In Focus This Week
How We Voted in 2024: New Data and Insights from the MIT Election Lab
Plus: Join the Lab’s founding director for a deep dive on the data next week
On Monday, the MIT Election Data + Science Lab released a new report detailing the findings from the 2024 Survey of the Performance of American Elections (SPAE). As the only national survey of election administration that focuses on voting processes and voter experiences, the SPAE provides key insights into Americans’ experiences at the polls and voters’ perspectives on the performance of elections in their respective states.
The SPAE has been conducted following every presidential election since 2008, as well as after the 2014 and 2022 midterms. In 2024, 10,200 registered voters participated, with 200 responses collected from each state and the District of Columbia. Drawing on a sample of this size enables a more accurate understanding of the voter experience state by state, allows for the examination of the effects of changing election laws, and facilitates comparisons across state lines. With more than a decade of data to draw on, the SPAE also allows us to examine trends over time. (Data from all survey years—including 2024—are freely available on our Dataverse here.)
Generally, the SPAE’s questions cover voter behavior, attitudes, and voting methods. Similar to the 2022 survey, the 2024 SPAE included questions on threats and fears of violence in and around polling places, as well as questions about voters’ confidence in the security and accuracy of the electoral process.
In 2024, the share of voters who cast their ballots by mail continued to drop from the record set in 2020. Both early voters and Election Day voters nationwide reported smooth processes, with few issues. Wait times also decreased from 2020. Overall voter confidence was high, with 96% of respondents indicating that they were very or somewhat confident that their vote was counted as cast—an increase from 91% in 2020. However, partisan differences remained. Awareness about election security measures remained low, but support for most security practices remained high; respondents also continue to believe that voter fraud is rare, although attitudes continue to be polarized along partisan lines.
The full report can be found on the MIT Election Lab’s website here, along with the 2024 dataset and a summary of key findings. In addition, we will host a webinar to cover the SPAE and our 2024 findings. We cordially invite you to join the Lab’s founding director, Dr. Charles Stewart, on Tuesday, July 29 at 2pm ET for “How We Voted in 2024: A Deep Dive,” a detailed tour through the 2024 data and insights. The webinar is free and open to the public; to attend, please register via Zoom here.
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Election News This Week
Federal Update: Several more states including Maryland, Michigan and Wisconsin, have reported receiving correspondence for the U.S. Department of Justice seeking access to voter rolls and election data. And in Rhode Island, Secretary of State Gregg Amore has hired former Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and his law firm to serve as legal counsel. Taveras will respond to the probe by the DOJ. According to CyberScoop, in a congressional hearing on state voter registration practices this week, Republicans on the House Administration Committee were united around common sentiments: It is too easy for citizens to register to vote and too easy for them to stay on voter rolls, states aren’t doing enough to remove ineligible voters, and it’s all led to the country’s elections being vulnerable to mass voter fraud and noncitizen voting. There was little evidence presented to back up most of those claims. Yet, the hearing focused on how states and the federal government could better review voter registration databases, with lawmakers hearing from two conservative nonprofit representatives and a North Carolina voter who was wrongly removed from the state’s voter rolls last year. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a report July 18 alleging Obama administration officials manipulated intelligence related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. In March President Trump signed a memo ordering the declassification of “all files related to Crossfire Hurricane,” the name given to the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The intelligence agencies Gabbard oversees have long concluded that Russia sought to influence the 2016 election — an assessment that was backed by other outside entities. That includes a three-year bipartisan Senate investigation that concluded in a more than 1,300 page report that Russia was aggressive in seeking to interfere with the election on Trump’s behalf, including by launching a massive social media campaign. Gabbard’s memo, as well as another 114 pages of related documents, primarily rests on claims there was no indication of a Russian effort to directly manipulate the actual vote count. However, that is not at odds with the conclusion of the intelligence community or the Senate report, which determined there was “no evidence that any votes were changed or that any voting machines were manipulated.” The Obama administration said it had seen no evidence that hackers tampered with the results. The State Department will restrict its commentary on the legitimacy of foreign elections to “rare” occasions, according to a new directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that continues the Administration’s turn away from promoting democracy abroad. In an official cable to diplomatic and consular posts on July 17, Rubio said that public comments on foreign elections “should be brief, focused on congratulating the winning candidate and, when appropriate, noting shared foreign policy interests.” Such messages, the agency memo added, “should avoid opining on the fairness or integrity of an electoral process, its legitimacy, or the democratic values of the country in question.” The directive applied to the department’s domestic offices and foreign posts, Rubio said.
Election Security: According to Votebeat, a hacker gained access to the web portal Arizona candidates use to upload information about themselves and changed candidate profile photos that were live on the election results website three weeks before the special congressional primary election. The Secretary of State’s Office realized the system had been breached, shut down the candidate portal the week of June 23, and kept it offline for a week, according to JP Martin, an office spokesperson. Martin told Votebeat officials flagged the problem upon noticing unusual activity. The hacker was able to gain access to candidates’ individual profiles, where the information they upload, including candidate filings, is stored. While much of that is public information, the office is still investigating whether any private, personally identifying information was improperly accessed, Martin said. When the office’s cybersecurity team realized that a malicious actor had gained access, Martin said, it contacted the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, the National Guard, and a private cybersecurity firm to help. All three are helping with the investigation, he said. The candidate portal is separate from the state’s voter registration and petition signature gathering systems. No voter data was accessed, Martin said. According to CyberScoop, while officials say the threat is contained and the vulnerability has been fixed, they also blasted the lack of support they’ve received from the federal government, claiming the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is no longer a reliable partner in election security under the Trump administration. Arizona, through its state DHS, contacted multiple federal agencies about the hack, including the FBI. But CISA was not part of that outreach. In a statement, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D), who has long focused on election security, said that this once-fruitful partnership between CISA and states had been damaged as the agency has been “weakened and politicized” under the Trump administration. “Up until 2024, CISA was a strong and reliable partner in our shared mission of securing American digital infrastructure, but since then the agency has been politicized and weakened by the current administration,” Fontes said.
