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Election News This Week

New Reg System: This week, the Pennsylvania Department of State said that it signed a new $10.6 million contract with Louisiana-based technology company Civix to upgrade the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors, or SURE, and integrate it with other state-run election systems. The contract calls for Civix to integrate the functions of the SURE system with the state’s election night reporting, campaign finance, and lobbying disclosure systems, creating a system that the department called a “one-stop-shop elections administration experience.” The new system will include a public portal that will “serve as the centralized home” for those looking for guidance documents issued by the department, elections data, information about upcoming elections, and more, the department said in a press release. According to Votebeat, the state has been trying for years to upgrade the SURE system, which was built in the early 2000s. Local election officials complain that the system is outdated and has a tendency to crash, sometimes in the critical period just before an election when counties need it the most. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said the department decided to expand the SURE upgrade project to include other systems because he heard from the public and from state lawmakers about the need to also “make lobbying disclosure, campaign finance and election night reporting more user friendly.” 

Town Meeting Day: Town Meeting Day is dedicated to local elections across the state of Vermont. The original tradition brought voters together for an in-person debate and voice vote. While many communities continue to vote this way, others have adopted the Australian Ballot system. The Australian Ballot system gives voters the opportunity to cast their votes anonymously, with a paper ballot. This can be more accessible for people who can’t attend a town meeting in-person. While some towns have used the Australian Ballot for years, others made the switch recently for their town meetings. In Milton, leaders say the Australian Ballot increases participation in local elections and moving away from in-person town meeting votes allows more people to have a say. “Town meeting is hard to get participation. And so to have it in person isn’t going to get the most response here in Milton,” said Kristin Beers, the town clerk of Milton. In Jericho, officials made the change to give more residents a chance to vote without attending a public meeting. “I think there’s people that are having trouble understanding, and there may be people that show up on Tuesday thinking that there is going to be an in-person town meeting and find out that there is not. But yeah, I think we’re in a place of transition,” said Jericho Clerk Jessica Alexander.

Podcasts: In the latest episode of High Turnout Wide Margins, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Mark Kampf, the former clerk in Nye County, Nevada. He stepped into the role in the summer of 2022 after the Nye County Commission voted to move to hand counting ballots and his predecessor resigned. That fall, Kampf proposed a plan for Nye County to hand count during the midterm elections, which faced a legal challenge from the ACLU  and ultimately served as a parallel trial of hand counting. In March 2024, Kampf resigned from the position of Nye County Clerk. They spoke about these hand counting efforts, as well as Kampf’s work to beef up chain of custody processes during his tenure in office.

Personnel News: Pam Murran is the new Republican elections commissioner in Sullivan County, New  York. Kevin Charles is the new chairman of the Jackson County, Georgia elections board and Rocheeka White has been appointed to the board as a new member. Charlotte Sosebee, the director of the Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Elections Department, has left her position for an elections role in DeKalb County. Barbara Bosserman has retired as the Clarke County, Virginia general registrar/director of elections. Brandon Kovak is the new Clarke County, Virginia general registrar/director of elections. Nick Wayman is back on the Ashtabula County, Ohio board of elections. Luke Scott has been sworn in as the Auglaize County, Ohio director of elections and Michelle Wilcox as deputy.  Melissa Dixon has been appointed as Greene County, North Carolina’s new elections director. Quinton Babcock was appointed to the Ottawa County, Ohio Board of Elections. Lori Parsons has been sworn in as a new member of the Wilkes County, North Carolina Board of Elections. And congratulations to Corrine Duncan, the Buncombe County, North Carolina director of elections who was named one of USAToday’s Women of the Year. 

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Federal Legislation: House Democrats reintroduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act this week. Supported by the entire House Democratic Caucus, the bill would require states that have a history of voting rights violations to receive federal approval before changing their voting laws. “Seemingly every day we see new efforts to roll back our hard-fought progress, efforts to whitewash our history and efforts to make it harder for Americans to vote,” Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., said at a press event announcing the bill’s reintroduction. “Without the protections of the Voting Rights Act, those efforts are going unchecked in state legislatures across this country.” Sewell said state legislators proposed more than 300 bills in 2024 to make it harder for Americans to cast a ballot by closing polling locations, curbing early voting, ending vote-by-mail and imposing stricter voter identification requirements. More than 20 have been signed into law. The reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act comes days before the 60-year anniversary of “Bloody Sunday.” Named for the late John R. Lewis, a civil rights icon who led the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 and served in the U.S. House from 1987 until his death in 2020, the legislation would restore many of the protections of the 60-year-old Voting Rights Act.

Arkansas: The Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs again rejected a proposal to create an enforcement agency within the secretary of state’s office that could investigate the validity of submitted documents related to elections and ballot initiatives. Senate Bill 212 previously failed in the committee on Feb. 12.  Bill sponsor Sen. Kim Hammer (R-Benton), amended the bill and presented it to the committee again Feb. 27. Hammer announced in January that he will run next year for Secretary of State, the office that oversees elections.  The proposed “Document Validity Division” in SB 212 would have the power to “investigate documents and activities related to the validity and truthfulness” of petitions signed by registered voters in support of proposed ballot measures. “A document determined by the division to contain fraud or falsity by a preponderance of the evidence shall be declared null and void for any legal purpose overseen by the Secretary of State,” the bill states. The division would have subpoena power, and an amendment Hammer added to the bill this week would allow the agency to seek a court order to enforce a subpoena if the recipient fails to comply. SB 212 again failed to garner five votes from the eight-member committee. Sen. Clarke Tucker of Little Rock, the committee’s only Democrat, continued to oppose the bill, as did committee vice chair Sen. John Payton, R-Wilburn. “I believe in a rigorous investigation of any wrongdoing when it comes to this petitioning process,” Payton said. “I believe it should be prosecuted and it should be investigated, but I also believe that our [nation’s] founders were very concerned with separation of powers… I believe that giving every agency police powers is a violation of the principle that we would have separation of powers.”

