit workers willing to pull the overnight shifts, even with an increased wage, and tired staff made small errors.  While none of the errors impacted the validity of the results, Seaman said it was easy to see how bigger errors happen.  “As people get tired, simple tasks can become more complicated, and it maximizes the opportunity to make large mistakes that could impact the validity of the election,” he said.  Instead, he said, allowing staff to go home late at night, rest up, and return to work is a better option.

Oklahoma: Lawmakers have filed a number of measures that seek to alter Oklahoma’s election processes. Senate Bill 129, by Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Senate Bill 273, by Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, would increase the number of days for in-person absentee voting. Senate Bill 129 would increase in-person absentee voting to 14 days. Boren’s bill adds Wednesday for any election and Saturdays during the three weeks preceding the general election, primary, runoff or presidential primary elections. Kirt said there aren’t enough early voting days. “People need access,” she said. Senate Bill 329, by Boren, would require notice to those voting absentee if a ballot is rejected and give the voter an opportunity to remedy the defective paperwork. “If that ballot was rejected three weeks before the election, I could have gone in and voted in person if I had known,” Boren said. “Other states tell people what they need to fix. We don’t give that option when a ballot is rejected.” She said a scrivener’s error should not negate a person’s right to vote. House Bill 1692, by Rep. Ronald Stewart Jr., D-Tulsa, would make any day in which a general election is held a state holiday. The measure would increase voter participation, he said. House Bill 1985, by Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, would end straight-party voting. House Bill 1712, by Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City, would require a political party that holds a closed primary or runoff primary to repay the cost of the election. Senate Joint Resolution 5, by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, would require initiatives, referendums and Constitutional amendments  sent to voters to be approved by at least 60% of voters rather than a majority. The measure would have to be approved by a vote of the people to become law. Lawmakers return Feb. 3 to the Capitol.

South Dakota: Senator John Carley (R) has introduced a residency requirement for voter registration. The House State Affairs committee is advancing the proposal 7 – 6. It requires individuals to live in South Dakota for 30 consecutive days to be able to register to vote. The legislation targets voters who are technically state residents, but may live elsewhere or in an RV. Tens of thousands are legal South Dakota residents through mail forwarding services. All it takes to become a state resident is a physical address and an overnight stay in the state. While the service is helpful for permanent travelers—critics say many also use it to take advantage of the state’s lack of income tax. Some backers of Carley’s bill say, “not true citizens” of South Dakota are voting in local elections. Carley said he wants to make sure local voters’ wishes aren’t diluted by folks registered in South Dakota who might live elsewhere.The Secretary of State’s office is bringing similar legislation to address the residency and voter registration issue.

Texas: Senator Bob Hall of Canton is on a mission to make Texas elections 100% paper. It starts with Senate Bill 77. As written, it would require all voting places to distribute paper ballots to those who ask for them. Hall says they are working to amend the bill to make all ballots paper and hand-marked. “Your hand-marked paper ballot is the foundation going forward,” said Hall. Gregg County Elections Administrator Jennifer Briggs said it’s not that simple. “You’re easily looking at another million dollars for what we have to replace,” said Briggs on their election equipment, which was purchased in 2019. Hall estimates that the changes would first be seen in the 2027 elections if passed. As written the law would take effect on September 1 of this year. The bill would also eliminate countywide voting, returning to a precinct-based system. The law would ban electronic polling lists, essential for countywide voting, says Briggs. “They could literally vote at every location, you would have no way to know if they did it on the same day, so by getting rid of electronic poll votes it gets rid of countywide voting,” said Briggs.