Overseas News: Britain will lower the voting age from 18 to 16 by the next national election as part of measures to increase democratic participation, the government announced July 17. The center-left Labour Party pledged before it was elected in July 2024 to lower the voting age for elections to Britain’s Parliament. Scotland and Wales already let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in local and regional elections. Britain will join the short list of countries where the voting age is 16, alongside the likes of Austria, Brazil and Ecuador. A handful of European Union countries, including Belgium, Germany and Malta, allow 16-year-olds to vote in elections to the European Parliament. Additionally, the government said it will introduce automatic voter registration and allow voters to use bank cards as a form of identification at polling stations. The previous Conservative government introduced a requirement for voters to show photo identification in 2022, a measure it said would combat fraud. Critics argued it could disenfranchise millions of voters, particularly the young, the poor and members of ethnic minorities. Elections watchdog the Electoral Commission estimates that about 750,000 people did not vote in last year’s election because they lacked ID. Turnout in the 2024 election was 59.7%, the lowest level in more than two decades.
Podcast News: In the latest episode of High Turnout Wide Margins, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Moana Lutey, the county clerk in Maui County, Hawaii. They spoke about the impact the 2023 Hawaii wildfires had on the communities of Maui – including figuring out how to run elections. They also spoke about the efforts in Maui County to get residents to update their signatures, in an effort to ensure that every voter’s vote gets counted. On the latest episode of The Voting Booth from the American Enterprise Institute, co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Charles Stewart III, Kenan Sahin (1963) Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to discuss the 2024 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) Report.
Let Them Eat Cake!: We’ve posted about the Election Cake before, but who says you can’t post about cake more than once?! Chowhound has a piece on the historical dessert that pre-dated the “I Voted” sticker as a “reward” for voting. Election Cake is believed to have emerged from Hartford, Connecticut, although it’s sometimes described more generally as a New England tradition. The cake is a fruitcake made with yeast, similar to classic English fruitcakes in terms of ingredients, but with a lighter texture. The first recorded mentions of Election Cake date to 1771. In the pre-revolutionary times, the few colonists with the right to vote had to travel to larger cities and towns, where the cakes would be served to them. Election Cake features plenty of dried fruit and nuts, as well as spices like nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. It’s a boozy cake, too. According to Chowhound, Election Cake’s biggest moment was probably in the 18th century, since it was already considered passé by the early 1800s and has unfortunately become an outdated dessert that no one makes anymore. We found a recipe for you here, and fortunately you don’t have to wade through anything to get to the good.
Sticker News: Tioga County, New York legislators recently recognized two of the three countywide “I Voted” sticker contest winners. The contest launched in March, with county residents between the ages of five and 18 eligible to design the county’s “I Voted” stickers to be given out in November. Legislators picked the winners in three age groups at their June work session. “So, when it comes to election time, everyone’s going to get one of these stickers,” Legislature Chair Marte Sauerbrey said. County Republican Election Commissioner Kelly Johnson thanked the participants and said they hope to make the contest an annual tradition. “We were very pleased to start this — hopefully it becomes a long-term tradition this year,” Democratic Election Commissioner James Wahls said. “We think it’s just a great way to get our young folks involved in civic engagement — to be involved in the voting process for our county.” Sauerbrey concluded the recognition of the winners by praising the work of the Board of Elections, saying they work hard and are very much appreciated, especially during the hectic election season.
Personnel News: Brandy Madrigga has resigned from Cass County, North Dakota. David Jones is the new Sarpy County, Nebraska election commissioner. Amber Martin is the new Amherst, Massachusetts town clerk. Kelvin King, a contractor and Air Force veteran, has entered the race for Georgia secretary of state. Congratulations to Mount Desert, Maine Clerk Claire Woolfolk for winning a top prize at NEMCI & A (New England Municipal Clerk Institute and Academy) regional competition for her interactive poster…that she quilted! “I’ve been wanting to make a quilt for the town for years and decided to take this opportunity. It was a rewarding assignment and I learned a lot about the people who built this community and the accomplishments that make it such a special place,” Woolfolk told the Bar Harbor Story.
In Memoriam: Longtime Franklin County, Ohio Board of Elections member Kimberly E. Marinello has died from brain cancer. She was 72. Marinello served on the board since 2008, and she died on July 18, said her fellow Democrat on the board, Mike Sexton. “Just an outstanding, dedicated Democrat,” Sexton said of Marinello. “Her work was meticulous. She’s very efficient, and she’s been one of the most loyal Democrats I have ever met.” Sexton said Marinello was diagnosed with cancer just about a month ago at the end of June. Doug Preisse, a Republican and chairman of the Franklin County Board of Elections, told the Dispatch that the whole board is saddened, and Marinello was a truly decent person. “For the many years I served with Kim, while she was always a loyal Democrat, she was first and foremost a loyal public servant,” Preisse said. “She looked out for the best interest of Franklin County voters. It was a pleasure and honor to serve next to her.”
Robert “Bob” M. Stein, the influential political scientist who shaped civic life at Rice University and across Houston and Texas, died July 18 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 75. A faculty member at Rice for 46 years, Stein retired June 30. He held the Lena Gohlman Fox Professorship of Political Science — a title designated emeritus upon his retirement. He also served as dean of the School of Social Sciences, chair of the political science department and fellow in urban politics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. According to Rice, Stein was widely respected as an expert on voting behavior, emergency preparedness and local government. His research — frequently funded by the National Science Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts and other prominent institutions — informed election policy and public service programs across the country. He was also a go-to resource for many political journalists, both locally and nationally. His sharp, data-driven analysis regularly appeared on Houston newscasts as well as outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post and NPR, making him one of the most trusted political voices in the region. “Bob Stein was a towering figure whose passion for research, teaching and public service left an indelible mark on Rice and our city,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “His work exemplified how universities can drive meaningful change in the world around them. We will deeply miss his wisdom, generosity and steadfast commitment to empowering our students to become thoughtful, engaged citizens.” Stein is survived by his wife, Marty; their daughters, Nora and Annie; and five grandchildren.
Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking
Federal Legislation: Rep. Laurel Lee (R-Florida) and Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colorado) introduced a bipartisan bill protecting and strengthening oversight of military absentee ballots. Specifically, Lee’s Supporting Military Voters Act directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to compile an in-depth report detailing the federal government’s efforts to implement the directives outlined in the 1986 Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and recommend improvements to voter registration and assistance. “This bipartisan bill calls for a comprehensive study and analysis of all factors and data that impact the ability of our service members and their families to vote.The results of this study will help us better understand the factors that result in the very low voting rate of our uniformed service men and women. It will provide a basis of knowledge upon which we can improve the resources and outreach to our military voters, thus improving their ability to vote in a more hassle-free and seamless manner that is also secure and timely,” said Mark Earley, Leon County Supervisor of Elections.
