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Election News This Week

Federal Update: Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, revealed in an interview this week that DOJ is mobilizing a veritable army of election monitors in swing states across the country for this year’s midterm elections. At least 1,000 Trump administration-trained and -approved workers will oversee voting in a number of precincts, a total that is “probably going to be a historic number for a Republican administration,” Dhillon told Bloomberg. “Election monitoring is an ongoing priority for this office,” Dhillon said in a press release. “Nondiscriminatory monitoring ensures all elections remain free, fair, and accessible to all.” Dhillon said the department’s actions are in tune with the administration’s policies and measures taken in previous elections. The training for potential election watchers would be the same used by past administrations, she added. “We just did it in the primary. We will do it to the tune of approximately 1,000 election monitors in the November election,” she told Bloomberg. “This is something that DOJ does.” Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to confirm he won’t send U.S. troops to polling places during November’s midterm elections. “I’d ask you to confirm a simple statement: the Department of Defense will not send Federal troops to the polls or to seize election materials of any kind,” Slotkin wrote to Hegseth and to Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in letters Tuesday. The Pentagon said in an email that it will respond directly to Slotkin, as it does with all congressional correspondence. The Joint Chiefs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump, a vocal opponent of vote-by-mail, First Lady Melania Trump and Barron Trump all cast a ballot by mail in Tuesday’s primary election in Florida. “As everyone knows, ​the President is a resident of Palm Beach and participates ‌in ⁠Florida elections, but he obviously primarily lives at the White House in Washington, D.C.,” White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, under Trump appointee Mehmet Oz, changed their guidance on voting in nursing homes last month. Now, a group of senators is saying that these changes are designed to disenfranchise America’s two million nursing home residents. “On July 20, 2026, CMS issued a memo that appears to be an attempt to intimidate nursing home staff from assisting residents in the voting process,” a group of senators led by Elizabeth Warren (D-Ma.) and Alex Padilla (D-Ca.) wrote August 12, in a letter addressed to Oz and shared exclusively with Mother Jones. The new memo “replaces language from CMS’s 2020 and 2024 guidance aimed at ensuring that facilities helped residents to vote with language threatening nursing home staff with prosecution for voter fraud.” The new guidance removes suggestions of specific ways nursing home staff can help residents vote—providing transportation to polling places, for example—and instead threatens staff with fraud investigations if they “engage in inappropriate coercion or other violations of residents’ rights.” The U.S. Census Bureau has posted an unsigned report on its website that claims tens of thousands of noncitizens voted in the 2020 presidential election.

2026 Elections: Three more states – Alaska, Florida and Wyoming – held their primary elections this week. It was relatively smooth sailing in all three states with only a few issues reported. 

• In Alaska, at least two polling stations opened late, the Alaska Division of Elections confirmed late, and observers independently reported other sites also opened late. The problem was most acute in the southwestern village of Nunapitchuk, where bad weather grounded flights and kept elections workers from opening a polling place until 5 p.m. That gave local voters only three hours to vote before the scheduled 8 p.m. close. Nunapitchuk has 343 registered voters. In the North Slope village of Point Lay, polls opened at 8 a.m., one hour later than scheduled. Polls in the North Slope village of Wainwright didn’t open until 4 p.m. due to staffing issues, and Anaktuvuk Pass in the central Brooks Range had similar problems, with the city mayor temporarily stepping in. In Anchorage, a woman was shot and killed by an Anchorage police officer Tuesday afternoon in what was described by the city police chief as a crisis negotiation standoff. The shooting occurred near a polling location for Tuesday’s primary elections. Authorities say the voting location was on lockdown for approximately 40 minutes after the shooting.
• In Florida, the U.S. Department of Justice sent federal monitors to polling places in Miami-Dade County. Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Early said turnout in Leon County was near record highs for a midterm. “Heavy turnout, which is great, especially for a primary,” Earley said. Voters in Dade City raised concerns about a polling location at Pasco-Hernando State College, where the building is named after Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson — who was also on the ballot. The Pasco County Supervisor of Elections said the building is new and the office did not know about the naming until today. Voters had previously gone to the school’s gymnasium, but were moved to this building because of “the large number of students in the Fire and Police Academy.” Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link reported that a number of poll workers had to cancel for various reasons. Link said replacement poll workers were found and trained immediately to prevent any disruption to the election process.
• In Wyoming, turnout varied from county to county.  “This is the first Primary Election in recent memory where every Laramie County voter received a ballot,” Lee said. “Minor-party and unaffiliated voters could take part, and some who normally vote only in the general election turned out this year.” In Albany County, some voters relied on the buddy system. Kailei Fink and Lena Warren also made a plan to vote together at the public library.  “I think it helps if you have someone to go with, someone to encourage you to go,” Warren said. A sign outside the building encouraged voters to go elsewhere due to a 30-minute wait, but the two women said it only took them about 20 minutes to get through the process. Converse County Commissioner Robert Short is the Republican party’s nominee for Wyoming secretary of state, according to unofficial results reported by the Associated Press. He’ll advance to the November general election, where he will face off against Democrat Bryan McCarty, who ran unopposed Tuesday, and Constitution Party candidate state Rep. Tamara Trujillo.