Utah: A new bill that will hit the house floor during the 2025 legislative session aims to make voters request a mail-in ballot instead of having the county clerks mail ballots by default.  The bill is being proposed by Rep. Rex Shipp R-Cedar City. “You have to opt-in to get a mail ballot, is the plan,” he said. “Once you’ve opted in, you’d continue to get a mail ballot unless you miss a general election. If you miss a general election, then you have to opt back in.” According to Shipp, the bill will prevent problems with ballots in southern Utah being sent out of state to be stamped and sorted. Shipp says another reason for the bill is inaccurate voter rolls. “Our voter rolls seem to be somewhat of an issue these days not being cleaned up,” Shipp said. “People (are) getting multiple ballots (for) people that may have moved out of their household. Or, even people that are moving.”

State Representative Ryan Wilcox, (R – North Ogden) confirmed that he is running a bill to create an executive director of elections who would take oversight away from the Lt. Governor’s office. “I just want to do whatever I can to quash this idea that it’s…Anything personal with the lieutenant governor, the current one or the former one, or anybody else.” Wilcox said. “That’s not it at all. Honestly, I, I think it makes more sense for (the position) to be as independent as possible rather than tied to any campaign.” In the latest yet-to-be-released version of his bill, Wilcox says the Executive Director would be hired by five of Utah’s county clerks. That panel of clerks would be appointed collectively by the governor, senate president, house speaker, state treasurer, and state auditor. “(County clerks) would know far better than other elected officials who don’t study elections, who don’t do those things when they’re hiring an executive director for election,” Wilcox said. “If there’s any malfeasance, if there is anything shady, if we see anything like we saw in other states, then they’re going to be able to see it sooner.”

The House Government Operations Committee on Jan. 22 — the second day of the Legislature’s 45-day session — unanimously voted to approve HB69, a bill sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, that would in some circumstances criminalize accessing and disclosing information about how or when an individual voter returns their ballot.  The legislation comes after some elected officials — including Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, who was recently elected to the Senate’s new Republican leadership team as majority assistant whip — have expressed concerns about Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson tracking information on how at least two politicians returned their ballots, and criticizing them for not paying postage. According to Utah News Dispatch, Davidson and McKell have clashed over Davidson’s earlier decision that Utah County would no longer automatically pay return postage for by-mail ballots, and Davidson instead encouraged voters to pay the $0.73 for their stamps. If they didn’t, the U.S. Postal Service would still deliver the ballot, but charge the county. An earlier version of the bill was already endorsed in November by the Government Operations Interim Committee, when Gricius said the intention of the bill is to make clear to clerks “you cannot do a looky-loo at someone’s information for fun.”

Virginia: The Senate has approved a resolution that would automatically restore voting rights to former felons. The resolution to restore voting rights to people who complete felony sentences passed the Senate on party-line votes. The House version passed with bipartisanship support.  In both chambers, Republicans sought failed floor amendments to require people to have completed restitution payments they may owe in addition to having already completed their prison sentences before their rights can be restored. Another amendment sought to restrict people with violent offenses from automatic restoration and require them instead to individually petition the governor for a case-by-case assessment.  That process is what is currently underway for all people with felony convictions in Virginia, but petitioners have said they have little criteria as to what earns a “yes” from Gov. Glenn Youngkin. His restoration numbers have been lower than previous governors from both parties who had worked to streamline the process. And a mass generic rejection email with no explanation or blind carbon copy feature sent to hundreds of formerly incarcerated people last fall prompted many of them to wonder if Youngkin’s individualized process was happening at all.