California Ballot Measure: San Diego Assembly member Carl DeMaio has initiated a new campaign to require voter identification and proof of citizenship for California voters. The proposed ballot measure aims to implement these requirements for both in-person and mail-in voting, sparking debate over election security and voter accessibility. The proposed ballot measure would mandate state verification of citizenship during voter registration and require voters to present identification at polling places. For mail-in ballots, voters would need to provide the last four digits of their Social Security number or another form of government-issued ID. This campaign follows a previously unsuccessful ballot measure in 2023 and similar legislation that failed to advance earlier this year. To appear on the 2026 ballot, the petition must gather more than 874,000 verified signatures. DeMaio’s campaign is aiming to collect over one million signatures to ensure its place on the ballot.
Massachusetts: Republican State Representative candidate and current Taunton City Councilor Larry Quintal said he has filed legislation in the state senate to amend current mail-in ballot policies. The legislation, submitted July 9 by State Senator Kelly Dooner, would require mail-in ballots postmarked by the day of the election to be counted in special elections, according to a press release issued by Quintal. Marc Pacheco, director of elections for Taunton’s Elections Department, confirmed the disqualified mail-in ballots. He said, when it comes to special elections, per state law, all voting ballots submitted by mail must be received by the city or town clerk prior to the closing of polls, which was 8 p.m., on the day of the election held on June 10. Those mail-in ballots were not received by the elections office in time to be counted. “The law is clear and we followed the law.” Quintal’s legislation amends Massachusetts General Law Chapter 54 section 25 to bring it in line with the counting of ballots in November elections.
Michigan Ballot Measure: The campaign to bring ranked choice voting to Michigan elections announced that signature collection has begun in an effort to make the 2026 general election ballot. Petition sheets and signature gatherers began fanning out July 17 and the campaign Rank MI Vote began holding field launch events across the state. That includes the Latin Americans United for Progress Fiesta in Holland and the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Pat Zabawa, Rank MI Vote’s executive director, said the first signature will be his on Thursday morning. “One down, 446,197 to go,” Zabawa said in a statement. “Obviously, we have our work cut out for us: when we qualify for the ballot, it will have taken the biggest signature collection campaign in Michigan history. That might intimidate some campaigns, but it’s what this team is built for. We have thousands of volunteers who are very eager to win this with shoe leather and hard work. We’re now in the stage of the campaign where progress is measured in how much ink we put on paper and how many conversations we have with our friends and neighbors.”
North Carolina Rulemaking: The North Carolina State Board of Elections made changes to overseas and military voting rules this week in response to court rulings in the 2024 race for a state Supreme Court seat. Under the new rule, voters who haven’t lived in North Carolina before, state elections director Sam Hayes said, those “never resident” voters would still be allowed to vote in federal races under federal voting law. But their votes in other races will no longer be counted. The other rule approved Monday confirms the process of verifying the address of voters who use same-day registration by mailing them a postcard, and, if it’s returned, giving the voter a second chance to confirm their address. State lawmakers had previously removed the requirement for the second attempt, but it was added back as a temporary rule after voting rights groups sued over the change in federal court. The vote on Monday affirms that the two-step process will be the process going forward.
Pennsylvania: Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) wants to encourage Pennsylvanians to vote for candidates based on their qualifications and policies, as opposed to regional ties, which can strongly influence statewide elections. Cooper says she plans to introduce legislation to eliminate the requirement to list candidates’ home counties on primary ballots. She argues the change would eliminate divisive attitudes toward candidates based on geographical stereotypes. Pennsylvania’s Election Code currently requires primary ballots to include candidates’ home county or municipality. A candidate’s county must be printed opposite or under the candidate’s name when it appears on ballots in multiple counties. When a candidate is running in only one county, or a district within that county, the candidate’s home city, borough, township or ward, must also be printed opposite or under their name on the ballot. The requirement does not apply to general election ballots.
Legal Updates
Federal Litigation: On July 18, U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper modified part of a previous ruling that blocked much of President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to overhaul elections in the U.S. The minor change affects just one aspect of a preliminary injunction that Casper granted on June 13 in a case filed by Democratic state attorneys general. The judge said that the part of Trump’s order directing certain federal agencies to assess people’s U.S. citizenship when they ask for voter registration forms will now only be blocked in the 19 states that filed the lawsuit. According to the Associated Press, election law experts said the modification will have little, if any, practical effect because a judge in a different lawsuit filed against the executive order also blocked the federal agencies from obeying the mandate in all 50 states. The order follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision in an unrelated case that judges are limited in granting nationwide injunctions. Government lawyers pointed to that ruling in arguing the court needed to “narrow the scope” of the injunction in the elections case. The 19 Democratic attorneys general who filed the case told the judge they wouldn’t object to the narrower scope. The rest of Casper’s initial preliminary injunction against other aspects of the election executive order remains intact.
MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell got a reprieve this week over a $5 million award to a man who discredited conspiracies tied to the 2020 election. The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals reversed a lower court’s ruling. The appeals judges wrote in a 12-page decision that a panel of arbitrators went too far in requiring Lindell to pay a man who offered proof that cyber data used by 2020 election deniers was invalid. In 2021, Lindell held a South Dakota symposium featuring a “Prove Mike Wrong Challenge” that put up a $5 million reward to anyone who could prove him wrong. Lindell is a staunch ally of President Donald Trump. Software developer Robert Zeidman concluded the data provided wasn’t valid and spelled out the reasons in a report submitted during the contest. But when he didn’t get the prize, Zeidman claimed breach of contract by the Lindell Management LLC entity set up to run the event. He went to arbitration and after a three-day hearing was awarded the money. Lindell went to court and lost the first round. But Wednesday’s appeals court ruling takes Lindell off the hook, barring additional court review.
Colorado: Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, convicted of violating her duties for leaking voting machine data, asked a federal magistrate judge this week to facilitate her release on bond pending her state appeal. According to the research of Chief Magistrate Judge Scott Varholak, however, no federal court in the history of the United States has ever intervened to release an inmate on bond pending a state court appeal. In fact, Varholak said he isn’t even sure how doing so would be logistically possible. “What if petitioner violates the bond? Does the state revoke bond? Do I revoke bond? I don’t think petitioner has cited a single case in the history of the United States where a federal court granted an appeal bond in a state case,” Varholak said. Peters is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence after a jury found her guilty of committing four felonies and three misdemeanors related to a 2021 leak of voting machine data. The Colorado Court of Appeals denied Peters’ request for bond pending her appeal, prompting her to file a federal habeas petition in February.