Florida: Sen. Tina Scott Polsky and Rep. Debra Tendrich filed bills that would require main college campuses to be opened up for early voting, which is something some counties are already doing in Florida. The legislation (SB 1634, HB 1473) requires at least one early voting site at a school’s main campus, and also calls for a public awareness campaign to inform students about voting opportunities. The campaign, “at a minimum,” must inform students through regular mail and electronic mail, as well as social media and signs around campus, according to the measures. The identical bills address early voting, which in some places, like Orange County, drew long lines during the General Election.

Georgia: Sen. Colton Moore (R-53) has introduced legislation to replace the state’s current electronic voting system with hand-marked paper ballots and publicly recorded hand counts, citing security concerns and legal challenges. Senate Bill 303, filed late last week, seeks to revert Georgia elections to paper ballot statutes currently on the books. The bill directly addresses security complaints raised in federal and state lawsuits regarding the Dominion Democracy Suite 5.5 Ballot Marking Device (BMD) system, as well as comments by President Donald Trump about the integrity of U.S. elections. SB 303 would authorize the State Election Board to select a new voting system. Moore and his supporters argue that transitioning to hand-marked paper ballots with publicly recorded hand counts would require minimal new equipment or expenses.

Hawaii: Hawaiʻi election commissioners may be required to be approved by the Senate. That’s if a bill going through the Legislature passes. The Hawaiʻi Elections Commission oversees the state’s elections and has the power to hire and fire Hawaiʻi’s chief elections officer. The leaders of each political party in the House and Senate currently get to appoint four commissioners. The eight commissioners then pick a ninth member to be their chairperson. But Rep. Adrian Tam introduced a measure that would require the Senate to confirm the nominated commissioners. During that process, the public can submit testimony about the candidate because there is a formal hearing. “This allows for a little bit more transparency so the public can weigh in on who’s going to sit on this commission, because this commission is very important considering that they oversee election staff and election workers, and they oversee the chief election officer,” he said.

Iowa: Only elections decided by 1 percent or less would be eligible for recounts in Iowa, and only local elections officials and their staff would conduct the recounts under legislation advanced this week by state lawmakers. The proposal comes from Rep. Austin Harris, (R-Moulton), and differs greatly from a recount reform proposed earlier this legislative session by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, the state’s top elections official and also a Republican. Pate and lawmakers have sought updates to Iowa’s election recount laws since 2020, when a protracted recount in an Eastern Iowa congressional election revealed a patchwork of procedures across counties. It would limit recount requests to only those elections decided by 1 percent of the vote or less, and would require the candidate who requests a recount to pay for that recount unless the election margin was 0.1 percent or less. There is no current cap on an election margin before a recount can be requested. Under current law, the state pays for a recount when the margin is fewer than 50 votes or less than 1 percent. The candidate requesting the recount otherwise is responsible for posting a bond, but the bond is returned if the winner changes. The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office is officially registered as undecided on Harris’ bill, according to state lobbying records. So, too, are all other organizations registered on the bill, including organizations representing county auditors, counties and voters’ rights. Harris’ bill also would change the composition of election recount boards, which conduct recounts, by staffing them with local elections officials: the county auditor and the auditor’s staff.

Kansas: Lawmakers are considering a change that could impact how special elections, such as school or city bond issues, are held across the state. Kansas Senate Bill 273 proposes that all special elections be scheduled on the first Tuesday in March every year. County election officials from across Kansas expressed mixed opinions on how the bill could impact rural versus urban areas. Sumner County Clerk and Election Officer Debbie Norris said she sees potential benefits and drawbacks. “I can see a real positive in respect that when I have to reserve voting locations, I can tell them all in advance to reserve the building,” Norris said. In larger counties, however, the bill could address some administrative challenges. Harvey County Clerk and Election Officer Rick Piepho pointed out that counties like Sedgwick, which regularly hold multiple special elections, could benefit from consolidating them into one day. “Right now, Sedgwick County has three concurrent special elections,” Piepho said. “From an administrative standpoint, it’s like, why can’t all of these be on the same day?”

Maryland: House Bill 710, if passed, would require the State Board of Elections to provide a voter hotline for incarcerated individuals. This bill would give incarcerated people the chance to vote. Delegate of District 38C, Wayne Hartman, is completely against the idea. “I believe if someone cannot uphold the laws, and is in a position where convicted, they shouldn’t vote on people who create the laws.” Hartman said the imprisoned have not shown the responsibility to vote. “It’s certainly a privilege to vote, even our kids can’t vote. There has to be a degree of competence, some mental competence to vote.” While Hartman thinks voting is a privilege. Advocates from Common Cause Maryland disagree. Their executive director, Joanne Antoine, said it’s a constitutional right. “Voting is certainly not a privilege, it’s a right, and it should’ve never been taken away. I understand inside our facilities, these people have been held accountable and they should. According to Antoine, over 16,000 individuals in the state are incarcerated. If this legislation passes, Maryland would be the first state outside Washington D.C. to have the law. Antoine said while the bill is at a standstill, she will continue to advocate for those who need it. The bill has passed its first reading, but has not been referred to a committee for a second reading.

