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Election News This Week

News From the Department of Justice: Last week, The Associated Press reported that new Justice Department leadership has put a freeze on civil rights litigation. Attorneys in the department’s Civil Rights Division were ordered not to file any new complaints, amicus briefs or other certain court papers “until further notice,” one of the memos said. The memos, sent by new chief of staff Chad Mizelle, is a sign of major changes expected in the Civil Rights Division. The pick to lead the division is Harmeet Dhillon, a well-known conservative attorney. According to the AP, it’s unclear how long the “litigation freeze” may last. The memo said the move was necessary to ensure “that the federal government speaks with one voice in its view of the law and to ensure that the President’s appointees or designees have the opportunity to decide whether to initiate new cases.” Also from The Associated Press, is a story about how the Justice Department appears poised to take a very different approach to investigating voting and elections. Conservative calls to overhaul the department by removing career employees, increasing federal voter fraud cases and investigating the 2020 election are raising concerns among voting rights groups about the future of the agency under Pam Bondi. Bondi supported legal efforts to overturn the 2020 Pennsylvania election results, has reiterated false claims about the 2020 election and during her Senate confirmation hearing refused to directly state that former President Joe Biden won, saying only that she accepted the results. She pledged to remain independent. “Nobody should be prosecuted for political purposes,” Bondi told senators. Voting and legal experts have said the authors behind Project 2025 have a misunderstanding of the law and how the department operates. Adopting the report’s approach, experts said, would likely result in a decrease in enforcement of federal civil rights and voting laws and could drive career department employees to leave. Already this week, DOJ sought to pull out of an ongoing voting rights case against Virginia over the state’s removal of names from voter rolls shortly before the November election. The department’s motion for dismissal, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, doesn’t end the case though because there are also private plaintiffs, including voting rights groups.

Branching Out: At least two California counties are in the process of separating elections duties into its own, stand alone office. In Kern County, the board of supervisors recently vote to remove  election duties from the county’s Auditor-Controller-County Clerk office once the current auditor-controller-county clerk-registrar’s term is complete in 2027.. Supervisor Jeff Flores of District 3 said, “We have to improve, change the structure, and make it a standalone agency with a singular focus which is improving elections in Kern County.” Flores explained that the county’s expansion and changes to election law in Sacramento are driving the proposal to create a new registrar of voters position, separate from the office’s current duties. Concerns remain about the registrar of voters becoming an unelected position, with the Board of Supervisors potentially handpicking the next registrar if the reform passes in Sacramento. Flores assured, “We have got safeguards for that in going through the civil service process. We want to hire the best person with the talent with the requisite expertise that knows how to do elections and do them well.” Back in 2001, Sonoma County merged the registrar of voters office with the clerk-recorder-assessor’s office and this week, the board of supervisors voted to separate out the elections office. The change was recommended by Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters Deva Proto with support from County Executive Christina Rivera. Proto called the move “the best course of action to ensure continuity and efficiency within the Registrar of Voters going into the future.” According to the Press Democrat, the move comes largely in response to increasing demand on the office driven by myriad state legislative changes and a national political climate that has intensified the spotlight on election proceedings.

The Kids Are Alright: New West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner recognized two high school seniors for their efforts in registering their classmates to vote.  Emily Carothers and Kierston Rozell of Meadow Bridge High School in Fayette County were named “Honorary Secretaries of State” as part of the Jennings Randolph Award for Civic Engagement. “They get the opportunity to come to Charleston during the legislative session and spend a half a day doing everything that I’m doing as Secretary of State,” Warner said.  The award is given to any public or private high school in West Virginia that registers at least 85% of their eligible seniors to vote. Warner highlighted civics teacher Cory Woodrum, principal Stacy White and Fayette County Clerk Michelle Holly for their role in recognizing Carothers and Rozell for their work. He encouraged any other school that has met the registration threshold to nominate students for recognition. “For the last eight years in West Virginia, we’ve registered 112,000 high school seniors,” Warner said. “That means that one in every 10 voters in West Virginia over the last eight years has been registered as a high school senior. We’re proud of that, and we’re looking to increase the number of those participating in elections by continuing to recognize schools just like Meadow Bridge.” Earlier this month at a ceremony in Santa Fe, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver presented the 2024 John Lewis Youth Leadership Award to two exceptional New Mexico youth leaders. The 2024 recipients of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award are Lila Quezada and Thanh Nguyen. “I am thrilled to congratulate Lila Quezada and Thanh Nguyen for their extraordinary commitment to making a difference in their communities,” said Toulouse Oliver. “Their leadership, vision, and dedication to advancing equality and civic engagement embody the values of the late Congressman John Lewis, who was and is a deep personal inspiration to me. These young leaders are not just shaping the future—they are inspiring us all to create a more just and inclusive world today.” Quezada was nominated by Girls Inc. of Santa Fe and Nguyen was nominated by the New Mexico Asian Family Center (NMAFC). Quezada and Nguyen will be recognized a week from today, along with other state recipients of the 2024 John Lewis Youth Leadership Award, during an awards ceremony at the 2025 NASS Winter Conference in Washington, D.C.