Connecticut: Josephine Edmonds, 63, one of seven defendants charged in the Bridgeport mayoral election scandals, pleaded guilty to voting fraud charges this week but will avoid jail time under a plea agreement. Under the agreement, Edmonds would be sentenced to a three-year suspended sentence with three years probation when she goes before Judge Tracy Lee Dayton on Sept. 25. Edmonds was facing four felony charges, including witness tampering and illegal possession of absentee ballots stemming from the 2019 election. The charges against Edmonds stem from a case involving a family she knew that she assisted in filling out absentee ballots in the 2019 mayoral election and then taking and mailing them. Edmonds was working for Democrat Marilyn Moore in that primary election. She also was charged with witness tampering when the family informed her they had been subpoenaed to testify at a civil trial after that election and she tried to convince them not to mention her name.
Illinois: The U.S. Department of Justice added its voice to a lawsuit accusing the state of Illinois of failing to properly maintain a statewide voter registration list, in violation of a 1993 federal law. In a filing known as a “statement of interest,” the Justice Department said the government has an interest in the outcome of the lawsuit, although the filing stops short of asking the court for permission to intervene as a party in the case. “This case presents important questions regarding enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act,” attorneys in DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said in the filing. “Congress has vested the Attorney General with authority to enforce the NVRA (National Voter Registration Act) on behalf of the United States. Accordingly, the United States has a substantial interest in ensuring proper interpretation of the NVRA.” The lawsuit challenges the state’s practice of delegating to local election officials the responsibility of conducting regular maintenance of voter registration rolls, including the task of purging people from the rolls when they die or move out of the jurisdiction. Under NVRA, the suit argues, the state is responsible for carrying out that function. U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Judge Sara Ellis has indicated she could decide the case at a hearing currently scheduled for July 30.
Kansas: U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil permanently blocked a 2021 Kansas law that banned groups from sending advance ballot applications to voters, finding that state lawmakers tried to suppress free speech. The case focused on the prefilled, mailed ballot applications that voting organizations sent to hundreds of thousands of Kansans leading up to the 2020 presidential election, which was rife with false accusations of illegitimate results nationwide. Republican lawmakers passed House Bill 2332 during the 2021 session by overriding the governor’s veto. The law sought to ban any non-Kansas resident or business from distributing advance mail ballot applications to voters and prohibit any applications from containing personalized voter information. Supporters argued at the time the law ensured transparent elections free from corruption. In the 2020 general election, around 112,000 Kansas voters mailed a pre-paid or pre-addressed envelope containing an advance ballot application, according to the lawsuit. Vratil evaluated in a 40-page decision whether the law was a content-based regulation and, if the law is content-neutral, whether lawmakers crafted the law for an “improper purpose” or reason, including suppression of free expression. The defendants in the case said that HB 2332 was meant to minimize voter confusion, streamline efficiency in election administration and foster confidence in and protect the integrity of the electoral process. However, they didn’t explain how the law was designed to do those things, Vratil said in the decision. Vratil also considered the timing of the Legislature’s introduction of HB 2332, which came a month after the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol and about three months after the 2020 election. “In Kansas however, one week after the election, on November 10, 2020, Schwab had publicly declared that the 2020 election in Kansas was successful, without widespread, systematic issues of voter fraud, intimidation, irregularities or voting problems — an undisputed fact which calls into question any purported legislative intent to root out fraud, promote efficiency or avoid voter confusion in Kansas elections,” Vratil said.
Missouri: Four Jackson County citizens have filed a motion to deny consolidation in a pair of cases related to the recall election of County Executive Frank White Jr. Attorney Phil LeVota, who is representing the group, filed the motion after the Jackson County and Kansas City Election Boards filed a joint motion last week to consolidate their lawsuits concerning the recall election of White. The citizens want the election to be held on August 26, while the two election boards want it moved to November. “The issues in the two cases could not be further apart in a legal analysis and will only complicate and delay this time-sensitive issue, which respondents/election boards clearly are acting to do,” LeVota’s motion said. “Consolidation only complicates the issues and prejudices Relators who filed their own action in an effort to get a timely result.” Along with denying the consolidation, White, the Jackson County Legislature, and the Jackson County Clerk were all dismissed from the case by the citizens. Jackson County elections involve two election boards. The KCEB handles elections in the part of Kansas City that is located in Jackson County. The JCEB handles elections for all other cities in the county. The published Charter has a 60-day deadline. More recently, the legislature, in 2023, approved an ordinance setting guidelines for recall petitions that indicates, “if no legal election date is available within sixty days the election will occur at the next available date after certification of the Petition.” LeVota’s argument against consolidation continued: “It is fundamentally unfair for the election boards to try to hijack Relators’/Citizens’ case with such different facts and law and add the complication and all additional parties and legal action to the writ action,” he said.
New Jersey: The Republican National Committee is suing New Jersey, alleging state officials violated the Open Public Records Act in denying its requests for voting machine seal audit logs and unduly delayed a response to its request for a trove of voter registration data. The GOP alleges that officials within the state elections division violated the records law by failing to return documents within the required seven-business-day response period and by declining to release documents created and maintained by county election officials and shared with the state office. “State officials are slow-walking access to records about voting machines and voter roll maintenance,” Michael Whatley, the committee’s chair, said in a statement. “The RNC is taking legal action because the people of New Jersey have a right to know that their elections are being run fairly, securely, and in full compliance with the law.” A spokesperson for the New Jersey secretary of state, who oversees state elections, declined to comment on the lawsuit. The state has not yet filed a response to the complaint, which was lodged in Superior Court in Mercer County. The Republicans’ request for voter registration documents was voluminous, seeking disclosure of four classes of records of communications with federal agencies spanning two years, every record relating to five national databases over that period, and two years of communications between state and local election officials, among a host of other voter registration-related records. Though New Jersey law largely requires records custodians to fill records requests within seven business days, custodians rarely meet those timelines. Delays to one of the GOP’s requests stretch long even by normal standards.
North Carolina: US District Judge Thomas Schroeder has rejected requests from North Carolina’s legislative leaders and the State Board of Elections to dismiss a lawsuit targeting changes to state same-day voter registration rules. Democracy North Carolina, the North Carolina Black Alliance, and the League of Women Voters of North Carolina all challenge a section of 2023’s Senate Bill 747 called the “undeliverable mail provision.” The provision aimed to change how elections officials dealt with ballots from voters who registered to vote on the same day they cast early-voting ballots. Two other lawsuits targeting the same provision ended in settlements that produced a consent judgment signed by Schroeder. The judge issued an order this week denying requests to dismiss the remaining lawsuit. “At the most basic level, Plaintiffs seek a return to the same-day registration scheme that predated Senate Bill 747 (‘SB 747’), which required, among other things, that a same-day registrant’s vote not be discarded unless the U.S. Postal Service returned as undeliverable a second mailing addressed to the registrant before the canvass deadline,” Schroeder wrote.