Sticker News: The City of Verona, Wisconsin announced four winners of its ‘I Voted’ sticker contest this week. Officials say there were 53 submissions from Verona area students and almost 1,000 community votes for the winners. One winning design was selected from each category: grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. “Congratulations to the winners of the “I Voted” Sticker Contest! Verona is fortunate to have so many talented student artists and engaged future voters in our community,” said City Clerk Holly Licht. “We are excited to showcase their creativity and feature these custom designed stickers during the General Election.” Second grader Elijah W., third grader Azelie J., seventh grader June M. and 10th grader Samantha A. each got the most votes in their respective categories. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced the nine winning designs from the state’s 2026 “I Voted” sticker contest, giving election clerks the option to order the winning stickers to give to voters during November’s general election. The top winners in the varied age categories include a weary, nap-ready cat, a tribute to the sunken Edmund Fitzgerald and a design centered around the colloquialism, “No, yeah.” This year’s contest drew 2,095 submissions, four times more than the state received in 2024, when the contest launched. The contest saw over 53,000 votes. “Thanks to the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force, who came up with this contest and sorted through thousands of entries, to every person who submitted a design, and to everyone who voted for their favorite sticker,” Benson said. “Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who submitted a design.”

Podcast News: On the latest episode of the Democracy Optimist, host Joshua Douglas speaks to Nathaniel Stinnett, Founder & Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project. On a recent episode of Terms of Engagement, hosts  Archon Fung and Stephen Richer speak with former U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Thomas Hicks about the dismantling of the federal agency. 

Personnel News: Lacy Sanders is the new Hart County, Georgia election superintendent. Gerald Poplin has stepped down as the Anson County, North Carolina board of elections director. Kerry Jordan has been appointed executive director of the Boston Department of Elections.

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Michigan Ballot Measure: The Michigan Bureau of Elections issued a report this week determining that a proposed amendment to the state constitution requiring residents to prove their citizenship when voting may not have submitted enough valid signatures. While Americans for Citizen Voting – Michigan submitted 709,841 signatures on its petitions, well over the 446,198 needed to make the ballot, the Bureau of Elections estimates only 434,423 signatures are valid after reviewing a random sample of 1,000 signatures. After considering a challenge to the signatures filed by Promote the Vote Action and attorney Bob Labrant, former general counsel to the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Bureau of Elections determined that 612 of the signatures were valid. The bureau advises against certifying the petition if a review of the sample returns 628 or fewer valid signatures. The Board of State Canvassers will meet on Aug. 24, where the bipartisan, four-member board will determine whether the petition is sufficient, though canvassers typically follow the bureau’s recommendation. The measure would require residents to show a photo identification before casting their ballot and establish new voter roll verifications, requiring the Secretary of State to review the rolls and remove any noncitizens. It would also add language to the state constitution noting that only U.S. citizens can vote in local, state and federal elections.

Lincoln, Nebraska Ballot Measure: Good Government Lincoln, a conservative organization seeking to reshape Lincoln municipal elections turned in a second set of signatures this week in hopes of reaching the November ballot. The proposed charter amendments would move the dates of city elections from odd years to even years, let certain residents within a 3-mile buffer of Lincoln city limits vote in municipal elections and limit future Lincoln City Council members to two consecutive four-year terms. This is the second time the campaign has turned in signatures. The first time, more than 65% of signatures were rejected, with a majority flagged as possibly fraudulent. To date, six out-of-state circulators have been arrested. Law enforcement is searching for a seventh. Supporters need at least 4,981 valid signatures on each petition from this new batch of signatures. The Lancaster County Election Commission, which flagged signatures suspected to be fraudulent the first time, will again be charged with reviewing the signatures.

Onondaga County, New York: A new resolution proposed in the Onondaga County Legislature would seek to prevent armed federal immigration officials from accessing non-public areas at polling sites. It would also require the board of elections to put up signage around the polling sites reminding voters of their rights. The resolution “reaffirms” that the presence of members of three government law agencies — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and Border Patrol — might constitute intimidation of voters, which is illegal under state and federal laws. It adds that poll workers are not obligated to invite or admit these officials into polling places, and adds that the federal agents, armed or not, cannot be within an election space with the goal of interfering with elections or intimidating voters.  Each of these things is covered by state and federal laws. Electioneering within 100 feet of the entrance of the polling place is prohibited under state law, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it illegal to intimidate, threaten, or coerce voters.  The resolution also requires the county to identify and distribute a protocol responding to the presence of ICE at polling places and to post know-your-rights signage at the 100-foot mark from polling sites.  “We are in unprecedented times,” said Legislator Ellen Block, who drafted the legislation, adding that voters were nervous about who might be at polling places this year. “It can be very nerve-racking, so we’re  not here to show any extra nervousness, but to reassure people that we are looking out for their best interests.” 