Minnesota: Rep. Duane Quam (R-Byron) is sponsoring HF1800 that, as amended, would make wholesale modifications of laws across the election spectrum that would affect election judges, voter registration, polling place and ballot protocols. The bill was approved Wednesday by the committee on a 6-5 party-line vote and sent to the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. The bill’s proposed changes to election judge procedures would require: a county auditor or city clerk to notify the secretary of state’s office if there are not a sufficient number of election judges affiliated with a political party to meet the party balance requirements. The secretary of state must then notify party representatives and request that the party provide further names; and an appointing authority to maintain a list of election judges with their major party affiliation or a statement that the judge does not affiliate with a party. By law, cities, counties and school districts must retain all election materials for at least 22 months after an election. The bill would include registration forms and absentee ballot envelopes to the requirement and make it a felony to destroy or dispose of filled ballots before the end of that retention period. Entities that post unofficial election results on a public website must identify any precinct in which the vote totals are changed after the totals were first reported on the website, along with a notation indicating the number of impacted votes and the candidates for which those votes were cast; an explanation for the discrepancy; the date and time on which the discrepancy was discovered; the date and time on which the unofficial results were changed; and the initials of the elections official who made the change.

Mississippi: Elections Committee Chairman Noah Sanford has successfully pushed some House members to scrap a Senate proposal to establish early voting in Mississippi and expand the state’s absentee voting program instead.  Sanford (R-Collins) last week got the committee to adopt a plan clarifying voters who anticipate their employers might require them to work on Election Day and adding that people who care for children or disabled adults can vote by absentee.  “I’m the poster child for this,” Sanford said. “I’ve got a 5-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old. I can promise you, you don’t want me bringing them into the polling place. They’d be knocking something over, and it would be a bad experience for all of us.” The plan passed the Elections Committee with no audible opposition, and it can now go before the full House for consideration.  Sanford’s proposal also establishes an early voting task force, although Sanford held a hearing over the summer to study the issue. It also allows election workers to process absentee ballot forms leading to Election Day.  To vote by absentee, a voter must meet one of around a dozen legal excuses, such as temporarily living outside of their county or being over 65. Mississippi law doesn’t allow people to vote by absentee purely out of convenience or choice.  The Senate passed a proposal, authored by Republican Sen. Jeremy Englad of Vancleave, that would have established 15 days of no-excuse, in-person early voting and required voters to present a valid photo ID to an elections worker.

Missouri: The Senate’s Committee on Local Government, Elections and Pensions heard testimony once again this week about raising the bar on the process for passing initiative petitions. The hearing focused on four resolutions that would redefine how Missourians can alter the state’s highest body of law. Currently, the Missouri Constitution requires initiative petitions seeking to amend the constitution to have signatures equal to 8% of the legal voters in two-thirds of the eight congressional districts. Initiative petitions seeking to propose laws must have signatures equal to 5% of the legal voters in two-thirds of the eight congressional districts. State Sen. Jason Bean, a Republican from Holcomb, is sponsoring a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution that would require petitioners to gather signatures from 15% of voters in all of the congressional districts. Petitioners wanting to propose laws would need signatures from 10% of voters from all congressional districts. Bean’s legislation would nearly double the required amount of signatures in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Boone County, to bring proposed laws and amendments to the ballot. The resolution would also raise the bar to pass initiative petitions. Amendments are enacted when they receive a majority of votes under current law. The legislation would still require amendments to garner a simple majority of voters to pass, but adds a requirement that the number of votes cast in favor is at least 35% of the total number of ballots cast in the election. If any of the proposed resolutions pass the legislature, changes would also have to be approved by Missouri voters next year.

Montana: The vast majority of students attending Montana’s two flagship universities do not initially come from Missoula or Gallatin counties. Under a proposed bill which passed the Montana House last week, those students might no longer have a say in local elections that impact their daily lives.  House Bill 413, introduced by Rep. Jane Gillette, R-Three Forks, adds definitions to a section of Montana law related to residency requirements for voters and candidates for the Legislature. The law currently states that individuals cannot gain residency in a county if they are there for “temporary purposes, without the intention of making that county the individual’s home.” Calling the law vague, Gillette’s proposal defines temporary purposes as including “temporary work, training, or an educational program,” and includes requiring a voter’s intention to make the county an individual’s permanent home at the conclusion of their temporary purpose.  But many opponents to the bill said this could constrain, or outright remove, voting rights from thousands of students in Montana. The bill passed through committee on an 11-8 party line vote, and drew additional debate on the House floor. Gillette maintained her bill was simply about adding clarity to existing law, and that the goal was not to target specific populations or strip away students’ voting rights.  The bill passed third reading 56-42 and will next head to the Senate for further consideration.

With the transmittal deadline approaching, the Senate also endorsed SB 490 on a vote of 33-17. It would make significant changes to Montana’s late voter registration laws. Currently, people can register and vote at county election offices until noon the Monday before an election and as long as polls are open on Election Day. The bill — sponsored by Sen. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka — would eliminate registration on Monday and close it at noon on Election Day, but allow people to register on the Saturday before the election.

Nebraska: Sen. Rick Holdcroft (R-Bellevue) says he wants to eliminate online voter registration, restrict absentee voting, provide more security for ballot boxes and require hand-counting of election results, citing election integrity concerns.   State and local election officials testified against Holdcroft’s Legislative Bill 541 during its public hearing this week before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, questioning the need for changes to election law and raising concerns about possibly violating federal law and the potential costs to taxpayers. Other bill opponents said the changes would introduce unnecessary burdens to voters and make it harder for Nebraskans to participate in elections.  Holdcroft said while he has confidence in the integrity of Nebraska elections, the bill is “simply to give peace of mind to the electorate and our state regarding the security of our elections.” Tracy Overstreet, Hall County Election Commissioner, said during the hearing that the proposed changes would require her to hire more staff and violate the federal National Voting Rights Act because of the way the bill would restrict voter registration by mail. According to the bill’s fiscal note, the changes Holdcroft seeks would cost the state nearly $1 million when Nebraska is facing a significant budget shortfall.