The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee struck down several Republican-backed bills aimed at restricting voting access, while advancing measures to expand ballot accessibility, including a local option for ranked choice voting. Defeated proposals included stricter photo ID requirements, a shorter early voting period, and tighter voter registration verification rules. Despite the partisan divide, the committee unanimously approved a bipartisan bill to shorten the voter registration closure period, signaling rare cooperation in an otherwise contentious debate over election laws. By an 8-7 party-line vote, the panel killed a Republican proposal to reinstate stricter photo ID requirements for voters. Senate Bill 1070, sponsored by Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, would have required voters to present a photo ID at the polls, ending the current option to sign a statement affirming identity under penalty of perjury. Peake defended the measure, saying photo ID laws previously worked well in Virginia and enjoyed broad public support. “Eighty percent of the population supports photo ID, and I’m just trying to help bring the commonwealth into agreement with that 80%,” he said. By another 8-7 party-line vote, the committee defeated another Peake proposal to reduce the early voting period for primary elections from 45 days to 14 days. SB 1072, merged with an identical bill from Sen. Timmy French, R-Shenandoah, aimed to streamline election operations and reduce costs associated with maintaining lengthy early voting periods, according to Peake. The panel further voted to defeat SB 1073, another Peake proposal which proposed verifying voter registration information — such as Social Security numbers — against federal or state databases before finalizing registration. Peake argued the bill would bolster election security and prevent fraud. The panel approved a bill that would allow localities to use ranked choice voting for local offices, such as mayoral and school board elections. SB 1009, sponsored by Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim, D-Fairfax, passed on an 8-7 party-line vote.

Washington: Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, introduced Senate Bill 5077 to allow the governor to widen automatic voter registration to more government agencies. Proponents said nearly a million eligible voters in Washington are not registered. Abigail Leong, communications manager for the Washington Voting Justice Coalition, testified this week in support of the measure. She said the unregistered are typically new citizens, low-income, or people with convictions who are less likely to get enhanced driver’s licenses, where they would be automatically registered. Leong argued the bill would also save the state time and money. One opponent of the bill testified the legislation would make the state’s elections less secure. The bill is scheduled for an executive session in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections.

Wyoming: The legality of ballot drop boxes in Wyoming took center stage during a discussion in the House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee on Wednesday afternoon, with Secretary of State Chuck Gray and County Clerks’ Association of Wyoming President Malcom Ervin getting in an animated exchange. The committee was considering House Bill 131, legislation that would ban the use of ballot drop boxes in Wyoming. The bill advanced on an 8-1 vote with only state Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, voting against it. During his testimony before the committee Wednesday, Gray made it clear he doesn’t believe drop boxes are allowed under Wyoming law, which he has consistently maintained. Yin then asked Gray if he was accusing Wyoming county clerks who allow drop boxes of breaking the law. During the 2024 election, seven counties offered ballot drop boxes. In 2022, nine counties provided them. It’s the clerks’ interpretation that each county can decide if it wants to offer the boxes. Gray argues that flies in the face of having a uniform election code statewide overseen by him and other secretaries of state. A number of clerks testified that most of their constituents support use of the boxes, citing turnout numbers showing that hundreds, and even thousands, of people used them in the most recent elections.

 

Legal Updates

Alabama: Angelica Maria Francisco, 42 of Russellville has been sentenced to five years in prison for voter fraud and passport fraud. Francisco was sentenced on two counts of false claims of citizenship in connection with voting, one count of false statements in an application for a United States passport, five counts of use of a United States passport obtained by false statements, and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to the plea agreement, Francisco began claiming the identity of a U.S. Citizen in 2011. Francisco used her identity to obtain a U.S. passport that same year. Documents show Francisco used a false identity to travel to and from her home country of Guatemala in 2012, 2015, and 2018. She would use the identity to renew her passport in 2022, to travel back to Guatemala. In addition, Francisco also illegally registered to vote in Alabama under her false identity and voted in both the 2016 and 2020 primary and general elections. “This sentence sends a clear message that any attempts by non-U.S. citizens to vote in the Northern District of Alabama are unacceptable and will result in serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona of the Northern District of Alabama.