Suffrage News: There’s a new mural in the Kansas Statehouse honoring women who campaigned for voting rights for decades before the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted those rights across the nation. Gov. Laura Kelly and other state officials unveiled the “Rebel Women” painting that spans an entire wall on the first floor this week, the anniversary of Kansas’ admission as the 34th U.S. state in 1861. According to the Associated Press, while Kansas Day is traditionally marked with renditions of the official state song, “Home on the Range,” event also featured the women’s voting rights anthem, “Suffrage Song,” to the tune of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” A 2022 law authorized the mural, and artist Phyllis Garibay-Coon, of Manhattan, in northeastern Kansas, won the contest with a depiction of 13 prominent Kansas suffragists. A few women in the crowd of several hundred people were dressed as 19th century campaigners who were active before statehood. Women could vote in school elections in 1861 and in city elections in 1887, and the nation’s first woman mayor, Susanna M. Salter, was elected in Argonia, Kansas, that year. Voters amended the state constitution in 1912 to grant women full voting rights.

Personnel News: Former Republican state lawmaker Niraj Antani to run for Ohio secretary of state. Frank Seddio has been appointed to the New York City board of elections. Sandra Wise has been reappointed to the Sandusky County, Ohio board of elections. Los Angeles City Clerk Holly Wolcott is retiring. Orleans Parish, Louisiana Registrar Sandra Wilson has retired. Linda Roberts is retiring as the Marin County, California registrar of voters. Michigan Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie has announced his candidacy for the top elections job. Kaleb Breaux has been appointed the new Collin County, Texas elections administrator. Justin Smith was reappointed to the Sandusky County, Ohio Board of Elections. State Sen. Jeff Tate (R) has announced his candidacy for Mississippi secretary of state. 

 

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Federal Legislation: Oregon Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act, which would ensure that all eligible voters in the United States have the option to vote by mail. “Every eligible voter should be able to participate in our elections, including folks who can’t make it to the polls due to age, illness, disability, or simply because they work two or three jobs and don’t have the time,” Salinas said. “Oregon has been a vote-by-mail state for almost 30 years, and we also have one of the safest and most secure elections systems in the country with consistently high levels of participation. Establishing a national right to vote by mail would only strengthen our democracy by allowing more Americans to make their voices heard.” The Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by creating an option for no-excuse absentee voting in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Additionally, the legislation would require states to provide voters the opportunity to cure their ballots. The bill has several co-sponsors including Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Hank Johnson (GA-04), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and is endorsed by the National Disability Rights Network, the League of Women Voters of the United States, the National Vote at Home Institute and Common Cause.

Alaska: Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced a bill through the House. House Bill 63, proposes new rules for, among others, voter registration, voting by mail, voting and counting timelines. The bill also would put new limits on voting time. All ballots would have to be received by the state Division of Elections by Election Day, under the new legislation, when currently they just have to be postmarked and mailed by that day. It would shorten early voting time, which opens 15 days prior to and ends on Election Day. Under the bill, it would close five days before Election Day.   The bill would eliminate the automatic voter registration process when applying for the Permanent Fund Dividend. That provision was enacted in 2016, when Alaskans passed a ballot measure to allow voter registration during the application process.  For vote by mail, it would provide postage for all absentee ballots being mailed in. It would allow ballot counting by the Division of Elections to begin sooner, up to 10 days before the election. It would also create an option for communities with less than 750 people to opt for all by-mail voting for their elections.  The legislation is in response to a range of issues and complaints around Alaska’s elections last year, including concerns around delays in ballot counting and transparency, election security, and problems with staffing, absentee ballots, and long lines at some polling places. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the state affairs and finance committees.

On the Senate side, the new majority, made up of a coalition of Democratic and Republican senators, is set to put forth an election reform bill focused on a range of issues, including streamlining the voting process and expanding access for voters. For mail-in ballots, the bill would also pay for postage for all ballots, and eliminate the witness signature requirement for absentee ballots, which Wielechowski said isn’t verified and has disqualified ballots unnecessarily. The bill would establish a ballot tracking barcodes for absentee ballots, and a system for review. If there’s a mistake on a ballot, the bill would create an easier process for corrections. To address long lines at polling places, as seen in hours-long lines to vote in Anchorage last year, the bill would require ballot drop boxes be available at each regional office, if feasible, and one per every 20,000 residents.