Nevada: Democrats unveiled a proposal Feb. 27 to increase the number of ballot drop boxes in the days before an election. Assembly Bill 306 would require Clark County to have 10 drop boxes available in the days after early voting ends and before Election Day. Nevada law requires all mail-in ballots to be mailed and postmarked by Election Day. There is then a four-day period after Election Day when county clerks can accept the postmarked ballots and process them. If the ballot does not have a postmark, county clerks can process ballots up to three days after Election Day. A law passed after the 2020 election allows Nevada county clerks and registrars to process mail-in ballots in the two weeks before an election. Democratic Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar told 8 News Now in January that delays in tabulation are not because of the post-Election Day mail, but rather mail-in ballots received at election centers on Election Day. The bill would require Washoe County to have five drop boxes and counties with populations less than 100,000 to have any number. Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager and Senate Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, both Democrats, introduced the bill with several colleagues.

New Jersey:  The Assembly sent another election reform bill to the governor’s desk last week on primary ballot design. The Assembly voted 65-7 to approve legislation to eliminate the controversial county line from primary ballots. Thursday’s bill is a tweaked version of the bill the Assembly passed in December—the new vote was needed to bring the Assembly in line with legislation passed by the state Senate earlier this week. The legislation also eliminates the direct election of Democratic and Republican State Committee members in primary elections; instead, State Committee members will be elected by the county committee.

The General Assembly expanded early in-person voting for state primaries, starting with June’s gubernatorial and Assembly races. The bill, signed into law this week, extends the state’s early voting period for primary elections from three to six days starting one week before Election Day and continuing through the Sunday prior. Presidential primaries in the state will also enjoy of a six-day early voting period. The nine-day early voting period for general elections remains unchanged, as does the three-day period for May municipal elections. The change follows a significant increase in early voting during the 2024 general election, with nearly 1.2 million residents casting ballots before Election Day, compared to just 213,919 the previous year. The new early voting schedule will be in place for the June 10 primaries, when voters will choose candidates for governor and the General Assembly. The bill allocates $6 million for its implementation.

North Carolina: Democrats in the legislature are planning to file a bill aimed at one of the legal tactics employed by Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin in his attempt to reverse the results of the 2024 election for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat. Griffin wants to throw out more than 60,000 voters’ ballots, including thousands of ballots cast by overseas voters. The state didn’t require overseas voters to show photo identification in 2024, even though most other voters did have to show ID. Griffin contends that’s wrong, and that their ballots shouldn’t count. No legislation would be able to shut down Griffin’s lawsuit as it plays out in the courts, but Democrats believe their proposal will at least stop future lawsuits from targeting overseas voters like deployed members of the military, by making it clear that they don’t have to show ID. The percentage of people voting overseas is small, but North Carolina is a closely contested swing state where even small margins can make a difference. Griffin trails Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs by just 734 votes, out of more than 5 million ballots cast. Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, said her bill will make it clear that members of the military living and voting from other countries don’t need to go photocopy their identification and then mail it in, in order for their ballot to count. “We have thousands of military overseas, who reside in North Carolina,” Morey said in an interview. “It’s not as easy to just pull out your ID and find a copier if you’re in the field, if you’re somewhere where it’s difficult.”

North Dakota: The Senate Education Committee is looking at a bill that could close schools during elections. House Bill 1387 states that school districts need to either cancel classes or keep students segregated from the polling location if it’s inside the school. Sponsor Rep. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, says the bill originated as an idea from his daughter, who’s concerned about having public voters inside a school. “It is a safety factor. She has 482 kids in her grade school. They had about 1,800 voters that day during school hours. We got to stop that, I think,” said Heinert. Heinert says there are around 10 schools in Bismarck that are used as polling locations. A representative of the North Dakota School Boards Association says school buildings are regularly used for school elections, usually in June. The Senate took no action on the bill, but a floor vote could occur as early as Friday. It passed the House in an 85-8 vote.

Oregon: Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections. House Bill 3012 went before the House Committee on Rules this week, sparking debate over whether teenagers are ready for the responsibility. Dozens spoke at the hearing to argue both for and against the measure. Even more submitted written testimony — 149 wrote in opposition and 197 wrote in support. If passed, 16- and 17-year-olds who are registered to vote would be able to cast a ballot in school board elections starting in 2027.

South Dakota: House Bill 1127 would add new guidelines to the publication of post-election audits. Particularly in the most rural counties. It was brought by prime sponsors Rep. Rebecca Reimer and Sen. Amber Hulse, both Republicans. Hulse said it’s a chance to add another layer of security. “In some counties that don’t have a website the way they notify the public these tastings are happening is not on a public website,” Hulse said. “So, unless you’re going into the county courthouse or going and looking at the notices that are being published, you’re probably not being notified this is happening. This just allows, if you’re going to the Secretary of State website, that it’s out there for the public statewide.” For Hulse, voting safety is the number one priority. “I’ve been working with a lot of the auditors and election officials on several different election bills,” Hulse said. “That’s what I do for my day job, in election and political law. We want to make sure there is transparency in terms of when the testing of the machines is happening.” The bill now heads to the Senate floor.

The House has approved a bill that would require the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to indicate on driver’s licenses, permits and state IDs whether or not someone is a U.S. citizen.  Rep. Mary Fitzgerald is the bill’s prime sponsor. She said the purpose is to ensure non-citizens aren’t voting in South Dakota. “Senate Bill 75 is an election integrity bill and serves as a step in the right direction,” Fitzgerald said. “We want to make sure that we do have legal elections, and elections that we can have faith in and that we know that those are held legally.” Proponents also said it makes verifying citizenship easier for poll workers. SB 75 passed the House floor 66-4 and now heads to the Governor’s desk for a signature.

Utah: A proposal that would have taken oversight of elections away from the office of the lieutenant governor has been changed, and passed out of committee with unanimous support. Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, said that his bill would create the role of an officer who oversees any race that poses a conflict of interest with the governor or lieutenant governor. Wilcox introduced the bill with concerns about a potential conflict of interest. The language of HB369 states that the bill: “…provides for the appointment of a conflict of interest elections officer to act in the place of the lieutenant governor if a complaint or election controversy arises that has any connection to a race for office in which the governor or lieutenant governor is, or seeks to be, a candidate.” HB369 would also create an oversight committee, which would review Utah elections and make recommendations to improve the process.