Colorado: A Colorado Court of Appeals panel ruled unanimously last week that a former Dominion Voting Machines employee could seek defamation claims against a conservative radio host and the Denver network that hosts his show after the host claimed in 2020 that the employee had antifa ties and was attempting to fix the 2020 presidential election. Following President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, Randy Corporan, an attorney who hosts a conservative radio show, interviewed Joseph Oltmann, a Castle Rock-based businessman who claimed he heard a man identified as “Eric from Dominion” say on an antifa conference call that he was going to make sure Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. Oltmann concluded that the Dominion employee was a man named Eric Coomer, director of product strategy and security at Dominion Voting Systems in Denver. Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Eric Kuhn wrote in the 74-page opinion that Coomer was reasonably likely to succeed on his claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress and defamation. Corporan says his statements were not defamatory because he was merely expressing an opinion about the 2020 presidential election, but the panel disagreed. “This argument overlooks Coomer’s allegations in his complaint and the later evidence he supplied in connection with the special motion to dismiss. Coomer’s complaint asserts that Corporon expressed more than an opinion,” Kuhn wrote. “Instead, he alleges that Corporon endorsed Oltmann’s factual statements and asserted that they were true during his radio show.” Kuhn noted that a reasonable jury could find that Corporan presented Oltmann as a subject matter expert on his radio show who was exposing a sinister plot about election interference. “We conclude that there is a reasonable likelihood that a jury could find that Corporon bolstered Oltmann’s credibility and endorsed Oltmann’s statements that Coomer had in fact attended an antifa conference call, said in that call that he had made sure that then-President Trump was not going to win the election, and had taken steps to undermine the election results,” Kuhn wrote.

Georgia: The U.S. Department of Justice has filed suit against Houston County saying that the way the county elects its county commission violates the U.S. Voting Rights Act of 1965, hurting Black voters’ ability to elect candidates of their choosing. Since Reconstruction began in 1865, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division says that Houston County has only had one Black county commissioner. That is despite 31% of the county being Black as of the 2020 Census.  However, the lawsuit argues that is a structural problem. “The current method of election the Houston County Board of Commissioners dilutes the voting strength of Black citizens,” the lawsuit said. The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, pushes for a judge to order the county to move to geographical political districts.  Currently, Houston County elects its county commission through at-large — or countywide — elections. But under that system, the DOJ argues that white voters overpower Black voters. The product, they argue, is a county commission that is unrepresentative of the diverse Houston County community. The DOJ argues that geographic districts would fix that. The lawsuit asks a judge to find the county’s at-large election scheme in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, that provision bans voting practices and procedures that discriminate on the basis of race.

Kentucky: Boone County Circuit Court Judge Richard Brueggemann has moved to quash some evidence discovery in a challenge to the recent Union city election. Brueggemann granted a motion from county clerk Justin Crigler and his attorney Jeff Mando to stop some evidence discovery in the challenge which was brought by former Union City Commissioner Doug Bine. The judgment came at a hearing Jan. 21. Specifically, Crigler and his team had requested the court prevent depositions of both Republican and Democrat poll workers at Union Precincts 1 and 4, where voters reported wrongful ballot distributions on Election Day. The motion to quash also requested the court prevent the depositions of Crigler himself and Elections Supervisor Stacy Adkins. Both sides must now simultaneously submit arguments to the court by Monday, Jan. 27, laying out their proposed remedy for solving the election problems. There has been confusion about the court’s power in this case, as the election irregularities arose not out of bribery, violence or intimidation, for which there is already established case law and statute, but due to mistakes. Megerle confirmed with LINK nky that he and Bine plan to ask for a new city-wide election.

Montana: The United States Supreme Court has declined to take up a petition filed by Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen challenging a state Supreme Court decision to strike down two voting rights laws passed by a Republican-controlled Legislature and backed by her office. Without comment, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the motion to hear the case, leaving in place the Montana Supreme Court’s decision to limit the restrictions the state could impose on voters in the name of election security. That case was the first real test of a fringe-turned-mainstream legal concept called “independent legislature theory,” which holds that the U.S. Constitution gives nearly unilateral authority to state legislatures to set their own election qualifications for federal elections. The Montana Democratic Party successfully challenged the two bills that the Montana Supreme Court struck down in a 5-to-2 split decision. Those were House Bill 176, which eliminated same-day voter registration, and House Bill 530, which prohibited paid absentee ballot collection. The State of Montana also argued that by taking the case, the U.S. Supreme Court had the opportunity to review the boundaries of state supreme courts and a state legislature’s power to make election law.