Arizona: On Jan. 22, members of the House Federalism, Military Affairs and Elections Committee voted 4-3 along party lines to forward House Bill 2017 and mirroring House Concurrent Resolution 2002 to the full House of Representatives. The legislation will assign every voter a neighborhood polling location that could accommodate no more than 1,000 voters — and throw out the ballots of voters who go to the wrong polling place. Most Arizona counties, including Pima and Maricopa, use a vote center model. Yuma and Yavapai counties have both used vote centers for more than a decade. Arizona Association of Counties Executive Director Jen Marson, who lobbies for county election officials, warned that requirement comes with logistical challenges. “The fact that we don’t have enough places is what moved counties to the vote center model to begin with. We would have to significantly ramp up not only the places but also the people. You have to staff all of those voting locations with a certain number of poll workers to be in those locations, and we have trouble getting bodies too,” Marson said.

California: Lawmakers have introduced a bill to implement voter identification requirements in response to President Donald Trump’s demand for the state to reform how it holds elections to unlock wildfire aid. State Assemblymembers Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) and Bill Essayli (R-Corona) introduced the measure, describing it in a statement Monday as an enhancement to bolster trust and security in the state’s elections. Specifically, the legislation, Assembly Bill 25, would roll back a different law passed last year prohibiting local governments in California from compelling production of an ID to vote, making signature certification the blanket process in the state to confirm a voter’s citizenship. Instead, AB 25 would require voters to show a government-issued ID when heading to the polls or sending in a mail-in ballot, and mandate citizenship verification before a resident is added to the state’s voter rolls. The bill would also require all counties to count mail-in ballots within 72 hours following an election or risk forfeiting its ability to automatically distribute them during the next election it administers. Voters would still be able to request absentee ballots. On top of that, AB 25 would empower the state auditor to conduct random analyses of voter lists maintained by county election officials and their signature verification processes.

Florida: A plan by Gov. Ron DeSantis, which critics warned could effectively eliminate citizen-backed ballot proposals in Florida, was shelved by the Legislature’s Republican leaders who defied the governor in this week’s special session. DeSantis wanted lawmakers to outlaw third-party signature-gathering for ballot initiatives, a tactic virtually all campaigns rely on when seeking to collect the almost 900,000 signatures from voters needed to qualify. House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, told House members Monday that any changes to such initiatives can wait until the regular two-month legislative session begins in March. He also cautioned that it was important to proceed cautiously with revamping a system that gives voters a voice. Ballot measures have yielded voter-approved medical marijuana, minimum wage and felons voting rights in recent years. He added, “I believe ballot issues need reform. But I do not believe that we as elected officials should slip into a special session and try to ram through changes that affect the rights of the very voters who sent us here to Tallahassee.”

Idaho: Lawmakers introduced a bill that would let the governor veto laws passed directly by voters. The bill by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, would let the governor veto successful ballot initiatives — similar to how the governor can veto laws passed by the Idaho House and Senate. If an initiative passes with at least two-thirds support from voters, the bill says “the initiative petition shall be approved without the need for the governor’s approval.” Skaug said that’s similar to the legislative process, which lets two-thirds of state lawmakers override gubernatorial vetoes. If voters pass a ballot initiative with less than two-thirds support, the bill would give the governor five days to approve or veto the initiative.  If the governor vetoes the initiative, the bill says the Idaho Secretary of State “shall then cause the initiative petition to be once again submitted to the voters at the next general election.” The House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday introduced the bill on a unanimous voice vote. If passed into law, the bill would take effect immediately through an emergency clause.

Indiana: Students at Indiana public colleges and universities would no longer be able use their school IDs as proof of identification when they go to vote. That’s under a bill approved this week by a Senate committee. Sen. Blake Doriot (R-Goshen), the author of SB 10, said he’s worried school IDs don’t have the same “rigor” as other forms of identification. “Go to the BMV, we get an identification card or we get a driver’s license,” Doriot said. Student IDs can’t be used to register to vote, only to show proof of ID at polling places. And only under certain circumstances — it has to be issued by public universities and colleges, include a photo and come with an expiration date.

Indiana mayors, city and town clerks and councilors would be elected in presidential election years under a bill, SB 355, approved by a Senate committee this week. Elections for municipalities of at least 3,500 people currently take place in the odd-numbered years before presidential elections. Kegan Prentice, Indiana secretary of state legislative director, said presidential election years have higher turnout than off-year elections. And he said there would be significant cost savings. Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne, representing the Indiana Clerks Association, said consolidating elections would be a logistical help. “This would also be a benefit for clerks who already struggle to recruit and retain quality poll workers,” Browne said. “We simply do not have those people wanting to turn out in municipal elections in the same way that we do if it’s a presidential year.”