A new version of HB300 won approval from the Senate Business and Labor Committee on a 5-3 vote this week, advancing the bill closer to its legislative finish line. It now goes to the full Senate for consideration.  The latest version of HB300 would do the following: Starting in 2026, require voters with a valid state ID to include the last four digits of their state ID when returning a ballot through the mail or in a drop box. For registered voters who cast their ballot without an ID number, clerks would confirm their ballots by matching their signatures. Phase out Utah’s current automatic vote-by-mail system by 2029. In order to vote by mail, Utahns would be required to obtain a valid state ID by Jan. 1, 2029 and opt in to voting by mail. By that deadline, clerks would also be required to rely on confirming state ID numbers on ballots rather than signature verification. Allows Utahns who are eligible to register to vote that also sign an affidavit stating that they’re indigent to receive a state voter ID card free of charge. Beginning in 2029, voters who vote in person must present a valid ID, except in certain circumstances, in which a voter could sign an affidavit and present two forms of alternative ID (like a social security card, bank statement or paystub). By 2029, requires voters to opt in to receive by-mail ballots every eight years. Creates new ways for voters to opt in to voting by mail, including when renewing their driver’s license, voting in person, or through an online portal. Restrict Utah’s current deadline for by-mail ballots. Currently, Utah allows by-mail ballots to be postmarked by the day before Election Day in order for clerks to count them, but HB300 would require ballots to be in clerks’ possession no later than 8 p.m. on election night, regardless of their postmark. Enhances the lieutenant governor’s ability to investigate voter registration roll inaccuracies. Clerks still expressed concerns with the bill.  “While many changes have been made, there are still substantial hurdles that this bill brings forward,” Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman said, noting that in her county, more than 91% of voters have cast by-mail ballots. She also worried that the added requirements to review both the last four digits of voters’ ID, in addition to signature verification, will “at a minimum, double the amount of time” it will take for clerks to verify ballots.  “We’re not quite there yet,” Chapman said about the bill.

Another lawmaker’s efforts to clean up Utah’s voter rolls and make Utah the next state to break ties with a nonprofit that’s meant to keep states’ voter rolls up to date appear to have hit a dead end.  An earlier version of HB332 that won approval from the full House, sponsored by House Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, would have required Utah to end its membership with the national Electronic Registration Information Center, known as ERIC, a nonprofit that helps states maintain their voter rolls by sharing information across state lines.  However, Lisonbee — likely anticipating an uphill battle for her bill in the Senate — changed her bill in this week’s Senate committee to strip out that provision. A new version of her bill would have also sought to require Utahns to have proof of U.S. citizenship in order to vote in a state election.

West Virginia: A bill advancing in the Legislature would require local municipalities to hold their elections on the same day as statewide elections. The Senate on March 3 unanimously approved Senate Bill 50. A similar bill, House Bill 2422, is pending before the House of Delegates Government Organization and Local Governments committees.  The Senate bill, as it is now, would give West Virginia cities and towns until 2032 to change their ordinances and charters so that their local elections align with the state’s election cycles.

The process used to move voters to inactive status could be moved up by two years under a bill being considered by the state Senate. The Senate Government Organization Committee recommended Thursday morning a committee substitute for Senate Bill 487, removing ineligible voters from active voter rolls, sending the bill to the full state Senate. SB 487 proposes changes to West Virginia’s existing systematic purging program for removing ineligible voters from active voter registration files. The bill would reduce the period of voting inactivity from four years to two years, meaning that voters who haven’t voted in any election during the preceding two calendar years and who haven’t updated their voter registration records would receive a confirmation notice from their local county clerk’s office and be moved to inactive status.

A new bill, Senate Bill 643, introduced by Senator Joey Garcia (D-Marion) aims to restore voting rights to individuals convicted of felonies in West Virginia once they are released from incarceration.  Under the proposed bill, people released from prison for felony convictions would automatically regain their right to vote, regardless of any ongoing probation or parole status. This bill seeks to amend the state’s voter registration laws to ensure that formerly incarcerated individuals are eligible to register and vote after their release. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.

The Senate voted 31-2 in favor of the bill, which would prohibit ranked choice voting in West Virginia. The bill now moves to the House.

The Senate approved Senate Bill 486 which was requested by the Secretary of State’s Office and aims to “clarify voter eligibility,” said Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Mike Stuart. “It first requires that a voter be both a U.S. citizen and state citizen to vote in municipal elections,” he said. “The legislation also protects the voting rights of the elderly in West Virginia by ensuring that they are only disqualified from voting upon a formal court judgment of incompetency, and not a nursing home administrator.” The bill passed 33-0, with one member absent or not voting.

Wyoming: Seven election bills, including a controversial ban on ballot drop boxes, met the chopping block in the Wyoming Senate in one blow going into the final week of the 2025 session, drawing Secretary of State Chuck Gray’s criticism of the Senate for letting them die. These seven bills were among a laundry list that failed to make the deadline to be read for the first time Friday evening before the chamber adjourned. All of the seven bills passed by a large majority in the House. One of the seven bills banned ballot drop boxes in Wyoming, one of the cornerstones of Gray’s 2022 campaign. Due to next year being a budget session leading directly into an election year, it’s less likely ballot drop boxes will be banned for the 2026 election in Wyoming. Six of Gray’s 10 election goals have been passed by the Legislature and three election bills he supported have already been passed into law by Gov. Mark Gordon. Another four are waiting on his desk for approval.