North Carolina: Gov. Josh Stein (D) vetoed a controversial elections law bill on August 17, saying the veto was necessary to defend voting rights.  House Bill 958 includes provisions that would reduce early voting periods during primaries and special elections, require state Auditor Dave Boliek to conduct post-election audits of county election systems, and use federal databases with known problems to identify people who have died but remain on the voter rolls. Republicans said the changes would make elections more secure and more efficient, but Democrats called it a “power grab.”  “Our right to vote is precious. It’s the fundamental right that underpins every other right that we possess,” Stein said during a ceremony at the executive mansion, flanked by Democratic state lawmakers. “That’s why I will always protect you and your right to vote, and that’s why I am vetoing this anti-voter law today.” In both chambers of the legislature, only Republicans voted to pass H958. Republicans hold a three-fifths supermajority in the Senate, allowing them to override a gubernatorial veto along party lines. But they don’t have a supermajority in the House, so Stein’s veto could withstand a legislative challenge unless Democrats or unaffiliated lawmakers vote with GOP lawmakers. House Republicans plan to try to override the veto, according to Rep. Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke, chair of the House Election Law Committee.

Deschutes County, Oregon: A petition to introduce ranked choice voting to Deschutes County for future county commissioner races will not be on the November ballot. Proponents failed to secure the 6,500 signatures needed to qualify by the deadline. Organizers said though efforts to gather signatures ramped up throughout August, but the team is now looking to bolster a fall campaign and work to defeat a controversial district map measure that will be on the November ballot after commissioners finalized language around it earlier this month. Ranked choice petition organizers said they plan to continue to collect signatures through the fall. Though the November deadline will have passed, every petition has two years to gather the required number of signatures to get an issue onto a future ballot. The county clerk’s office needs at least 30 days to process and verify signatures for a petition in order to get it on the next ballot, said Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison.

Legal Updates

Federal Litigation: Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Tennessee, and El Paso and Harris counties in Texas have all filed suit against the Department of Homeland security over new requirements for federal grants that they argue undermine election security and public safety. In June, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it would withhold 20% of DHS’ Homeland Security Grant Program funds unless grantees complied with five requirements that would shift how local officials conduct their elections. The new requirements include a mandatory transition from voting machines that accept QR and bar codes to ones that take paper ballots, conducting manual ballot audits and running voter registration through DHS’ Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system, better known as the SAVE system. The SAVE system has repeatedly been flagged for misidentifying voters as noncitizens, however the Trump administration has nevertheless pushed for its use amid false claims that millions of noncitizens are registered to vote. In late July, Texas’ Secretary of State’s Office directed county officials to reinstate some of the 2,724 registered voters who were flagged as potential noncitizens by the SAVE system. The counties and cities suing argued in their petition that implementing the requirements would cost millions and make their elections less secure, while placing roughly $200 million in grant funds at stake nationally.

Arizona: Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Adele Ponce has rejected claims by a conservative legal group that accused Secretary of State Adrian Fontes of trying to mislead voters and get them to reject a Republican-crafted ballot measure that seeks to make several major changes in state election laws. In a new ruling Ponce said Arizona law requires the secretary to prepare language that appears on each ballot explaining the effects it would have if approved. And the judge acknowledged that Fontes did not mention each and every provision in the explanation of Proposition 144. But she said the secretary did not break the law. In filing suit, James Rogers, an attorney with America First Legal, complained that the explanation prepared by Fontes did not mention that one section would spell out that “only citizens may register and vote in Arizona elections.” Another says that elections in Arizona “shall be decided solely by the votes of eligible citizen voters.” Fontes, however, has taken the position that all that already is state law, and nothing in Prop. 144 would change all that. And Ponce said it was his decision to make. “Giving the secretary the deference due under the law, the court finds the description’s inclusions or omissions are neither false nor clearly misleading,” the judge wrote. Plaintiffs have appealed to the state Supreme Court. The Supreme Court rejected the arguments that the Republicans who crafted Proposition 144 had put too many things into a single take-it-or-leave-it package. Tempe City Councilman Randy Keating said each of the provisions should have to be offered to voters on their own merits. Justice John Lopez disagreed. “These provisions are interrelated because each regulate the same context — the conduct of public elections,” he wrote for himself and three other justices. Lopez said it’s irrelevant that each of the proposed changes could be presented to voters separately. But Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer and Justice Maria Elena Cruz said two of the changes that Prop. 144 would make are not sufficiently interrelated to be presented to voters as a single package.

Colorado: The U.S. Department of Justice has appealed a federal judge’s decision to dismiss its case against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, from whom it’s trying to pry sensitive voter information. The department sued Colorado in December to demand a copy of its statewide voter registration list that includes full names, dates of birth, addresses and identification numbers. The department first requested that information in May 2025, and then again in December after Griswold shared only publicly available voter information. “The DOJ has lost every lawsuit and appeal they have filed in their attempts to access sensitive voter information from the states,” Griswold said in a statement. “Trump and his DOJ have no right to Coloradans’ sensitive voter information,  and we hope the District Court’s decision is upheld.” The Trump administration has said it has sought voter information from states to ensure compliance with federal election laws. None of the laws the federal government used to justify its request — the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act — require disclosure of the sensitive data.

Georgia: Conservative filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza has settled a defamation lawsuit filed by a Gwinnett County man in 2022, avoiding a trial that was set to begin Monday in federal court in Atlanta. The settlement, details of which were not disclosed, ends a yearslong legal battle for Mark Andrews, an auditor from Gwinnett, falsely portrayed in the movie “2000 Mules” as a “ballot mule.” The suit centered on a seconds-long clip of surveillance video featured in the documentary showing Andrews returning absentee ballots for himself and four family members at a drop box before the 2020 election. State investigators cleared Andrews, confirming he indeed was legally returning ballots for family members. D’Souza later acknowledged he was wrong and apologized to Andrews. Attorneys for D’Souza and True the Vote blamed each other in federal court last year. While D’Souza’s attorneys said that True the Vote’s research had misled D’Souza into believing Andrews was a “ballot mule,” True the Vote said it cannot be held accountable for what D’Souza said in the documentary. True the Vote was removed as a defendant in the lawsuit in November, according to court records.