Iowa: Supporters said a bill requiring Iowa driver’s licenses to list a person’s citizenship status would help prevent noncitizens from participating in elections — but other advocates said it could lead to discrimination against immigrants and confusion at the ballot box. The legislation, House Study Bill 37, would require a person’s citizenship status to be listed on the back of their driver’s license or non-operator identification card. People applying for renewal or the issuing of new IDs would be required to provide the Iowa Department of Transportation with their status as a U.S. citizen or noncitizen. Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, said she did not believe the driver’s license proposal was the best way to address concerns about noncitizens participating in Iowa elections because of the potential for discrimination when putting citizenship status on an ID like a driver’s license. Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull, said the bill’s focus was on ensuring that only U.S. citizens are participating in elections. “We have every right as a state to ensure that only citizens are voting in our elections,” he said. “And we think at this time this might be the right path, we’ll have discussions and see if there’s a different path.” Wheeler told reporters that there areas to “flesh out” in the bill, such as what information would be listed on IDs, if citizenship status would have to be listed on other photo IDs accepted for voter registration and whether driver’s licenses would be required to be updated after a change in citizenship status. The subcommittee advanced the legislation 2-1, with James voting against.

Kansas: Legislation proposed in the Senate would end the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots, requiring them to be received by 7 p.m on Election Day to be counted, regardless of postage date. Senate Bill 4 is similar to one Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed in 2023, and introduced last year. The Legislature adopted the three-day grace period for ballots postmarked by Election Day in a near-unanimous vote in 2017 after then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach asked the Legislature to pass the law in response to slow U.S. Postal Service delivery. Clay Barker, general council for the Secretary of State’s Office, said Kansas has one of the shorter grace periods. Deadlines for mail-in ballots in other states range from 5 p.m. on Election Day to 14 days after. Barker said that in the states with shorter or no grace periods, ballots are often sent out farther in advance. Kansas sends out mail-in ballots 20 days before an election, meaning recipients would have a shorter turnaround time. SB 4 does not require mail-in ballots to be sent earlier.  The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee approved the bill — sending it to the full Senate for consideration.

At a hearing this week, legislators weighed Senate Bill 6, which would prohibit giving voters the option to rank candidates by order of preference. Ranked-choice voting was last used in Kansas during the 2020 party-run Democratic presidential primary, but it has never been used in an official election run by state or county election officers. Current state law does not provide guidance for ranked-choice voting methods, said Jason Long with the Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes. The bill, which was the subject of a hearing Monday, would establish a definition for ranked-choice voting and cement a ban on the practice at all levels of government.  The bill defines ranked-choice voting as “a form of voting that allows voters to rank two or more candidates for an elected office in order of preference and tabulates the cast ballots in multiple rounds with the elimination of the lowest vote-receiving candidate after each round until a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast.”

Michigan: A new proposal from a top Michigan House Republican seeks to require would-be voters to provide proof that they are U.S. citizens when they register. The House joint resolution from Rep. Bryan Posthumus, a Republican from Rockford and the House majority floor leader, would require anyone who registers to vote starting on Dec. 18, 2026, to verify that they are U.S. citizens. Voters who register without that documentation may present those documents later to their community election officials or the secretary of state’s office. Those who have not confirmed their citizenship in time for the election would be required to cast a provisional ballot, which would only be counted if their citizenship is verified within six days after an election. But the bill would go beyond just newly registering voters. It would require the state to “use an ongoing systematic process” to continually affirm that the people in the qualified voter file — the state’s record of everyone registered to vote — are U.S. citizens. That means retroactive verification for the more than 8 million people on Michigan’s rolls. Those who are identified as noncitizens would be notified within a week and then have 60 days to verify their citizenship or be removed from the rolls. Citizenship can be verified with a state ID or the last four digits of a person’s Social Security number, according to the text of the joint amendment, which more than 40 other Republicans signed on to. The state must then “use all reasonable efforts” to verify citizenship, which can include checking with the federal government. According to Votebeat, the proposal to amend the state constitution isn’t likely to pass the Legislature with required two-thirds support, but conservatives are already gearing up for a petition drive to try to put the proposal before voters on the 2026 ballot.

New Hampshire: Sen. Kevin Avard introduced a bill to make it easier to request a hand count of election ballots. Senate Bill 44 would compel local cities and towns to tabulate election results by hand if 100 voters in a specific election request it. There’s no determined vote threshold, so even if the election was decided by a large margin, if 100 people request a recount, the city or town would have to comply. All recounts would have to be finished within 15 days of the election.  “I’m sure machines are accurate, but I think everybody just wants to make sure they feel like part of the process,” Avard said at his bill’s hearing. “I think if people want that ability to just double-check, it’s not a bad idea.” Secretary of State David Scanlan opposed the bill, saying that municipalities already have the authority to decide whether they want to use ballot-counting machines or hand-count their election results. He called the bill “problematic” in that it gives authority to cities and towns to conduct their own recounts. New Hampshire’s current law says only the Secretary of State can perform recounts.