North Carolina: The North Carolina Supreme Court sent Judge Jefferson Griffin’s case back to a lower state court this week. Griffin filed a request directly with the state Supreme Court in December, asking it to step in and keep the state board of elections from certifying his race and instruct it to remove over 60,000 ballots he is disputing. The North Carolina associate justice race is the only statewide race in the United States that is still uncertified over two months after the election.  The North Carolina Supreme Court halted the certification of his election and proposed a rapid case schedule. It dismissed a request to schedule a hearing in the case Wednesday, rendering it invalid, as a lower court will now weigh Griffin’s arguments.  The court also left a stay on the election certification process in place until appeals have been exhausted, which could signal that it may be many months until the final results of the election are finalized. Until it is, Associate Justice Allison Riggs — Griffin’s opponent — will continue serving in her seat.  “A writ of prohibition is an extraordinary writ,” Republican Associate Justice Trey Allen warned in the order. “The writ ‘does not lie for grievances which may be redressed, in the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, [or] by appeal … it is to be used, like all such, with great caution.’” Chief Justice Paul Martin Newby concurred and was joined by his Republican colleagues Associate Justice Philip Berger Jr. and Associate Justice Tamara Barringer.  “I write separately to emphasize that this case is not about deciding the outcome of an election,” Newby wrote. “It is about preserving the public’s trust and confidence in our elections through the rule of law.”

Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said Jan. 17 that it will take up a case, Baxter v. Philadelphia, on whether requiring voters to date mail ballot envelopes violates the state constitution. Pennsylvania’s 2019 no-excuse mail voting law, Act 77, says mail voters must sign and date their ballot return envelope for their vote to be counted. Thousands of voters have had their ballots rejected in every election because the envelopes lacked a proper date. The validity of the dating requirement has been disputed for years, but the issue in the current case is whether it violates the “free and equal” election clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which bars any interference with “the free exercise of the right of suffrage.” Voting rights advocates argue that because election officials do not use the handwritten date to determine a ballot’s eligibility, it represents an unnecessary — and unconstitutional — burden that interferes with voting. The plaintiffs are Brian Baxter and Susan Kinniry, two Philadelphia voters whose mail ballots in September 2024 special elections were rejected for lacking a date. 

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a bid by civil and voting rights groups to end Pennsylvania’s mandate that mail-in ballots bear a handwritten date on the outer envelope, a requirement they contend is unnecessary and has resulted in needless disqualification of legitimate ballots. The justices turned away an appeal by the plaintiffs of a lower court’s ruling that upheld the requirement and rejected the argument that it violated a provision in federal law that bars discarding ballots due to paperwork errors that are “not material” in determining whether a person is qualified to vote. The Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2024 decided that the date requirement “serves little apparent purpose” as it is not used by officials to determine whether it was received on time. Nevertheless, it remains valid because the 1964 Civil Rights Act applies only to voter registration rules when a state is determining who is qualified to vote, not “how a qualified voter must cast his ballot for it to be counted,” the 3rd Circuit ruled.

South Carolina: The South Carolina Supreme Court dismissed Atlantic Beach election officials’ appeal of the town’s November 2023 election, ending efforts to keep Carla Taylor from taking a seat on council. The decision comes after members of the town’s Municipal Election Commission — Kenneth McIver, Caroline Gore, and Derrick Stevens — appealed a Nov. 1 order by an Horry County judge that reversed a decision by the panel that had kept Taylor from being officially seated on council, even though the election results had been certified. In his ruling, Horry County Circuit Judge William Seals said Taylor should be seated “immediately” and called an appeal by candidate Shawn Swinson “untimely.” The Nov. 1 ruling came after Taylor appealed a 2-1 vote by the election commission on Oct. 17 that upheld a protest by Swinson, despite him acknowledging that he had not officially challenged the results within 48 hours of the polls closing. Instead, his protest came 149 days after the election.