Illinois: The lawsuit over Evanston’s adoption of ranked choice voting is being reset once again, as a Cook County judge dismissed the case August 13 so the plaintiffs can add the Illinois State Board of Elections and Dominion Voting Systems as parties. Evanston voters overwhelmingly approved a November 2022 referendum to use ranked choice in city elections starting in the April 2025 cycle, but the county clerk’s office, which runs suburban elections, asserted it can’t implement the system without changes to state law. This led to a lawsuit from nonprofit Reform for Illinois in July 2024, which Judge Maureen Ward Kirby dismissed that November. But the Illinois Appellate Court overturned her ruling in June 2025 due to the city government not being a party. Judge Ward Kirby dismissed the case again “without prejudice” — meaning it can be refiled — “due to failure to name necessary parties.” She also gave the plaintiffs explicit permission to file an amended complaint.

Indiana: Three votes now separate Republican Paula Copenhaver from state Sen. Spencer Deery, but a dispute over six rejected ballots could reverse the outcome of their Indiana Senate primary for a second time. Deery’s attorneys asked the Indiana Supreme Court to take the recount case and the Court of Appeals to suspend the result while judges determine whether the six ballots were wrongly rejected over omissions by election workers. The Indiana Recount Commission unanimously dismissed Copenhaver’s election contest on Aug. 10 but issued a recount certificate showing her with 6,332 votes and Deery with 6,329. That reversed the original certified results, which showed Deery winning the May 5 Republican primary by the same three-vote margin, 6,337 to 6,334. Deery’s appeal is limited to six ballots from Montgomery, Vermillion and Warren counties that lacked a circuit court clerk’s seal and signature. The ballots were cast for Deery, according to his filings, so counting them would put him back ahead by three votes. One of Monday’s filings asks the Indiana Supreme Court to accept an emergency transfer of the case from the Court of Appeals. The other asks the appeals court to stay the Recount Commission’s certification and temporarily stop election officials from placing Copenhaver’s name on general-election ballots while the dispute is reviewed.

Kentucky: Jefferson County Clerk David Yates said his office will take legal action to get judicial guidance on how to handle the reassignment of dozens of voters on the Jefferson-Oldham County line. Yates plans to file a Petition for a Declaration of Rights. With that action, the Franklin County Circuit Court can “provide guidance regarding the duties of election officials, the rights of affected voters, and the legal effect of election residency determinations when those determinations appear inconsistent with other governmental records.”  “My office has a responsibility to maintain accurate voter registration records and to follow Kentucky election law,” Yates said in a statement. “At the same time, residents have raised legitimate questions that deserve clear answers and a fair process. Rather than have election officials resolve those questions independently, I believe the courts are the appropriate forum to provide clarity, consistency, and confidence for everyone involved.” Questions about which county voters reside in were prompted by a review of voter information Yates’ office began earlier this year after eight voters were unable to vote in the 44th House District primary. Yates appeared before a legislative committee Tuesday morning with Franklin County Clerk Jeff Hancock to discuss how a 2022 law to centralize state mapping may not reflect what’s happening at the local level. Yates said in some cases where a person resides on a county line, they may pay taxes in one county but vote in another. 

Michigan: The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request to rehear a lawsuit seeking Michigan’s unredacted voter list with personal information. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed the motion to dismiss the lawsuit to protect the Michigan residents’ Social Security numbers, birth dates, driver’s licenses and ID card numbers. Nessel did this on behalf of the Michigan Department of State and the State of Michigan. In the lawsuit, the DOJ argued it had a right to Michigan voter information under the Civil Rights Act of 1960. This was rejected by the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, concluding that the electronic voter list is not a paper or record that comes from an election official’s possession for the purposes of disclosure under the Civil Rights Act. The Sixth Circuit affirmed this decision. The DOJ petitioned for rehearing en banc, where the entire bench of judges in the Court of Appeals rehear a case instead of the usual three judges of the appellate panel, but the Sixth Circuit was unpersuaded. “Courts have made it clear that the federal government does not have the right to demand the personal data of millions of Michigan voters, and I am relieved the Sixth Circuit stood by its decision” said Nessel.

Attorney General Dana Nessel announced last week she was charging five noncitizens for allegedly voting in the 2024 general election, plus one U.S. citizen accused of registering their noncitizen spouse to vote. Nessel made the announcement more than a year after her office announced she was investigating 13 potential noncitizen voters referred by the Michigan Department of State. Thursday’s announcement encompassed those referrals as well as 25 other people referred more recently on similar allegations. In addition to the six who were charged, 10 of those cases have been closed without charges, and 22 remain under investigation. In addition, the voter registration of every identified noncitizen — including several who were not charged — has been canceled. The six people were each arraigned between April and earlier this week, according to Nessel’s office. Of the six, three live in the U.S. as lawful permanent residents, while a fourth is a limited-term alien resident.

The Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from the city of Hamtramck, the Wayne County Board of Canvassers and current Hamtramck Mayor Adam Alharbi, leaving in place a March decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals that ordered the ballots counted. The parties could appeal to federal courts, but such a challenge would face significant expenses, not to mention legal hurdles. These 37 ballots weren’t counted on Election Day after mistakenly being left in their opened envelopes and returned to the clerk’s office. They were later discovered there, but only after outside officials had entered the office — allegedly to address punching bags bearing candidates’ faces that had been left inside — thus breaking the ballots’ chain of custody. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers deadlocked over whether to include the ballots in the final count because of concerns about the chain of custody, leaving the votes uncounted. Those 37 ballots could now decide the mayoral race months after Alharbi — who beat his opponent Muhith Mahmood by only 11 votes — took office.

Minnesota: U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit seeking Minnesota voter rolls. The Department of Justice is now 0-23 in its effort to obtain voter information maintained by the states. The U.S. Department of Justice sued Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon in September over his refusal to hand over Minnesota’s voter registration list, which includes voters’ names, birthdates, addresses and partial Social Security numbers.  “The government suggests it is permitted to use a civil action as a ‘fishing expedition,’” U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez wrote in her order dismissing the case. “But an ordinary litigant isn’t allowed to seek discovery first and allege a claim later, and the federal government has no special privilege to do so either.”

The Minnesota Supreme Court has granted a petition requiring the City of Minneapolis and City Clerk Casey Carl to appoint and assign election judges to staff early voting polling places during the 18-day in-person early voting period before the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. The per curiam order, issued Aug. 14stems from a petition filed by the Minnesota Voters Alliance and Diane Napper. The petitioners alleged that the city had made no preparations to staff early voting polling places with election judges in 2026, despite Minnesota law requiring election judges to handle specific duties. Early voting legislation was enacted in 2023 and is being implemented for the first time in 2026, following the secretary of state’s May 15, 2026 certification regarding the statewide voter registration system.  The court rejected jurisdictional challenges raised by the city, ruling that the Minnesota Voters Alliance has standing, the petition is ripe, and the claims fall within the scope of state law. The court directed that election judge appointments be made consistent with Minn. Stat. § 204B.21, subd. 2. Appointments are to be made from precinct lists furnished by the Secretary of State, with provisions allowing appointments of other qualified individuals—including non-party-affiliated persons or those willing to travel—if lists are exhausted.

The Minnesota Supreme Court found the appeals court properly ruled that Minnesota’s witness certification requirement for absentee voting does not violate the Voting Rights Act or the Civil Rights Act. The court finds the witness requirement for unregistered absentee voters does not require that witness to “prove” or “personally assure” the voter information is accurate, therefore they cannot be defined as a “voucher” that would violate the Voting Rights Act.

Nevada: The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada granted a motion to dismiss a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit seeking Nevada’s unredacted statewide voter registration list. The court also denied the Justice Department’s motion to compel the production of the records. “Today’s ruling is a victory for Nevada voters and their right to have their sensitive personal information protected,” Aguilar said. The Justice Department sought Nevada’s complete, unredacted voter-registration list, including voters’ driver’s license and Social Security numbers. Nevada directed the Justice Department to the state’s publicly available voter list but declined to disclose information protected under Nevada law. The Department argued that Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 authorized it to obtain Nevada’s complete voter-registration list. In dismissing the lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Anne R. Traum found that the statewide voter-registration list is not the type of record subject to disclosure under the provision cited by DOJ. The court also found that DOJ failed to provide the factual basis and purpose required to support its demand.

Virginia: An man accused of posing as an FBI agent at an active Fairfax County polling place nearly two years ago — while wearing a pellet gun resembling a pistol — was arrested Monday and has been indicted on two federal charges, according to court documents. A federal grand jury charged Alex Nguyen with impersonating a federal officer and acting as such, as well as possessing imitation federal law enforcement credentials. An indictment and prosecution motion were filed on Thursday and relate to an incident that occurred on Nov. 5, 2024 — Election Day — in Great Falls. The charges were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The FBI began investigating Nguyen for allegedly impersonating an agent at an active election polling location, prosecutors wrote in a motion seeking to keep the indictment sealed until his arrest. After the incident, Nguyen admitted that he presented election workers with fake FBI credentials and a fake FBI badge, according to prosecutors. The government also said Nguyen wore a pellet gun designed to resemble a Glock pistol. Federal prosecutors did not seek to detain Nguyen while the case is pending. 

Washington: Thurston County Superior Court Christine Schaller says a Grays Harbor County election was “not properly conducted,” sharply criticizing county officials for conduct that “shocks the conscience,” while ordering the county to pay nearly $70,000 for intentionally withholding public records related to the 2023 election. Schaller made the comments during a July 24 hearing involving a public records lawsuit brought by Ocean Shores Mayor Frank Elduen and his wife, Kerin Elduen. Schaller admonished Grays Harbor County Auditor Joseph MacLean, and the county’s elections administrator, Scott Turnbull, over their handling of records concerning the election and a change in the order of candidates on the ballot. She said the court had uncovered “very unethical behaviors” by the two officials and described their conduct as “interference with the election process.” But Schaller also made clear she was not ruling that election laws had been violated. She said she could not impose a penalty for the alleged election interference because the issue was outside the scope of the public records case. “I cannot enter a penalty that punishes the Auditor and Mr. Turnbull for the actual behavior as it relates to what they did in that election, which I’ve already indicated is — it’s terrible,” Schaller said. “I’m not the fact finder on those issues, but it seems very intentional and willful what they did.”