North Dakota: North Dakota hasn’t had voter registration since 1951. Some lawmakers are sponsoring a bill to bring it back. House Bill 1287 would require all voters to register either ahead of an election or on the day of an election. They could register by mailing a form to the county auditor at least 30 days before an election, when changing or renewing a license or ID card at least 30 days before an election, by filling out a form at the county auditor’s office within 30 days before an election, or at the polling location on the day of the election. Sponsor Rep. Mike Schatz says the purpose is to make sure people aren’t voting for other party candidates during the primary election.

During primaries voters are required to vote for just one of the multiple parties listed on the ballot. Failure to do so causes the ballot to be spoiled and uncounted. Senate Bill 2178 looks to avoid this problem. The bill would require election officials to provide separate ballots with only one party available to choose from. Sen. Chuck Walen, R-New Town, says another purpose of the legislation is that it gives political parties and candidates access to information allowing them to know who voted for what party. The Secretary of State’s Office says this would at least triple the cost of printing ballots and could increase the chance of poll worker error at the polls. The Senate voted against the bill. 

South Dakota: The House advanced a bill this week that would make the state’s list of registered voters free and available to the public online, and another bill that would restrict access to registered voters’ contact information. The two bills, which would amend some of the same sections of existing state law, are yet to be reconciled. Both bills now head to the Senate. The House voted 37-31 to advance the bill that would make the voter registration list freely available online, after debate over funding and privacy implications.  The bill would mandate the Secretary of State’s Office to publish the list online, with weekly updates, and to maintain historical archives. Supporters said the bill would reduce barriers to election oversight, citing costs of current voter lists, which are priced at $2,500 per request and up to $3,000 for absentee data. The fees collected to obtain the voter registration list are used for upkeep and technical support for the state’s Total Vote system, which is used statewide by county auditors and the Secretary of State’s Office to manage voter registration and election data. The bill does not include funding to offset the lost fees. The Secretary of State’s Office — which spoke in opposition to the bill during its initial committee hearing — said the total fees came to about $100,000 last year. The bill that would forbid public access to voters’ phone numbers and emails passed 40-28.  Rep. Mike Weisgram, R-Fort Pierre, proposed that bill. He said the goal is to limit the number of political texts and emails voters are subjected to during elections.  The bill would prohibit public access to telephone numbers and email addresses on voter registration forms, in addition to existing protections for Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and full dates of birth. Weisgram said the bill ensures that disclosures of voter registration information cannot be exploited by campaigns or commercial interests.

Virginia: State law directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide data to the State Board of Elections for individuals who fail to indicate U.S. citizenship on their paperwork.  Under the process, those flagged are sent notifications requesting documentation to confirm their citizenship, with removals occurring monthly. However, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 2024 executive order accelerated the process to daily purges, raising concern about its impact on voters.  Now, Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, is leading an effort to address the controversy and assure compliance with federal law. On Monday, the Senate passed his proposal to clarify the federal 90-day threshold for voter roll removals and extend the response time for flagged individuals to contest their potential purge.   Rouse’s bill would increase the response time from 14 days to 28 days after a notice is mailed to the individual.  “A key word there is ‘mailed to them,’” Rouse said, highlighting the ongoing issues with slow mail delivery. “I think we all understand that mail has been quite slow these days.” The proposal has successfully cleared the Senate by a 20-18 vote but must pass the House of Delegates before heading to the governor. 

Washington: A Senate panel advanced a bill to include messaging on drop boxes about criminal penalties for tampering with them.  Senate Bill 5011 would require each visible side of ballot boxes to display two messages. One would note the box is the property of the county that bought the box. The other would state tampering with the box may violate state and federal law. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, said the deliberately set fire in Vancouver before the election inspired the legislation. Washington has between 545 and 560 drop boxes. Officials project the new labeling proposed under Wilson’s bill would cost about $1,000 for each box.  But the cost could vary by county. For example, Kittitas County paid $222 to wrap each of its nine boxes, while King County estimates it will cost $1,350 per box.

Another measure Wilson has proposed, Senate Bill 5010, would create a grant program in the secretary of state’s office for counties to install cameras around ballot boxes. That bill hasn’t been scheduled for a public hearing.

House Bill 1448 would introduce ranked choice voting to local elections. An attempt to implement ranked choice voting failed during the 2024 legislative session, but democratic lawmakers have brought it back, hoping the second time’s the charm. House Bill 1448 is not a statewide mandate — it’s more of a local-choice model, allowing communities to decide if they’re ready to make the switch. For those who opt in, the bill sets some clear guidelines: Ballots must be easy to understand, vote-counting processes must be straightforward and the transition has to happen within two years of adoption. To help local governments figure it all out, the bill creates a ranked choice voting work group. This group will assist the secretary of state with developing training and voter education materials, so everyone — from election officials to voters — knows how the system works. It’s about ensuring the transition is smooth, not overwhelming.