North Dakota: The state of North Dakota urged the U.S. Supreme Court to let it use its preferred legislative district map after an appellate court found a federal judge was wrong to change the district lines last year. Attorneys for the state argued that courts have allowed private plaintiffs to challenge and destabilize state district maps for too long. “Redistricting in a world where well-funded private plaintiffs can induce federal courts to strike down state maps based on theories like those that were asserted in this case becomes nearly impossible,” the state wrote in a July 22 filing. Barring a reversal from the U.S. Supreme Court, the 8th Circuit’s decision would allow North Dakota to revert back to the map approved by state lawmakers in 2021. The tribes intend to petition the high court to review the case in the coming months. It remains to be seen which district map will be in place while their request is being considered. The plaintiffs have filed a motion asking the Supreme Court to order that the current map — imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Peter Welte in 2024 — remain for the time being. The state disputed this interpretation. It said the Legislature’s attorneys were merely throwing out hypotheticals and did not indicate there is a high probability that the lawmakers would be unseated if the 2021 district lines are reinstated. The high court last week issued an administrative stay that temporarily prevents the map from changing while the justices consider whether a longer-term stay is necessary.
Virginia: Civil rights groups have filed two new motions in a federal lawsuit that could restore voting rights to thousands of Virginians with felony convictions. Announced July 21, the filings by the ACLU of Virginia, Protect Democracy and the law firm WilmerHale seek summary judgment in the case and class-action status on behalf of the more than 300,000 Virginians who they say remain disenfranchised under a state constitutional provision. The plaintiffs argue Virginia is violating a 150-year-old federal law — the Virginia Readmission Act of 1870 — which governed the state’s return to the Union after the Civil War. The suit hinges on a novel interpretation of the 1870 law, which permitted the state’s return to Congress on the condition that its constitution only allow disenfranchisement “as a punishment for such crimes that are now felonies at common law.” That list, defined in 1870, includes serious offenses like murder, rape and burglary — but not modern offenses such as drug possession. “In Virginia today, we disenfranchise people for things like drug offenses, but those were not felonies at common law in 1870,” said WilmerHale partner Brittany Amadi. “By disenfranchising all people with felony convictions, Virginia is breaking federal law and disproportionately excluding Black and brown people from the ballot box.”
Wyoming: U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl dismissed a lawsuit against a new state law requiring proof of U.S. citizenship and state residency to register to vote. That’s after legal counsel representing the defendant, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, filed a motion to toss the case earlier this month. In the explanation for his decision,Skavdahl wrote that the Equality State Policy Center (ESPC), a nonpartisan group that advocates for transparency in government and that in May sued Gray and every county clerk, failed to adequately demonstrate it has the legal standing to ask to block the law. In his decision, Skavdahl said the court “has not considered nor makes any comment on the merits of Plaintiff’s claims.” ESPC’s original complaint said the new law “will impose new, burdensome, and entirely unnecessary requirements that will make it harder for eligible citizens to vote.” Chief among the reasons Skavdahl provided for dismissing the case is that, “Plaintiff is not a voter and cannot register to vote, and thus Plaintiff is not the object or target of HB 156.” The law, HB 156, says voters must have lived in the state for 30 days for residency. It also says a county clerk can reject someone’s registration due to “any indication” that the person is not a U.S. citizen or Wyoming resident.
Opinions This Week
National Opinions: In-person voting | Dept. of Homeland Security SAVE program
Maine: Voter ID
Michigan: Citizenship
New York: Ranked choice voting, II, III | Primaries
North Carolina: Voter registration challenges
Rhode Island: Election legislation
South Dakota: Election reform
Call for Papers and Proposals
Election Science Conference-within-a-Conference: The 2026 Election Science Conference-within-a-Conference (CwC), co-organized by Lisa Bryant (California State University, Fresno) and Joshua Ferrer (American University), is now open for proposal submissions. The CwC will be part of the Southern Political Science Association (SPSA) Annual Meeting, which will be held January 14-17, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The submission deadline is August 15, 2025. We hope to elicit broad participation from those focused on Election Law, Election Administration, Election Sciences, State and Local Politics, Voting and Voting Rights, Public Opinion, and Public Administration circles. For this CwC, we invite submissions in all areas of election sciences. We encourage submissions from all scholars, including practitioners, researchers in advocacy organizations, those from underrepresented backgrounds, graduate students, and early career scholars. Proposals can focus on the American electoral context, as well as the international or comparative electoral environments and systems. Possible topics include, but are not limited to: public opinion about elections, election administration and procedures, voter confidence, threats to election officials (and their implications), voter disenfranchisement, voting methods and voter experiences, racial/ethnic disparities in access to registration and voting, changes in election laws and election reform, elite rhetoric in how election results are processed and reported, voter turnout and behavior. The CwC will include approximately 10-12 panels of 4-5 papers each, with all panels likely occurring over 1.5 days for ease of attendance (exact dates and times to be announced later). Panel proposals or roundtable proposals are also welcome. If you are part of an organized panel, all papers should submit individually and indicate they are part of a panel. Per the conference organizers, please DO NOT SUBMIT TO THE SPSA CONFERENCE WEBSITE IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING TO THE CWC. This results in papers being double booked at the conference. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions at: lbryant@csufresno.edu (Lisa Bryant) or jferrer2017@gmail.com (Joshua Ferrer).
Upcoming Events
How We Voted in 2024: A Deep Dive: The MIT Election Data & Science lab will host a webinar to cover the SPAE and our 2024 findings. We cordially invite you to join the Lab’s founding director, Dr. Charles Stewart for “How We Voted in 2024: A Deep Dive,” a detailed tour through the 2024 data and insights. The webinar is free and open to the public. When: July 29, 1pm Eastern. Where: Online.