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Artificial Intelligence | Federal interference | Trustworthy elections | College voters |

Alabama: Voting Rights Act |

California: Voter ID |

Connecticut: SAVE Act |

Florida: Get out the vote |

Hawai’i: Ranked choice voting |

Kansas: Election administration | Recount |

Maryland: Ranked choice voting |

Missouri: Election administration | Secretary of state |

Nevada: Voter ID |

North Carolina: Student voters |

Virginia: Ex-felon voting rights | Voting rights |

Wyoming: Poll workers | Election security |

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The survey is being conducted by a cross-institutional team of more than 30 researchers from universities across the country. The research team is led by a steering committee of experienced election scholars: Barry Burden, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Joseph Coll, Texas Tech University; Matt Lamb, Texas Tech University; David Kimball, University of Missouri-St. Louis; and Anita Manion, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Upcoming Events

Elections à la Carte: An Online Conversation on Elections over Lunch: The Journal of Election Administration Research & Practice invites you to join us over Zoom for another lunchtime conversation on innovative funding solutions for election administration. This edition of Elections à la Carte will focus on topics surrounding private funding sources for elections. We’ve got an incredible panel lined up for discussion that includes: Christian Grose – director of the University of Southern California Democracy and Fair Elections Lab and senior fellow at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute; Chris Mann – associate professor of political science at Skidmore College and research director at the Center for Election Innovation and Research; Fred DeCaro – registrar of voters for Greenwich, Connecticut, and member of the board of directors of the Registrars of Voters Association of Connecticut; and Kristin B. Connelly – clerk-recorder and registrar of voters for Contra Costa County, California, and member of the board of directors for the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials. Our panel will offer a brief explanation of their research or professional experiences involving private funding. Before the webinar, attendees are encouraged to submit questions they would like the panel to discuss to Brandon Fincher at finchrb@auburn.edu. The panel will try to address as many questions as time permits. When: August 26, 12pm Eastern. Where: Online.

UAC Annual Convention: The Utah Association of Counties will hold its annual convention from September 8-10. 

Will the midterms happen? Your election questions, answered, Part 2: Will the 2026 midterms happen? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Elections happen because thousands of local officials follow state and local laws requiring them to happen — and history shows they’ve done so before, even under immense pressure. The greater danger isn’t no election, but one that’s chaotic, unfairly challenged, or deliberately cast as illegitimate after the fact. Got more questions about the midterms? Submit them to Votebeat reporters with your RSVP, and they’ll give you the long answer live. Votebeat is a nonprofit newsroom specialized in explaining how elections work. Each of our reporters and editors spend every day covering voting rules, election administration, misinformation, election lawsuits, local officials, and the systems that determine how ballots are cast and counted. Ask them anything! When: September 15, 1pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

National Voter Registration Day: First observed in 2012, over 5 million voters have registered to vote on National Voter Registration Day to date. As many as 1 in 5 eligible Americans are not registered to vote. Help us change that by joining the country’s largest single-day voter registration drive and organizing a registration event in your community! When: September 15. 

Election Talk: How are the Media and Social Media Doing in Informing Voters?: 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. Our events this semester are focused on the 2026 midterm elections. Speakers: David Folkenflik, NPR; Carrie Levine, Votebeat, and Shannon McGregor, University of North Carolina. When: September 22, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

2026 WACO Conference: The Wyoming Association of County Officers-County Clerks will hold its annual conference from September 22-24 in Laramie. 

2026 MACO Annual Conference: The Montana Association of Counties will hold its annual conference from September 27-30 in Helena. 

National Voter Education Week: Voters should have the information they need to cast their ballots with confidence. That’s where National Voter Education Week comes in. Help voters find their polling location, understand their ballot, and make a plan to vote by joining our week-long campaign. When: October 5-9. 

What Can Go Wrong (and What Can Go Right) with November’s Midterm Elections?: 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. Our events this semester are focused on the 2026 midterm elections. Speakers: Jonathan Diaz, Campaign Legal Center; Matt Germer, R Street Institute; and Justin Leavitt, Loyola Law School. When: October 13, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

Election Hero Day: Election Hero Day is a nonpartisan, national celebration recognizing the tremendous contributions that election officials, their staff, and poll workers make to ensure a safe, secure voting experience for all Americans. Taking place on October 20, 2026, nonprofits, business leaders, brands, public officials, and more will unite to honor the election heroes in our communities.  With your support, Election Hero Day will help boost election official morale ahead of Election Day and send a clear message to the public that we support our friends and neighbors who play such a vital role in preserving our democracy. When: October 20. 

Vote Early Day: When Americans vote early, they ensure last-minute problems, long lines at the polls, confusing election laws, or voter disinformation cannot prevent us from casting our ballot. Vote Early Day is a tentpole moment for partners nationwide to engage with voters and empower them with the tools to cast their ballots early. When: October 27. 