Wyoming: A bill to make Wyoming’s voter ID requirements more restrictive is headed to the House floor after it was backed by a House committee. House Bill 160, “Voter identification-revisions,” would remove student IDs issued by the University of Wyoming, the state’s community colleges and public schools from Wyoming’s list of acceptable IDs for voting purposes. The House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee voted 8 to 1 to approve the bill. The bill aligns with Secretary of State Chuck Gray’s “election integrity agenda,” which he announced ahead of the Wyoming Legislature’s 2025 general session. Third on that list was “strengthening Wyoming’s voter ID statute.” Gray told the committee he supported the bill. He said student IDs don’t indicate whether someone is an American citizen and could lead to voter fraud, as they’re easily counterfeited. “That’s really the problem here. There’s no statutory or any process safeguards on these other than the policies that the institutions put in place, which can always change,” Gray said. Sublette County Clerk Mary Lankford said students are able to register to vote with the student ID with a driver’s license number or Social Security number so a clerk can verify their citizenship and residency. Lankford added, though, that the state’s county clerks have some concern about student IDs allowing students to use a nickname and select their own photo.

The House advanced a bill that would allow for recounting elections by hand. House Bill 232 would initiate hand recounts for many races in Wyoming.  The bill was passed 6-1 by the House Appropriations Committee with only Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, voting against it. If enacted into law, the bill apportions $200,000 for the state to run, a figure Secretary of State Chuck Gray said he supports to facilitate hand-counted recounts. Hand counting elections has gained steam since the 2020 election after allegations of fraud were brought by some Republicans against voting machines. Various attempts to perform hand count elections and audits of elections have mostly failed to date. HB 232 would not only perform election recounts conducted by hand instead of voting machines for close races, but also if an individual requests it. The bill sponsor, Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, believes the bill will also provide an avenue for catching human mistakes fed into the voting machines that might not otherwise currently exist in state law.

The House passed first reading of a bill that would move the date to file as an independent candidate to well before the primary, thus eliminating the ability for people to run after certain candidates lose their primary elections. Current statute, often referred to by its critics as the “sore loser law,” allows people to file as independent candidates up to 70 days before the general election and then run in that election. This gives people the ability to file their candidacy for about 10 days after the primary election. The bill sponsor, state Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, said he’s had county elections staff complain to him about the 70-day rule, which gives the clerks a short window to print ballots for Wyoming residents voting from overseas. This has occurred a few times around the state over the last few years. Some of the candidates were candid when speaking to Cowboy State Daily about the results of the primary election being their inspiration for running. Haroldson said the bill does not stop independents from running for office.

Legal Updates

Alaska: Anchorage Superior Court Judge Yvonne Lamoureux has ruled that Alaskans don’t have a constitutional right to correct errors they make on absentee ballots. Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, the Native American Rights Fund and the firm Perkins Coie sued the state in 2022, arguing that the lack of a process to fix defective by-mail ballots violated the Alaska Constitution. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the League of Women Voters, the Arctic Village Council and two individual Alaska voters who said their rights were violated because they did not have an opportunity to correct mistakes on their ballots, which meant their votes weren’t counted. Lamoureux ruled against the plaintiffs last week She said in her 32-page ruling that the state’s requirements for absentee voters “impose only a limited burden on the right to vote.” The lawsuit followed the state’s first by-mail election in 2022. Almost 7,500 absentee ballots were rejected, with a greater proportion of those rejected ballots coming from parts of the state where Alaska Natives make up a majority of the population. Two-thirds of those rejected ballots were for mistakes made on envelopes containing the ballots.

California: Judge Charles R. Bryer dismissed a lawsuit seeking to remove hundreds of allegedly ineligible voters from the voter rolls in Marin County, California. Bryer said the plaintiffs lacked standing and failed to state a claim in their complaint. A group of seven voters filed a lawsuit in October 2024 against the Marin County registrar and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber (D) for allegedly failing to remove ineligible voters from the county’s voter rolls. Plaintiffs asserted without evidence that Marin County had mailed ballots to 994 ineligible voters for the 2024 general election, and that 142 ballots were expected to be returned. Breyer denied the request for a temporary restraining order for lack of standing Nov. 4, 2024. He also indicated then that the plaintiffs’ claims were unlikely to succeed.  In January, the defendants moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked standing and did not sufficiently allege a violation of any law.  Marin County voter roll maintenance processes will remain unchanged following Breyer’s Monday order.

Florida: The State Attorney’s Office for the 4th Judicial Circuit has declined to prosecute 18-year-old Caleb Williams who was  arrested at Neptune Beach polling location onn Oct. 29, 2024 and charged with aggravated assault on a person 65 years or older and improper exhibition of a firearm or a dangerous weapon. At the time, police said he brandished the machete outside the polling place and targeted a 71-year-old woman and a 54-year-old woman. Additional charges of voter intimidation and suppression were later added.  However, Assistant State Attorney Octavius A. Holliday Jr. wrote in a disposition filed last week that the state will not prosecute Williams and all charges will be dropped. 