Examining Recent Efforts to Undermine Future Elections: CEIR Executive Director David Becker will discuss steps taken at the federal and state levels that appear to lay the groundwork for preemptively disrupting future elections or improperly challenging legitimate election outcomes. Those steps include President Trump’s March executive order on elections, which is now largely enjoined, and the Justice Department’s reported discussions about bringing criminal charges against election officials. David will explain how these efforts to sow distrust in elections come as the administration’s policies have targeted crucial resources for election systems. After his introductory remarks, David will take attendees’ questions. This webinar is open to anyone. When: July 30, 4pm Eastern. Where: Online.
EAC Technical Guidelines Development Committee Virtual Working Sessions: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) will hold two Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) Virtual Working Sessions on July 30 and August 8. During these sessions, the TGDC members will discuss the proposed changes to the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) 2.1. Staff from the EAC and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will be available for technical questions and support. The working sessions will be live streamed on the agency’s YouTube Channel. These working sessions will build on the discussion from the July 2 meeting of the TGDC. A recording of this meeting is available on the EAC’s YouTube Channel. The TGDC is composed of 14 members jointly appointed by the EAC and the NIST. The committee, which the director of NIST chairs, was established to assist the EAC in developing VVSG in accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Information about how to watch the livestreams will be made available on the event pages for each working session: July 30, 2025 Working Session #1 and August 8, 2025 Working Session #2 When: July 30 and Aug. 8. Where: Online
Getting It Right: Implementing Consistent and Effective Election System Testing: Election administrators know testing election systems is important. They know the risks that exist if testing is not performed properly. But how can we improve the testing process to ensure a smooth and accurate election is conducted? How can we make it simpler and more efficient? And what tools can I add to the toolbox to ensure quality testing is conducted? Join The Elections Group for a discussion focused on election system testing. During the conversation, we will highlight various approaches to take when testing all of the election systems and will showcase best practices to detect errors and implement consistent and effective testing procedures. Our experts will spend time discussing key strategies for successful testing such as system hash testing, pre and post-election testing, and logic and accuracy testing. When: July 31, 12pm Eastern. Where: Online
Voter Registrars Association of Virginia Annual Conference: When: August 3-6. Where: Roanoke.
Election SATs: Security, Accuracy and Transparency: If you’re a leader on elections policy, this NCSL precon is for you. Join with peers from throughout the nation to share the latest on accuracy, security and access to the ballot. We will have sessions on cybersecurity, primaries, funding, cast vote records, campaign finance, election consolidation and post-election audits. When: Aug. 3. Where: Boston
NASS Summer Conference: The National Association of Secretaries of State will hold its summer conference in Biloxi, Mississippi from August 4-7. Please refer to the NASS website for more information and to register for the event.
National Conference of State Legislatures Summit: NCSL is bringing the Legislative Summit back to Boston! Join us Aug. 4-6 to connect with legislators and staff from across the nation at an event jam-packed with great speakers, eye-opening policy sessions and after-hours experiences at some of Boston’s coolest venues. Help NCSL celebrate its 50th anniversary in style. When: August 4-6. Where: Boston
Oregon Association of County Clerks Annual Conference: When: August 11-14. Where: Klamath Falls.
Michigan Association of County Clerks 117th Annual Summer Conference: When: August 17-20. Where: Mt. Pleasant.
WMCA Annual Conference: When: August 19-22. Where: LaCrosse.
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. When: August 20 to 24. Where: Salt Lake City.
Protecting the Election: AI and Governance Conference at WashU: Join us for this two-day in-person research and practitioner conference at WashU on October 16-17, 2025, to discuss research regarding AI and governance and how this applies to U.S. elections. Research topics include how chatbots can be used to engage with voters, how social media influences voters, what the electorate knew (or did not know) about the candidates and issues during recent elections, misinformation in elections, rhetoric about election integrity, and AI strategies for the administration of elections. We will also hear from practitioners during the conferences about their experiences with and needs for AI in recent elections and their intentions for future use of AI in elections. When: Oct. 16-17. Where: St. Louis.
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.
Administrative Specialist III (Elections Specialist Lead), King County, Washington – This is an amazing opportunity to be engaged in the election process! The Department of Elections is searching for an energetic and resourceful professional who likes to get stuff done. The Administrative Specialist III in the Elections Department combines an exciting environment with the opportunity to cultivate talents and apply a variety of skills. The ideal candidate will thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. This position will lead processes, projects, and people within the Signature Verification and Alternate Format work area of Ballot Processing. This will include leading, coaching, mentoring, and training temporary and regular staff. Leads may also provide assistance and/or participate in long-term cross-training in multiple work areas to meet organizational agile efforts. This is a great opportunity for a person with strong communication and interpersonal skills. Who We Are: King County Elections (KCE) manages voter registrations and elections for more than 1.4 million voters in King County, one of the largest vote-by-mail counties in the United States. KCE’s mission is to conduct accessible, secure, and accurate elections. As a leader in providing inclusive elections, KCE is focused on core values of accuracy, equity, integrity, service, teamwork, and transparency. The team at KCE is committed to ensuring all King County voters can get registered, cast their ballot, and make their voices heard. Salary: $29.77 – $37.87 Hourly. Deadline: Aug. 4. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Administrative Specialist, King County, Washington – The Department of Elections is searching for energetic and resourceful professionals who like to “get stuff done”. The Administrative Specialist II positions in the Voter Services Department combines an exciting, fast-paced environment with the opportunity to cultivate talents and apply a variety of skills. The ideal candidate will have a desire to help ensure the democratic process through public service. They will thrive in an innovative environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. Job Duties: Provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers in person, via telephone, and via e-mail by processing voter registrations, communicating election program information and explaining election procedures, guidelines and regulations. Provide backup support for translation and/or interpreting and proof election-related documents and web materials from English to Chinese (traditional text). This includes but is not limited to voter registration information, letters, and other correspondence, notice of elections, ballot titles, voters’ pamphlet information, candidate statements, ballot measures, etc. to limited English speaking (LES) voters. Perform production-level computer work which includes accurate data entry, retrieving and editing records. Organize and coordinate work activities and assist with providing training and one-on-one instruction to diverse staff. Set up records and file documents in both electronic and paper formats. Review documents for proper format, accuracy, completion, eligibility, and other legal guidelines. Audit work group data entry activities to ensure performance quality and efficiency of work. Utilize spreadsheets, word documents and reports to track and document performance data. Research and resolve questions from staff, citizens and stakeholders. Document and improve work processes, procedures and instructions. Salary: $27.03 – $34.40 Hourly. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Assistant Registrar of Voters, Santa Clara County, California– Under general direction, the Assistant Registrar of Voters supports the planning, organization, and oversight of the County Registrar of Voters Department. This executive leadership position reports directly to the Registrar of Voters and plays a key role in administering and managing departmental operations. The department is responsible for voter registration, the conduct of elections, and related electoral services. The Assistant Registrar of Voters helps ensure that all activities are carried out efficiently, accurately, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This position may assume the responsibility of the Department in the absence of the Registrar of Voters. Salary: $194,184.52 – $249,180.63. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Automatic Voter Registration Policy Specialist, Oregon Secretary of State– In this role you will serve as the primary elections policy specialist to oversee and ensure policy, analysis and systems support for the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR). This position will help ensure the system is compliant with applicable federal and state law. You will provide guidance on ensuring data accuracy and improving automatic voter registration processes. This is accomplished in part by, but not limited to: Policy Analysis and Research: Researching and proposing new policies and changes to existing policies to division management to ensure accuracy, reliability, and compliance of automatic voter registration (AVR). Gathering input from partner state agencies, Secretary of State staff, and county election administrators on AVR process changes and making recommendations on course of action related to AVR. Drafting, reviewing, and updating program related policies, administrative rules, directives and procedure manuals to meet both state and federal regulations. Training and Compliance: Working as principle contact with state and federal agencies to ensure an understanding and compliance of AVR technical factors. Acting as liaison for the Elections Division by creating and conducting remote and in-person training on the AVR process and related Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) for a wide range of stakeholder audiences. Systems Support: Interpreting complex regulations and translating those regulations into business processes, technical solutions, and system requirements. Working with information systems partners, voter registration technical staff, and Elections management team to develop detailed application requirements. Salary: $6,437 – $9,889/month. Deadline: Aug. 3. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters, Nevada County, California– The County of Nevada, California is seeking an experienced, community-oriented Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters (ROV) to oversee the Clerk, Recorder, and Election operations in a county known for its engaged and politically diverse electorate. This is an elected position; however, due to a vacancy, the Board of Supervisors must by law appoint someone to serve the remainder of the term. While the Board hopes the appointee will run in the June 2, 2026, primary election, leading to the November 3, 2026, general election, it is not a requirement. Residency in Nevada County and voter registration are mandatory. This role offers a unique opportunity to enhance public trust in the electoral process by advancing transparency, accessibility, and innovation. The ROV will lead a dedicated team, manage a $3.7 million budget, and collaborate closely with County leadership and the Board of Supervisors to ensure accurate and efficient operations and an inclusive election process. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, hands-on leader who values professionalism and humility, embraces the rural lifestyle, and is eager to engage with the community. Nevada County offers small-town charm, a strong sense of connection, and exceptional outdoor recreation—making it an ideal place to live, lead, and serve. Serve democracy in the heart of the Sierras—apply today! Salary: $188,453.40. Deadline: Aug. 7. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Community Engagement Coordinator, North Charleston, South Carolina– Partner with the Community Engagement Manager to identify and expand non-partisan community relationships. Cultivate connections with local businesses and civic organizations to boost visibility and support. Solicit and analyze community feedback to enhance outreach strategies. Create brochures, flyers, presentations, and digital content to educate the public about elections and voting procedures.Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications Manager to maintain clear, consistent, and timely messaging across platforms. Manage and update the outreach section of the agency’s website. Deliver presentations and training during outreach events. Plan and coordinate mid-scale public events such as National Voter Registration Day and poll worker appreciation initiatives. Represent BVRE at outreach events, tabling opportunities, and community meetings. Track outreach activity and report on engagement metrics and outcomes. Support special projects including the “I Voted” sticker contest, Adopt a Polling Location, and poll worker recruitment. Research best practices to enhance and expand outreach programming. Assist in maintaining a centralized repository of outreach materials and resources. Salary: $50,440 – $66,060. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Election Analyst, Charleston County, South Carolina– Are you a detail-oriented professional with a passion for public service and a knack for technology? Join us as an Election Analyst and play a vital role in ensuring the security, efficiency, and accuracy of elections in our community. At the Board of Voter Registration and Elections, we are not just managing elections—we’re shaping the foundation of democracy. As an award-winning office known for our commitment to excellence and innovation, we invite you to be part of a team that is redefining what it means to serve the public. Our mission is to daily serve the Charleston County voting constituency with Vigilance, Objectivity, and Transparency in a manner that promotes due diligence Excellence in all aspects of Elections Management. Why Join Us: 1. Trusted Stewards of Democracy: We lead the way in secure, accessible, and transparent elections, earning statewide and national recognition for our performance. 2. Frontline Impact: As an Election Analyst, your work will directly impact how voters experience democracy—from the reliability of equipment to the confidence in results. 3.Culture of Innovation: We’re constantly improving election systems, training programs, and precinct operations to ensure our voters get the best experience possible. Salary: $45,052 – $58,988. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Election Specialist, Candidate Services, Palm Beach County, Florida– This position is responsible for the management and execution of services provided to candidates, political committees, electioneering communication organizations, political parties, community development districts, and special taxing districts. This includes establishing and maintaining an organized system for managing the required forms and records associated with filing and qualifying for office, candidate petitions, campaign finance reporting, financial disclosures, initiative petitions, and other related activities. Candidate Services staff must be organized and personable with a great attitude, be able to work well in a team environment, and meet deadlines under pressure. Excellent work ethic, including consistent performance, integrity, reliability, and attendance, is a must. Must be detail-oriented, be able to handle simultaneous projects, and be a self-starter. Salary: $21.63 – $24.04. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Assistant, Clallam County, Washington– Clallam County is seeking a detail-oriented Elections Assistant to support the essential functions of the Elections Division. Acting with the authority of a Deputy Auditor, this position helps conduct elections, maintain accurate voter registration records, and ensure timely preparation of ballots, voter pamphlets, and election equipment in compliance with Washington State laws and county procedures. The Elections Assistant also assists with ballot processing, jurisdictional updates, operating the ballot tabulation system, and training election workers. This role plays a vital part in ensuring fair, secure, and efficient elections. Salary: $24.36 – $29.68 Hourly. Deadline: Aug. 4. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Coordinator, Chatham County, North Carolina– Are you passionate about civic participation and making elections run smoothly and effectively? We’re looking for a motivated, detail-oriented Elections Coordinator to take the lead in training programs, poll worker engagement, outreach, and election logistics for our growing, forward-thinking county. If you’re excited about creating meaningful voter experiences and playing a vital role in local democracy, we’d love to have you on our team. Apply now and help us shape the future of civic engagement! Become a part of the best local government in North Carolina. Salary: $53,101.00 – $67,705.00. Deadline: July 25. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Filing Manager, Arizona Secretary of State’s Office– The Elections Filing Manager oversees the Division’s filing operations and works with other Elections Manager(s) and the Deputy State Election Director to ensure the Division’s compliance with state and federal laws and regulations relating to initiative, referenda, recalls, new party and candidate nomination petition processing, E-Qual, petition circulator registration, officeholder financial disclosures, campaign finance and lobbying filings. The EFM manages Division staff and interns, and communicates frequently with counties, cities/towns, officeholders, candidates, and the regulated community. Manages the day-to-day operations of the Elections Filing Team. Responsible for managing staff, projects, and operations and ensuring compliance related to initiative/referenda/recall/new party/candidate nomination filings and processing, petition circulator registration, official events such as the official canvass and Electoral College, campaign finance, E-Qual, officeholder financial disclosures and lobbying. Responsible for ensuring related handbooks and forms are created/updated timely and accurately. Responsible for the filing internship program. Act as project manager for election related IT systems including but not limited to Beacon, Candidate Portal, E-Qual, EMS, Circulator Portal, Lobbyist Portal and the Petition Management Services System. Oversee the development of all election related IT systems, provide guidance to IT regarding the business requirement documents for election related IT systems and work with staff to provide specifications/guidance for IT development. Ensures legal compliance and functionality and facilitate on-going positive user experience. Provide research and confirmation of the statutory requirements of filings, conduct QA tests on the election related IT systems and software. Assists with customer service needs on topics such as E-Qual, campaign finance, petition filings and financial disclosures. Helps create and maintain accurate content for the website in areas specific to their role. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Manager, City & County of Broomfield, Colorado – Under the direction of the City & County Clerk and Recorder, the Election Manager serves as a key leader overseeing all aspects of election operations, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws while upholding the highest standards of accuracy, security, and transparency. This role provides strategic vision and operational leadership for the Elections Division, managing complex election systems, supervising both permanent and temporary staff, and coordinating with a wide range of stakeholders including candidates, political parties, governmental agencies, and the public. As the primary technical expert on election law and procedures, the Election Manager interprets and applies complex legal requirements, stays current on legislative and technological changes, and ensures fair, accessible, and secure elections. The position demands exceptional project management, critical thinking, and communication skills, along with political neutrality and the ability to lead effectively under pressure in a highly regulated environment. Salary: $102,564.80 – $138,756.80 Annually. Deadline: July 27. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Manager, San Joaquin County, California–The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters Office is seeking an experienced elecƟons professional to manage and supervise the day-to-day activities of the Registrar of Voters (ROV) Office. The incumbent will manage activities involving elections, voter registration and related ROV functions, as well as perform difficult administrative analytical research, financial and administrative managerial support in areas such as budgeting, finance, human resources, procurement and staff development. In all assignments, the ideal candidate is expected to model a strong work ethic and leadership skills, including accountability to oneself and others. Salary: $8,294.46 – $10,081.96/month (includes the 3% COLA effective 7/14/2025). Deadline: July 25. 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.
Program Manager, North Carolina, Common Cause– We are looking for a collaborative and highly organized Program Manager to join the Common Cause team in North Carolina. In this role, you will lead and implement state policy advocacy programs, manage relationships with key policymakers and partners, and coordinate organizing to support our policy goals. You will play a key part in advancing our mission to protect democracy and ensure the fair and equitable representation of all communities. In this role, you will be a registered lobbyist, primarily focused on policy advocacy, bill tracking, and building relationships on both sides of the aisle in the General Assembly during and outside of legislative sessions. You will help engage community members in legislative advocacy, including through in-district meetings. In addition, you will also support our county board of elections program by helping to monitor county boards and support volunteer monitors. Like everyone on our North Carolina team, you will also pitch in to support our organizing teams as needed for events and programs throughout the year. This is a full-time role reporting to the Policy Director, NC and based in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is primarily a remote role with access to a co-working space in Raleigh. The Program Manager is expected to work in person at the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh up to 3-4 days per week during legislative session and to travel around North Carolina 2-3 days per month. We hope our new Program Manager will start in September. Salary: $82,400 – $97,850 a year. 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.
Senior Campaigns Manager, Common Cause– We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Senior Campaigns Manager to serve as the critical link between campaign strategy and grassroots execution. This role will work closely with the Senior Director of Campaigns to translate high-level campaign goals into actionable plans, while partnering with the Organizing team to ensure strategies are powered by strong grassroots participation. The Senior Campaigns Manager will focus on implementing tactics, mobilizing supporters, and aligning campaign timelines with organizing capacity to win democracy reforms. They will also work collaboratively with States, External Affairs, Policy and other teams to advance campaign goals under our four organizational pillars: Voting and Fair Representation, Anti-Corruption and Accountability, Media and Technology, and Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. This is a full-time role reporting to the Senior Director, Campaigns and is remote anywhere within the lower 48 United States with up to 30% travel around the country to support state campaigns and coalition efforts. We hope our new Senior Campaigns Manager will start in August. Salary: $97,850 – $113,300 a year. 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 and Absentee Manager, Charleston County, South Carolina– Are you driven by public service and committed to ensuring the accuracy of voter registration? Join us as the Voter Registration and Absentee Manager and lead a team dedicated to upholding the integrity of our processes. Welcome to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections, where we are not just an agency, but a dynamic force committed to excellence in democracy. As an award-winning organization, we pride ourselves on our relentless pursuit of improvement to better serve the voters in our community. This role is pivotal to ensuring secure, accurate, and accessible voter registration and absentee voting services. Salary: $70,000.00 – $82,000.00 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Voter Registration Management, Tarrant County, Texas–Responsible for directing, administering, managing, and coordinating all activities of Voter Registration and GIS. Oversees area programs and functions including, but not limited to, administration of the voter registration and elections management database systems, geographic information and redistricting assignment (GIS) system, voter registration document imaging system, Volunteer Deputy Registrar program, and candidate financial filings (Title 15). Manages department responses to public information requests and voter registration data requests; provides certified election lists, and interprets Federal, State, and local election law. Assists in the development and monitoring of the Election Department’s fiscal budget and the State (Chapter 19/T73) annual operating budgets. Plans, organizes, implements, and evaluates Voter Registration area programs and aids in developing policies and procedures. Salary: $74,431.76 – $81,875.04. Deadline: Aug. 2. 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.
Marketplace
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