Assessing the Fairness and Integrity of the November Elections: 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. Our events this semester are focused on the 2026 midterm elections. Speakers: Bill Gates, Arizona State University; Guy-Uriel E. Charles, Harvard Law School; Charles Stewart, MEDSL; Susan Stokes, University of Chicago and Tammy Patrick, Election Center. When: November 16, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online.

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.

Account Executive, VotingWorks– We are looking for a trusted sales leader who understands that election administrators don’t buy voting machines, they buy trust, both in the equipment and in the vendor. All 83 of Michigan’s counties will soon open at once, and we are in the running for the state RFP enabling us to sell our voting machines. Incumbents will have to re-earn their contracts, and we’ll be competing on equal footing for the first time. This opportunity is time bound. Trust matters deeply in this market. Your job is to build relationships and earn credibility quickly with state and local election officials. You will own the full Michigan territory. You’re responsible for the entire sales process: building pipeline, running demos, navigating procurement, and closing deals. We want sustainable sales contracts that are technically sound, politically supported, and set up for a clean handoff to Customer Success. For your first demos, you’ll be paired with our Executive Director and our Head of Customer Success to learn the messaging and the product. Once you take on demos on your own, you should still know when to bring in executive support and when to handle things yourself. This is a competitive market with a real window of opportunity. If you want to sell something that actually matters to Democracy, and you’re energized by moving fast when the timing is right, we’d like to meet you. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Accounts Payable & Payroll Specialist, 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 Accounts Payable & Payroll Specialist 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. We are seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative professional to support payroll, finance, and human resources operations. The Accounts Payable & Payroll Specialist supports the department’s mission by processing vendor payments and payroll, maintaining accurate financial and employee records, supporting audits and reporting, and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives. Work is performed under limited supervision and requires independent judgment. This position reports directly to the Administrative Services Manager and works closely with both the Finance Administrator I and the Human Resource Analyst. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, values accuracy and confidentiality, and enjoys delivering exceptional customer service to employees and partners throughout the organization. Salary: $32.44 – $41.25 Hourly. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Administrative Specialist III (Ballot Collection Lead), King County, Washington– The Department of Elections is searching for an energetic and resourceful professional who likes to “get stuff done”. The Ballot Collection Lead position in the Elections Services Division 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, fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. Under the direction of the Ballot Collection & Logistics Supervisor, this position will support and lead the critical behind-the-scenes operations that keep King County’s nearly 100 ballot drop box locations running smoothly. From coordinating ballot collection teams and training temporary staff, to supporting fleet and warehouse logistics, you will help ensure every ballot is collected securely, efficiently, and on schedule. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented individual with strong communication skills, experience overseeing diverse workgroups, and a demonstrated ability to manage data, adapt to rapidly changing priorities, and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment. Candidates with experience in logistics, warehouse/receiving, training, data tracking, and customer service will thrive in this position. This position will lead processes, projects, and people which includes 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. Salary: $32.44 – $41.25 Hourly. Deadline: September 14. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Customer Support Center Consultant Level 1, Hart InterCivic– The Customer Support Center Consultant Level 1 (CSC 1) provides Tier 1–2 support for Hart InterCivic products, helping customers troubleshoot issues and keep election operations running smoothly. The CSC I’s primary responsibilities are to: Resolve and route customer issues via phone, email, and remote tools; Document cases in the CRM and communicate status through resolution; and Use product documentation to deliver clear, customer-friendly solutions. This role researches and resolves issues, supports hardware/software configuration and deployment, and provides training or on-site support as needed. It also documents processes and partners with other departments to improve service delivery. This position follows the Proprietary Information and Intellectual Property Agreement and is responsible for protecting company information, including when working off-site or outside normal hours. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Cybersecurity Assessor (Election Security), Apollo Information Systems: The Technical Assessor conducts in-depth technical and program-level cybersecurity assessments of client environments, identifying risk, measuring control maturity, and producing clear, actionable guidance that advances each client’s security posture. This is an experienced assessor role: the individual independently leads assessments end to end, evaluates complex environments against multiple frameworks, and is a trusted voice in front of both technical teams and executives. The assessor also helps mature Apollo’s assessment method. Salary: $80K – $120K. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy Director, New Hanover County, North Carolina– Are you an experienced elections or public administration professional with a strong commitment to public service? New Hanover County is seeking an Elections Deputy Director to support the Elections Director in overseeing daily operations and ensuring the successful delivery of election services. This role provides staff supervision and assists with procedural and technical improvements, voter education programs, public communications, in-person voting operations, Board of Elections meeting preparation, and election official training. The Deputy Director ensures continuity of operations in the Director’s absence and directly supervises teams responsible for voter registration, outreach, and logistics, maintaining a high level of customer service during large-scale election events and periods of increased demand. Salary: $62,126.00 to $83,870.50. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy Elections Administrator, Tarrant County, Texas – The Deputy Elections Administrator is responsible for assisting with and overseeing the daily operations of the Elections Administration Department, including coordination of Voter Registrar duties and all election management activities for Tarrant County. This position provides executive-level operational and tactical leadership and exercises full authority in the absence of the Elections Administrator. Responsibilities include managing personnel, directing election logistics, ensuring legal compliance, overseeing technology and equipment deployment, coordinating poll worker operations, and maintaining the integrity and security of all election processes. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Election Outreach Administrator, Arapahoe County, Colorado –The Election Outreach Administrator performs specialized level administrative, and professional work in carrying out a comprehensive public facing service operation. This position specifically leads and supports all areas of community outreach including voter education materials, judge training, coordinating various voter programs and partnering with designated election officials and the partner community at large. Deadline: August 31. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Data and Analytics Manager, Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office – Responsible for statewide election data governance, voter registration data integrity, business intelligence, reporting, analytics, data integration, and performance measurement. This position serves as the Division’s subject matter expert on election data and ensures accuracy, security, compliance, and accessibility of election information. This position assists ballot review and approval, producing and analyzing election-related state and federal reports, maintaining and assisting in updating elections mobile app. Assist in planning and coordinating the computer functions and responsibilities for the Elections Division which includes, but is not limited to: data processing, integrating the statewide voter registration system with county voter registration systems, improve election reporting capabilities; analyzing and resolving technical software issues (25%) for the Division of Elections and 95 county election commission offices, which includes, but is not limited to cybersecurity practices, and performing other duties as assigned. Salary: Commensurate with experience and State of Tennessee benefits package. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Deputy Director, Pima County, Arizona– At the Pima County Elections Department, you’ll do more than administer elections—you’ll help ensure every eligible voter has a fair, safe, and accessible opportunity to make their voice heard. As the Deputy Elections Director, you’ll join a team grounded in integrity, transparency, and exceptional customer service, with work that directly supports the democratic process and strengthens public trust. Our office is continually looking toward the future, embracing technology, innovation, and new ideas to improve the way elections are conducted. You’ll have the opportunity to think creatively, tackle complex challenges, and develop meaningful ways to educate and engage the public about the voting process. Bring your ideas. Serve your community. Strengthen democracy. This classification is in unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules. Salary: $110,593 – $165,921. Deadline: August 28. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Executive Director, Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center– The Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center is a national, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making ranked choice voting elections successful. We provide research, education, technical tools, and practical support to election administrators, policymakers, advocates, media, and the public. We currently support our partners across the country with a remote, distributed team of seven full-time staff members and a $1M annual budget. The incoming Executive Director will lead the Center’s next phase of growth — expanding our team and revenue base while maintaining the credible, high-caliber service that has earned the trust of partners nationwide. In the process, you’ll help shape the delivery and public perception of election innovation in the United States. Salary: $140,000 – $175,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