Legal Updates

Arizona: A Navajo County grand jury has indicted the county’s recorder, Timothy Jordan, on three criminal charges in connection with a road rage incident just before the November election. The Feb. 11 indictment accuses Jordan of disorderly conduct with a weapon, a felony charge, as well as two misdemeanors: disorderly conduct and false reporting to a law enforcement agency. Votebeat exclusively requested and obtained the indictment. Jordan, a Republican, defeated the Democratic incumbent, Michael Sample, in the Nov. 5 election. As recorder, Jordan controls voter registration and early voting in the northern Arizona county. State law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from holding public office. Jordan, 46, allegedly pulled out a gun during a conflict with two 18-year-old men who had been tailing his truck in an SUV on Oct. 23, according to a report from the Show Low Police Department. The incident took place near the parking lot of his child’s school. He said in an interview with Votebeat that he pulled out the gun in self-defense after he “felt in fear for my life.”

California: Huntington Beach’s voter identification case with the state of California will continue, after Orange County Superior Court Judge Nico Dourbetas ruled Feb. 27 that the case is ripe and can be heard on its merits. Dourbetas had previously ruled in December that the state’s lawsuit against Huntington Beach over Measure A would be dismissed, because the measure “was permissive and discretionary in character.” Therefore, he said it did not conflict with state elections law. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and Sec. of State Shirley Weber appealed, and a three-judge panel of the California Fourth District Court of Appeal recently suggested that the matter was ripe, kicking it back down to the Orange County court. Dourbetas’ order vacated his December dismissal of the state’s challenge, as he now holds that the voter ID provision presents a “ripe justiciable controversy.” “While the particular details of how voter identification will be implemented in municipal elections in Huntington Beach do not appear to be determined as of yet, the charter provision has been amended to permit imposition of voter identification requirements,” Dourbetas wrote. He invited the city to elaborate if it contends that it can implement a voter ID requirement that doesn’t violate the state elections code, or if voter ID is a local matter that charter cities could implement per the state Constitution. The next hearing in the case is set for April 3, in Dourbetas’ chambers, on the state’s petition for writ of mandate.

Colorado: Richard Kantwill of Florida, was sentenced in connection with threats against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, and other public figures. The U.S. Department of Justice sentenced Richard Kantwill to 24 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release and ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine, state officials said. The threat reportedly cited Griswold as the “number one target” in a purported investigation conducted by Kantwill. It included reference to targeted violence against her and used racist, misogynistic, sexist and vulgar slurs. State officials said the threat against Griswold was sent on Feb. 9, 2024, the day after the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearing of Donald J. Trump v. Norma Anderson, et al. Since this case was filed in Sept. 2023, state officials say Secretary Griswold has received over 2,300 violent threats or death threats. At least three other individuals have either been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, making threats of violence toward Secretary Griswold, state officials said.

Indiana: The Marion County Election Board voted unanimously to refer to the local prosecutor the case of the voter who became agitated, yelled profanities and took off his T-shirt, exposing two guns and a knife tucked into his waistband, at a vote center during the November 2024 election. Board members passed four separate motions finding Michael John Palombi, 34, violated four Indiana election laws. Among the four laws cited was the poll worker intimidation statute, Indiana Code 3-14-3-18, which was passed by the legislature in 2024 and made threatening an election worker a Level 6 felony. That offense is punishable by a sentence ranging from six months to two-and-a-half years and a fine of up to $10,000. The other laws the board determined Palombi had violated were the prohibition against intimidation of a person trying to vote, I.C. 3-14-3-21.5; the ban on obstructing, interfering, or injuring an election worker or a voter, I.C. 3-14-3-4; and the restriction on electioneering, I. C. 3-14-3-16. While the intimidation and obstructing laws are both Level 6 felonies, the electioneering law is a Class A misdemeanor. Ultimately Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears will make the decision whether to charge Palombi with violating any or all of the four election laws. In addition, the prosecutor will conduct his own investigation and could bring other, possibly criminal charges, according to Marion County Circuit Court Clerk and election board secretary Kate Sweeney Bell.

Pennsylvania: Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer charged Millbourne Borough Council Vice President Mohammed Nurul Hasan in connection with an election fraud scandal. Stollsteimer alleged Hasan falsely registered more than 30 people and cast ballots on their behalf to alter the result of the 2021 mayoral race in the tiny borough. Hasan is charged with 48 offenses related to the alleged fraudulent voting scheme, court records show. “The bedrock principle of democracy is free and fair elections,” Stollsteimer said in a statement. “Millbourne Borough Councilman MD Hasan violated that principle in 2021 by stuffing the ballot box with illegal votes in an effort to win higher office.” Hasan’s alleged effort fell short. He ultimately lost the low turnout election to Millbourne Mayor Mahabubul Tayub by about 30 votes. “Today, thanks to an exhaustive joint investigation [led] by my office and our partners at the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Delaware County Bureau of Elections, he is being held accountable for his criminal acts,” Stollsteimer said. Hasan also faces federal charges alongside Borough Councilmember Mohammed Munsur Ali and former Councilmember Mohammed Rafikul Islam. Ali’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Islam’s attorney declined to comment. A federal grand jury indicted the trio in February for conspiracy among other election fraud-related charges. 