Georgia: Georgia asked a  three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a ruling that required more majority-Black state and congressional districts, a case that, if successful, has the potential to weaken the Voting Rights Act. The panel wrestled with the role of race in elections after a judge ruled in October 2023 that Georgia’s districts were drawn in a way that weakened the voting strength of Black voters. If the courts agree with the state’s argument that partisan politics — not race — explains voting patterns, violations of the Voting Rights Act would be more difficult to prove. Black voters overwhelmingly support Democratic candidates in Georgia, while most white voters back Republicans. The 11th Circuit judges are expected to rule in the coming months. The decision could then be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the Voting Rights Act’s protections for Black voters in recent redistricting cases.

The Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s decision to dismiss six counts of an indictment charging President Donald Trump and others for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.  On Jan. 17, a three-judge panel unanimously upheld the lower court’s decision, writing “we find that the indictment fails to include enough detail to sufficiently apprise the defendants of what they must be prepared to meet so that they can intelligently prepare their defenses.” The 98-page indictment was returned in August 2023 in Fulton County, Georgia, after more than two years of investigation. It named 41 counts and 18 defendants, including Trump’s close advisors Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows and John Eastman. The indictment charged Trump with 13 counts. The counts deal with soliciting others to engage in conduct that willfully and intentionally violates a Georgia public official’s oath of office, which includes a promise to uphold the state and national constitutions. In particular, the counts reference conversations with Georgia legislators and Raffensperger in which the defendants asked them to change election results, decertify the election, and call a special session of the state legislature to unlawfully appoint electors.

Mississippi: The Supreme Court this week left in place Mississippi’s Jim Crow-era practice of removing voting rights from people convicted of certain felonies, including nonviolent crimes such as forgery and timber theft. The justices, without comment, turned away an appeal from Mississippi residents who have completed their sentences, but who have been unable to regain their right to vote. The court’s action let stand a ruling by the full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that rejected the claim that permanent loss of voting rights amounted to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Constitution. Mississippi legislators, not the courts, must decide whether to change the laws, the 5th circuit said. Using different legal arguments, lawyers failed to get the Supreme Court to take up the felon disenfranchisement issue in 2023, over a dissent from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson that was joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Mississippi’s list of disqualifying crimes was “adopted for an illicit discriminatory purpose,” Jackson wrote. No justice noted a dissent from this week’s order.

Nevada: Judge Connie Steinheimer dismissed a right-wing lawsuit challenging the maintenance of voter rolls in Washoe County. Steinheimer said the plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the case in the first place.  Right-wing organization Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) and a voter filed the lawsuit in May 2024 after allegedly discovering nearly 50 commercial addresses listed in the Washoe County voter rolls. In their complaint against Washoe County interim register Carrie-Ann Burgess, the plaintiffs argued the addresses violated a state law that requires voters to provide a residential address when they register to vote. They asked the court to order Burgess to investigate the commercial addresses.  Burgess and Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar (D), who intervened in the case, argued that the plaintiffs were trying to circumvent the official voter challenge process. An investigation into the addresses, they argued, has the effect of a voter challenge and could result in voters being removed from the rolls. But effective voter challenges must be based on reasonable and reliable information, which Burgess and Aguilar claimed the plaintiffs could not meet, and so the plaintiffs filed a lawsuit seeking the same result. They also argued the plaintiffs had no standing.

New Hampshire: Joshua Urovitch, 56, and Lisa Urovitch, 54, of Ashland, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count each of voter fraud. They received a 12-month sentence each, suspended for two years pending good behavior, and fined $2,480 each. Initially, they were charged with three felony counts of voter fraud for casting ballots in the November 2020 general election, November 2022 Concord Board of Education, and November 2022 general election. One charge was converted to a misdemeanor, and two other felonies were nolle prossed as part of the plea deal. The two previously lived in Concord and still own rental property there. They have also lost their right to vote in New Hampshire.. 

New York: Nassau County has agreed to redraw its voting map after a lawsuit claimed its political boundaries disenfranchised residents of color. The county reached a settlement in which the suburban region, located just east of New York City borough of Queens, would create six voting districts in which Black, Latino and Asian residents constitute a majority of eligible voters. The county’s Republican-controlled legislature approved a voting map in 2023 in which residents of color constituted a majority of eligible voters in just four of the county’s 19 districts. But the New York Civil Liberties Union and other groups sued in state court, arguing the map diluted the electoral power of residents of color, who make up more than one-third of eligible voters. They said the political map, based off the 2020 census, split minority communities or combined them with others that were starkly different. The new voting map will take effect for legislative elections this coming November and remain in effect after the 2030 census, when maps will be redrawn to reflect updated census counts, the New York Civil Liberties Union and other groups said. The local Republican Party said it remains committed to “fair and competitive” districts and is confident it will retain its majority in the legislature.