Tennessee: Fayette County commissioners violated the Voting Rights Act with their adoption of a 2021 redistricting plan that stripped Black voters of equal opportunity, the U.S. Justice Department claims in a lawsuit. “The County Commission deliberately rejected multiple districting plans that would have combined Black communities in districts that would allow Black voters to elect representatives of their choice,” a news release from the department states. In doing so, the commission rejected the “explicit advice” of both its own redistricting committee and outside redistricting counsel, which had both endorsed plans that included districts with majority Black voting age populations and warned that choosing a plan without such districts would expose the county to lawsuits. The commission instead adopted a plan with no majority-minority districts that was not one of the final two maps recommended by the redistricting committee, voting 10-8 with one abstention. A month later, the commission again rejected advice that their chosen plan would “not hold up under litigation” and adopted a modified version of the map — still without any majority-minority districts — in a 12-6 vote with one abstention. The lawsuit further alleges that the district plan adopted in 2021 built off of a 2011 redistricting cycle in which the county commission also “successfully diminished Black political power.” In 2010, four Black officials held seats on the commission. That dropped to one by 2018, then to zero after the commission adopted the plan with no majority-Black districts in 2021.

Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Jan. 17 rejected an attempt by a conservative activist to obtain guardianship records in an effort to find ineligible voters, but the case could return. The court did not rule on the merits of the case, instead saying in its 5-2 decision that a lower appeals court did not follow proper procedure when it issued a ruling saying the records should be released. The justices said the District II appeals court, based in Waukesha, was wrong to overturn a Walworth County Circuit Court ruling denying access to the records. In a nearly identical lawsuit, the District IV appeals court, based in Madison, had denied access to the records saying they were not subject to disclosure under the state public records law. Justice Janet Protasiewicz, writing for the majority, said that the District II appeals court could have sent the case to the Supreme Court, explaining why the other appeals court ruling was incorrect. If it follows the proper procedure for doing that, the case could end up right back before the Supreme Court again. In the meantime, the Supreme Court sent the case back to the appeals court for further action.

Two women suing the Wisconsin Elections Commission have amended their lawsuit after a federal court ruled that they can’t sue a state agency. Their lawsuit filed in federal court in Green Bay now names elections commission administrator Meagan Wolfe as the defendant. Jeanette Merten, an elections clerk for the Town of Oshkosh, and Brown County voter Dawn McCole are seeking an injunction barring the use of the MyVote.wi.gov online voter portal until cybersecurity measures are added. They say anyone can request a ballot to be mailed anywhere by putting in someone’s name and date of birth. The plaintiffs contend “inadequate cybersecurity measures… jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process and the personal data of Wisconsin voters.” The initial lawsuit was filed two weeks before the presidential election. The State responded to that lawsuit arguing there are criminal laws to protect against election fraud and it has prosecuted people for it.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Voting rights 

California: Shasta County

Maine: Voter ID ballot measure

Michigan: Votebeat reporting 

Nebraska: Vote by mail

New York: Schoharie County | Democracy; 

North Carolina: Supreme Court race, II, III, IV

Oklahoma: Election reform  

Oregon: Vote by mail 

Pennsylvania: Early voting | Court rulings

Texas: Bexar County

Upcoming Events

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. 