Tennessee: The NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a federal lawsuit Feb. 27 challenging Fayette County’s 2021 electoral map as racially discriminatory. The lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Tennessee, claims that the map adopted by Fayette County commissioners was chosen “at least in part with the intent to racially discriminate against Black voters,” violating the Voting Rights Act as well as Black Fayette County voters’ constitutional rights. “The facts are clear: The map unfairly targeted Fayette County’s Black population,” attorney John Cusick said in a news conference Thursday. “Although the Black voters make up more than a quarter of Fayette County’s population, they have zero representation on the 19-member, all-white county commission.” The Fayette County Commission adopted a redistricting plan with no majority-minority districts against the advice of its own redistricting committee and outside legal counsel. The state comptroller’s local redistricting guide requires county legislative bodies to consider minority representation while developing new districts. The commission rejected plans that included districts with majority Black voting age populations, in effect diluting the power of Black voters to elect candidates of their choice, the lawsuit states. The filing comes after the U.S. Justice Department sued the Fayette County Board of Commissioners in January, similarly alleging that the board violated the Voting Rights Act when it adopted the 2021 redistricting plan.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: SAVE Act, II | John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, II | Open source software | Voting rights | 19th Amendment 

Alabama: Turnout 

Florida: Voter suppression 

Mississippi: Absentee voting 

Missouri: SAVE Act 

Nevada: Election reform 

New Jersey: Voting rights 

North Carolina: Fair elections 

Pennsylvania: Voter fraud 

Virginia: Disinformation 

West Virginia: Ranked choice voting, II

Upcoming Events

Write It Down: Clear and Effective Standard Operating Procedures: Join The Elections Group on March 13 at noon ET for an insightful session, titled Write It Down: Clear and Effective Standard Operating Procedures. The session is designed to help election offices develop well-structured, actionable SOPs that enhance efficiency and consistency in election administration. Participants will learn key strategies for drafting SOPs that are clear, comprehensive, and easy to follow, ensuring that teams can confidently execute responsibilities. The featured resource for the session is The Elections Group’s recently published guide, Recipe for Success: How to Write and Maintain Effective Standard Operating Procedures. Panelists include Teneshia Hudspeth, the County Clerk in Harris County, Texas; Pam Anderson, a former County Clerk in Colorado and the former executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association; and Jessenia Eliza, a program manager at The Elections Group. Join us for this opportunity to gain actionable insights on creating SOPs that strengthen operations and support. When: March 13, 12pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

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.

Ballot Processing Supervisor, 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 Ballot Processing Supervisor 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 an innovative and fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. This position reports to the Ballot Processing Manager and provides support for the Ballot Processing program, including Ballot Opening and Inspection, Scanning, and Ballot Review as well as supervising results tabulation and posting to the web. This position is also responsible for planning and executing tabulation system Logic & Accuracy tests, audits, system upgrades and recount activities as well as assisting the Ballot Processing Manager with the Observer Program.  The person in this role will supervise between 3 full time staff and up to 200 temporary staff depending on the size of the election or recount. Salary:$40.24 – $51.00 Hourly.  Deadline: March 12. Application: For the complete listing and to apply, click here. 

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

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. 

Customer Support Consultant, Hart InterCivic– A Customer Support Center Consultant Level 1 (CSC 1) responds to requests for assistance from Hart InterCivic customers for all Hart InterCivic products. The CSC I’s primary responsibilities are to: Answer, resolve and route customer queries; Maintain professionalism and “customer first” approach in stressful situations; Acquire, demonstrate, and maintain depth of knowledge with all Hart products and product documentation to best support Hart customers; Acquire and maintain functional support-level knowledge of unique customer requirements and their implementation in Hart products; Provide data tracking, reporting, and analytics for CSC projects; Manage and maintain the security of Hart’s assets and customer information; and Serve as a backup/overflow resource Technical Services Workstation deployment and RMA management. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy Elections Administrator, Collin County, Texas– Collin County is seeking candidates for the position of Deputy Elections Administrator. This position manages and supervises the department by handling the election process and election personnel, assisting with administrative and clerical support, preparing contracts and cost records, assisting in hiring and firing decisions and requisition approval. Related duties include submitting actual cost records for payment, tabulating and reporting votes, supervising early voting coordinators, voter registration coordinators, and other clerical personnel, and acting as the state funds management liaison. Performs related duties as required. Work is performed under the direction of the Elections Administrator. Candidates must possess a broad knowledge, normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor’s degree. At least two years of related experience are required. Must possess and maintain a valid Texas Class C Driver’s License and have the ability to read election codes and documents. Starting Salary: $86,701. 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. 

Information Technology Manager, Sarasota County, Florida– The Information Technology (IT) manager plays a crucial role in overseeing and managing the technological infrastructure essential for conducting secure, efficient and accurate elections. The IT manager is responsible for the general management of the IT department staff and engages in technical, administrative and supervisory work, including interaction with directors, other managers and departments, vendors and county and state agencies. The manager must maintain knowledge of all IT and technical systems used to support the operations of the elections office. Salary Range: $67,912 – $115,460. 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. 

Manager, Professional Services, HartIntercivic– Project Managers at Hart InterCivic are highly motivated “self-starters” who are enthusiastic about providing exceptional customer service.  Working with other members of the Professional Services and Operations teams, the Project Manager directs activity, solves problems, and develops lasting and strong relationships with our customers.  Hart InterCivic’s unique and industry-known culture of innovation, transparency, and customer-centric focus creates an environment where team members will continually grow and be challenged to develop their careers. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Online Voting System Product Owner, Free Democracy Foundation – The Free Democracy Foundation seeks to increase trust in democracy by supporting new, innovative ways to help all eligible voters access a ballot safely and know their vote counts. Free Democracy is furthering this mission by: Supporting technology solutions to make voting more convenient, accessible and verifiable, including by supporting the development of an open source cryptographic protocol to facilitate end-to-end verifiable mobile voting; Making the technology solutions available, including by providing the enabling technology to third-party vendors to develop, market, and implement for use in public elections; and Educating democratic stakeholders to be informed users of end-to-end verifiable internet voting technology. About the Role: We are seeking an experienced and innovative Online Voting System Product Owner to work with independent vendors to design and develop accessible, usable, and scalable online voting solutions using the open source cryptographic protocol we are currently developing. As the Product Owner under contract, you will play a pivotal role in bringing systems to market to facilitate secure, end-to-end verifiable mobile voting that makes voting more accessible, transparent, and verifiable. As a key public-facing technical leader, you will work alongside the CEO and Board to champion our technology through clear communication, technical expertise, and thoughtful engagement with the election technology community. Your role combines product and technical leadership with public advocacy, helping to drive adoption and acceptance of secure mobile voting solutions through both technical excellence and effective stakeholder engagement. 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.