North Carolina: The lawyer representing the state Board of Elections faced a barrage of questions from a federal court of appeals judge about the appropriateness of calling back to federal court a case that the state Supreme Court had acted on. The state Board of Elections and Justice Allison Riggs are appealing a federal district court judge’s decision to send back to state court an elections case in which Republican Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin wants to invalidate more than 60,000 votes. Griffin had asked the state Supreme Court to order the elections board to erase those votes, believing that doing so would allow him to erase Riggs’ 734 vote lead. Last week, the state Supreme Court dismissed Griffin’s request that it order the elections board to throw out ballots and told the Wake County Superior Court to start a trial. It also kept in place a block on certification of a winner in the race. The case has taken several turns in the weeks since the state Board of Elections dismissed his protests. The panel of three judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals is considering whether the case should be heard in federal court or stay in state court. Riggs and the state Board of Elections want the case in federal court, while Griffin wants state courts to consider the claims. Where the case is heard could determine the winner of the election. The state Supreme Court race is the last statewide race in the nation that does not have a declared winner. The high court currently features a 5-2 Republican majority, including Riggs, who has recused herself from the case. The courtroom in Richmond was packed this week with North Carolina voters. “I can’t believe that so many people would be interested in this case that was so procedural,” said Judge Paul V. Niemeyer, who was appointed by President George H.W. Bush.

Tennessee: Julie Ann Bernard, 47 of Orlinda, has been indicted by a Robertson County grand jury for election fraud. Bernard has been indicted for one count of false entries on official registration on election documents last week. According to the indictment, Bernard knowingly used a false address on a Robertson County Election Commission Candidate Nomination Petition to run for Orlinda City Commissioner in August 2024. Bernard is accused of putting a Moore Street address on her nominating petition when she actually lived at a Sparkman Road address, per the indictment. The violation is considered a Class D felony in Tennessee, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 12 years imprisonment and $5,000 fine.

Virginia: The U.S. Justice Department this week sought to pull out of an ongoing voting rights case against Virginia over the state’s removal of names from voter rolls shortly before the November election. The department’s motion for dismissal, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and first reported by Votebeat, doesn’t end the case, because there are also private plaintiffs, including voting rights groups, challenging Virginia’s action. The motion came soon after the Justice Department, now under the Trump administration, reversed the Biden administration’s position in a case involving Louisiana’s congressional maps, and amid a reported reconsideration of the department’s approach to civil rights cases. Some voting rights watchdogs fear that the department’s priorities will shift under the new leadership. The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the filing. The case arose after Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, issued an executive order in August requiring daily updates to voter lists to remove ineligible voters. The Justice Department and other organizations separately sued Virginia in October, saying the order violated a provision of the National Voter Registration Act, which includes a ban on systematic cleaning of voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: List maintenance | Election reform | Executive orders | Election legislation

Alabama: Election security 

Arizona: Slow results 

Iowa: Voting system investments 

Florida: Investing in elections 

Nevada: Secretary of state 

New York: Ranked choice voting 

North Carolina: Military & overseas voters | Supreme Court race, II | Ranked choice voting 

 

Upcoming Events

The Future of Democracy: Lessons Learned from the 2024 U.S. Election: Join the London School of Economics’ Electoral Psychology Observatory, the Brennan Center for Justice, Election Assistance Commissioner Thomas Hicks, and the National Academy of Public Administration for an event celebrating Global Election Day and marking the fifth anniversary of the LSE’s observatory. Join the hosts to listen to expert speakers, engage in meaningful conversations, and play a part in shaping the future of democracy. The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET, ending with a light lunch and a roundtable discussion that will focus on the essential steps to strengthen, promote, and protect democracy in every election. Space is limited and registration is required. When: Feb. 6, 8:30am to 1pm. 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. 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. 

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. 

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.

Research Scientist, MEDSL– To oversee the data science workflow of the lab’s election-related data collection, processing, and dissemination efforts including assisting the director with designing and implementing research projects, gathering and analyzing data, designing research protocols, and documenting results; managing data science and quality control for the 2018 release of the Elections Performance Index (EPI); acquiring data from government sources and designing protocols to update indicators not provided by government sources; assisting with redistricting data collection/dissemination efforts; working with web designers to update EPI website and creating original content for MEDSL website; onboarding and monitoring the work of students/research support associates; tracking scholarship in the field of election science; and performing other data science/administrative/reporting duties as assigned. MEDSL aims to improve the democratic experience for all U.S. voters by applying scientific principles to how elections are studied and administered. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Marketplace

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