Looking Back & Looking Ahead at Election Resiliency: In the face of unprecedented challenges, counties and local election offices across the nation have taken measures to safeguard our election systems and ran an excellent 2024 general election – in many cases, without the resources required to do so. From foreign interference and cybersecurity attacks, to natural disasters, to staffing and equipment shortages, election offices worked hard to provide secure, trustworthy and accessible voting experiences despite growing challenges that far exceed what any single locality or state can manage alone. Critical gaps were filled this election cycle. County governments leveraged their own emergency funding to get to the finish line, veterans extended their public service by stepping up as poll workers, and election administrators worked around the clock to ensure timely and accurate certification. But their offices will need more support moving forward to inoculate against future vulnerabilities. With this election now behind us, this panel discussion brings together national security experts, election administration specialists, veteran leaders, and civic officials from across the country to examine the financial and operational needs of our election infrastructure as we look to the future. Attendees will gain insights into the ongoing efforts to fortify our election systems, and the immediate needs that local election officials already face as they prepare for the next election. Speakers Include: EAC Commissioner Don Palmer; Ohio Association of Election Officials Director Aaron Ockerman; We the Veterans Executive Director Ellen Gustafson; Partnership for Large Elections Jurisdictions Director Carolina Lopez; and Authors of “A Republic if You Can Afford It”, Mary Jo McGowan and Martha Kropf. Moderated by CQ Roll Call White House Correspondent & Editor-at-Large John Bennett. When: Jan 29, 7pm. Where: Washington, DC.

Winning the Fight for Voting Rights: State Voting Rights Acts: The freedom to vote is under attack across the country, especially for Black voters and other voters of color. States can join the growing movement to protect the freedom to vote and remove barriers to the ballot box by enacting their own voting rights acts. The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and the Center for American Progress have partnered to create a special video series to help explain everything you need to know about how state voting rights acts can protect the right to vote from dangerous, discriminatory attacks, featuring experts from these organizations plus the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Brennan Center for Justice, Campaign Legal Center, the Harvard Election Law Clinic, LatinoJustice, and the New York Civil Liberties Union. From January to June of this year, a new video will be posted online each month so you can learn about different aspects of state voting rights acts. Join LDF and CAP for this special virtual event which will include remarks from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), a screening of the first video in the “State Voting Rights Act” video series, and a panel discussion about the importance of state voting rights acts featuring new national polling data from LDF. When: Jan. 30, 2pm Eastern. Where: Online

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.

Finding Common Ground on Modernizing Voter Registration: 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. Join us for a series of events as we address these hard hitting issues. This discussion will feature:  Christina Adkins, Director of Elections, Texas Secretary of State’s Office, Judd Choate, Director of Elections in Colorado, and Charles H. Stewart III, MIT and be moderated by  Richard L. Hasen, (Director, Safeguarding Democracy Project, UCLA). When: Feb. 13, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

Election Center February Special Workshop: The Election Center Special Workshop will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas. The workshop will run from February 26-28 and will be followed by CERA classes on March 1 & 2. Registration will open the moment the new Election Center website goes live. In the meantime,  the hotel room block is open and accepting reservations at a nightly room rate of $139.00 excluding taxes. The workshop will take place at the DoubleTree Downtown Little Rock. If you would like to secure your room, please use this link. The CERA courses offered are: Course 6 (Communications & Public Relations); Course 7 (Enhancing Voter Participation); Course 8 (Implementing New Programs); and Renewal Course 39 (Bipartisanship & Election Administration). When: February 26- March 2. Where: Little Rock, Arkansas. 

What Do Documentary Proof of Citizenship Requirements for Voter Registration Accomplish?: 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 session will feature: Adrian Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State, Walter Olson, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, and Nina Perales, Vice President of Litigation, MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) and be moderated by Richard L. Hasen, (Director, Safeguarding Democracy Project, UCLA). When: March 4, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online and Los Angeles

Combating False Election Information Lessons from 2024 and a Look to the Future: 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 session will feature speakers: Alice Marwick, Director of Research, Data & Society, UNC Chapel Hill, Kate Starbird, University of Washington, and Joshua Tucker, NYU and moderator Richard L. Hasen, (Director, Safeguarding Democracy Project, UCLA). When: March 31 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online.