Regional Sales Representative II, Soch– Soch is a pioneer in solving the public sector’s most critical business challenges by digitizing and automating complex processes. We offer a suite of products that address election management, FOIA management, candidate filing, campaign finance and other critical business challenges in the government sector. We are looking for an election sales professional with a minimum of 5 years of experience in the election domain. Someone who is passionate about democracy and has a desire to help local election administrators run successful elections. Your primary focus will be on developing customer relations, and completing sales of Soch’s products. This includes but is not limited to election management solution for poll workers, inventory, election security, incident report, chain of custody, public records and other important aspects of election management to conduct fair, safe and secure elections. You will be responsible for managing opportunities and relationships with customers in a specified assigned territory/state(s). Leveraging your established connections and local election knowledge will contribute significantly to your growth in this position. Email, cold calling, outreach via LinkedIn and other networking channels to expand customer base. Strong communication skills needed to promote/demonstrate products and services offered by Soch. Travel to conferences and local/state election offices as needed for the facilitation of sales. You must be a quick learner to learn the products and services offered by Soch. You will be responsible for meeting sales targets and generating revenue, contributing to the overall goals and plans developed by the management team. Maintain a deep understanding of customer needs and monitor their preferences to ensure relevant sales strategies. Salary: $114,000 – $121,800 per year plus commission. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Regional Sales Representative III, Soch– Soch is a pioneer in solving the public sector’s most critical business challenges by digitizing and automating complex processes. We offer a suite of products that address election management, FOIA management, system provisioning and other critical business challenges in the government sector. We are looking for an election sales professional with a minimum of 1-2 years of experience in the election domain. Someone who is passionate about democracy and has a desire to help local election administrators run successful elections. Your primary focus will be on developing customer relations, and completing sales of Soch’s products. This includes but is not limited to election management solution for poll workers, inventory, election security, incident report, chain of custody, public records and other important aspects of election management to conduct fair, safe and secure elections. You will be responsible for managing opportunities and relationships with customers in a specified assigned territory/state(s). Leveraging your established connections and local election knowledge will contribute significantly to your growth in this position. Email, cold calling, outreach via LinkedIn and other networking channels to expand customer base. Strong communication skills needed to promote/demonstrate products and services offered by Soch. Travel to conferences and local/state election offices as needed for the facilitation of sales. You must be a quick learner to learn the products and services offered by Soch. You will be responsible for meeting sales targets and generating revenue, contributing to the overall goals and plans developed by the management team. Maintain a deep understanding of customer needs and monitor their preferences to ensure relevant sales strategies. Salary: $67,000 – $72,500 per year plus commission. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Sales & Marketing Specialist, Soch– Soch is a pioneer in solving the public sector’s most critical business challenges by digitizing and automating complex processes. We offer a suite of products that address election management, FOIA management, system provisioning and other critical business challenges in the government sector. We are looking for a sales and marketing professional with a minimum of 3 years of experience. Someone who is passionate about democracy and has a desire to help local election administrators run successful elections. Sales: Your primary focus will be on developing customer relations, and completing sales of Soch’s products. This includes but is not limited to election management solution for poll workers, inventory, election security, incident report, chain of custody, public records and other important aspects of election management to conduct fair, safe and secure elections.vYou will be responsible for managing opportunities and relationships with customers in a specified assigned territory/state(s).vEmail, cold calling, outreach via LinkedIn and other networking channels to expand customer base.vStrong communication skills needed to promote/demonstrate products and services offered by Soch.vTravel to conferences and local/state election offices as needed for the facilitation of sales. Marketing: You will be primarily responsible for graphic design, social media, email campaigns, conferences and creating content as needed for the outreach. Create and post content on social media via content scheduler Expert in implementing marketing strategies and techniques to increase sales activity and revenue. Salary: $45,200 – $51,400 Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

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

Voter Registration Compliance Officer, Maricopa County, Arizona–If you thrive in a dynamic environment where your keen eye for detail and ability to adapt can be utilized to your full potential, then the Voter Registration Compliance Officer position is for you! In this position you will be responsible for proactively auditing the division’s policies, procedures, and practices for compliance with federal, state, and local laws. Additionally, you will be in charge of creating and maintaining the divisions’ written policies/procedures. You will also help develop training materials, educate staff on new legislative changes, and take lead roles in researching reports or inquiries related to potential violations of laws/policies. Salary: Anticipated Hiring Range: $62,000 – $82,250. Deadline: March 7. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

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

Voter Services Manager, Douglas County, Colorado– The Voter Services Manager is responsible for the management and coordination of elections administrative operations, customer service, voter registration, mapping for voting districts and precincts, addressing library, and execution of voter service and polling centers. This position performs a variety of functions and diverse leadership roles on a routine basis, including training, coaching, supervision and performance management for a team of Election Specialists. This is a highly visible position requiring exceptional leadership, organizational, and communication skills. Additionally, the Voter Services Manager is responsible for creation and enforcement of policies, procedures, adherence to state and federal statutes and regulations; creation and execution of strategic and tactical plans for operating successful elections. Salary: $76,990 – 115,484. Deadline: March 7. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Voter Services Supervisor, King County, Washington– The Department of Elections is searching for energetic and resourceful professionals who like to “get stuff done”. The Voter Services Supervisor 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 an innovative and fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. This position reports to the Voter Services Manager and provides support for the Voter Services program. The person who fills this role will oversee the check-in process for building visitors, processing incoming mail, in-person customer service, signature verification for petitions, voting centers, and voter registration maintenance and support for paper registrations, online voter registrations, and registrations received through the Department of Licensing. Salary: $40.24 – $51.00 Hourly. Deadline: March 20. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Marketplace

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