GIS Specialist, Palm Beach County, Florida– Help power accurate, well-run elections through smart mapping and rock-solid data. As a GIS Specialist II with the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, you’ll own core geospatial datasets, turn complex information into clear maps and insights, and improve the workflows teams rely on to plan and execute election operations. Your work helps ensure precinct, polling place, and district data is accurate and easy to use—supporting operational readiness, transparency, and timely decision-making. You’ll maintain and enhance GIS databases, produce print and web-ready map products, perform quality control and spatial analysis, and keep GIS synchronized with the Voter Registration System. You’ll collaborate with both technical and non-technical teams, document standards and changes, and provide training and troubleshooting support. Salary: $72,800 to $87,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

IT Assistant Manager, Palm Beach County, Florida–The Assistant IT Manager plays a vital and supportive role in ensuring the smooth operation of the IT department, aligning both the technical infrastructure and the team 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 organization’s needs. The Assistant IT Manager helps maintain an efficient and effective IT environment. The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office is committed to hiring talented individuals with diverse experiences that will enhance the services we provide to the residents of Palm Beach County. We are always looking for dedicated individuals who do all things with Integrity and Accountability, who excel in Customer Service, and believe in Transparent, Secure Democracy. At the Supervisor of Elections Office, we strive to help our employees find passion and purpose. Join us in being the best place to vote. Salary: $85000 to $125000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Operations Security Analyst, Michigan Secretary of State’s Office – This position serves as the Operational Security Analyst supporting the Bureau of Election’s (BOE) Operations Section. This position is the recognized resource for all security duties completed by the Bureau of Elections. This position is the system administrator within the Bureau for all information systems including the Qualified Voter File (QVF), Online Voter Registration (OVR) and associated functions, the Michigan Transparency Network, and others. The position serves as the security liaison with MDOS Information Security and Control Division to assist BOE in preparing information system security plans for the various BOE information systems following the Michigan Security Accreditation Process. The incumbent has the responsibility for serving as an organizational liaison for information security, information technology, internal control evaluations, and audit resolution. This position serves as the Program/Contract Manager for Bureau of Elections applications and supports the Elections Operations Manager with vendor relationship activities. Salary: $2,393.60 – $3,498.40 Biweekly. Deadline: August 20. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Wisconsin State Lead, Vet the Vote– We the Veterans and Military Families seeks a highly organized, mission-driven State Lead who is passionate about positive patriotism, public service, and our mission to empower the veteran and military family community to strengthen America. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator and relationship-builder who can manage multiple projects, coordinate with state partners and election officials, and support program execution with attention to detail and follow-through. This role is well-suited for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is motivated by nonpartisan, values-driven work. Candidates with experience in election administration and/or organizations supporting the veteran and military family member community are strongly encouraged to apply. Salary: $5,000/month. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Marketplace

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