Partisan Primaries, Polarization, and the Risks of Extremism: 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 session will feature speakers: Julia Azari, Marquette University, Ned Foley, The University of Ohio, Moritz College of Law, Seth Masket, Denver University, and Rick Pildes, NYU Law School and moderator Richard L. Hasen, (Director, Safeguarding Democracy Project, UCLA). When: April 10, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online

Election Center April Special Workshop: The Election Center April Special Workshop will be held in Pittsburgh. The conference will run April 23-25 and CERA courses will be offered April 26 and 27. The CERA courses offered will be: Course 9 (History III, 1965 to present); Course 10 (Constitutional Law of Elections); and Renewal Course 38 (Leadership in Election Administration). More information available as soon as the new Election Center website goes live. When: April 23-27. Where: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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

Job Postings This Week

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

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. 

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.

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.

Language Access & Outreach Coordinator, King County, Washington–This is an amazing opportunity to be engaged in the election process!  The Department of Elections is searching for energetic and resourceful professionals who like to “get stuff done”. The Language Access and Outreach Coordinator position in the Elections Department combines an exciting, fast paced environment with the opportunity to cultivate talents and apply a variety of skills. The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative, innovative, and fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. The Language Services and Community Engagement Team at King County Elections provides language access work for the whole Elections Department, translating election materials into six languages (Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese). In addition, the Team works collaboratively across Department and with community to identify and remove barriers to voting. These communities include those who are disabled, experiencing houselessness, immigrants, youth, and those with limited mobility. This team is recruiting a Language Access and Outreach Coordinator who will support the program for the Chinese language. This position provides bilingual assistance, translation, and community outreach support. This individual must be able to read, write, understand, and speak Chinese at the language proficiency testing level used by the Department. In addition, as part of the community engagement program, this individual will participate in voter registration and voter education activities with community partners and provide support to our Voter Education Fund partners. This position will provide language access assistance to our communications team and administrative support to other election work groups as needed. Salary: $38.37 – $48.64 Hourly. 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.

Project Manager, National Conference of State Legislatures– Are you ready to join an organization with an extraordinary mission? The National Conference of State Legislatures offers careers where you can use your skills, knowledge, and experience to truly make a difference. NCSL’s mission is purposeful – strengthening the legislative institution. From informing effective policies and promoting communication among state legislatures, to ensuring states have a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system, our team works in service of legislatures. And, with a commitment to constantly innovating all resources and services to meet the evolving needs of members, NCSL has earned the reputation as the nation’s most trusted bipartisan membership organization for legislators and legislative staff. Our success serving NCSL members relies on our team of passionate, dedicated professionals who work diligently to strengthen the legislative institution. Join our team and contribute to this unique, essential mission. NCSL has a flexible remote work policy.  Building and maintaining our organizational culture is critical and we do so by bringing staff together, in person, for four days each month.  The remote work policy provides the freedom to work from anywhere with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development. The Project Manager is responsible for managing distinct project(s) and people within a larger portfolio for NCSL’s Elections and Redistricting program. The Elections and Redistricting Program is a group of motivated, fun and flexible people dedicated to tracking state policy developments, strengthening their expertise on evolving topics, sharing evidence-based information with state legislators, legislative staff and other audiences, and supporting state legislators, staff and the legislative institution. This position manages project activities and deadlines; plans, assigns, and reviews work of others and manages one or more subordinate staff. This position maintains a high level of issue area expertise in at least some of the following topics: election administration, campaign finance, redistricting, state government, initiative and referendum processes and state politics, while focusing on project and staff management. The Project Manager works closely with and under the supervision of an Associate Director or Director. All work completed by NCSL, and by extension the Elections and Redistricting program, is nonpartisan and does not advocate for any policy outcomes. Salary: $90,061 annually. Deadline: Jan. 29. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

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