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Election News This Week

Federal Update: While a number of blue states have pushed back on the U.S. Justice Department’s request for voter data, Stateline has a piece this week that even some red states where the data has been requested are denying the request, including Kansas. “We appreciate the efforts of DOJ and other federal partners to assist in ensuring states have access to federal resources” to maintain voter rolls, Republican Secretary of State Scott Schwalb wrote in a letter to the agency. But Schwab did not provide the full data the Justice Department wanted. Instead, the second-term state secretary of state and candidate for governor wrote that he was “initially” giving its lawyers only publicly available voter information. Sens. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) and Alex Padilla (D- California), the top Democrats on Senate’s intelligence and rules committees, asked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard  in a letter to schedule a briefing with senators by Oct. 10 to provide an assessment of planned steps the intelligence community is taking to protect the security of upcoming elections in November, as well as next year’s midterms. They also asked Gabbard to clarify statements she’s made since taking office that appear to call into question the security of voting machines in the U.S. Those statements are “harmful and unsubstantiated,” the lawmakers wrote. Independent groups test voting platforms for vulnerabilities ahead of major elections, and past reviews show that claims about their poor technical controls stem largely from false narratives spread by foreign adversaries. According to Democracy Docket, after federal courts told President Donald Trump he couldn’t directly order the U.S. Election Administration Commission (EAC) to require documentary proof of citizenship on its voter registration forms, America First Legal (AFL), a right-wing legal group founded by Stephen Miller, petitioned the independent agency to do it anyway.  And now, roughly halfway through the public comment period on that proposal, almost all of the more than 1,000 submissions urge the commission to adopt the proof of citizenship requirement. The comments appear to have been mobilized by a handful of groups. AFL’s petition, filed in July, asks the EAC to add the proof of citizenship requirement to the national mail voter registration form, the standard application for federal election registration. The EAC opened the petition for public comment August 21 and it will close October 20. 

Military & Overseas News: The Washington Post has a report this week, that tariffs imposed by the U.S. have caused postal traffic to the U.S. from foreign countries to plunge. According to the paper, the Trump Administration decided to cancel a policy — known as the de minimis exemption — that allowed the tariff-free flow of goods under $800 into the United States. The move has led dozens of countries to halt or slow shipments to the U.S. as they determine how to calculate and collect duties. Caught up in the gridlock: mailed envelopes. The tariffs do not apply to letters and gifts worth less than $100 from individuals. But confusion about the rules has led to issues since the exemption was lifted on Aug. 29. At first, national postal services in more than 30 countries temporarily suspended sending some or most U.S.-bound packages. Since then, restrictions have eased, and the Universal Postal Union recently deployed a tool to help operators calculate duties and resume services. White House spokesman Kush Desai told the paper the U.S. Postal Service and Customs and Border Protection were working with foreign postal operators to comply with the new requirements. Kate Muth, executive director of the International Mailers Advisory Group, said people in countries where mail is suspended may need to turn to more expensive services to ensure that their mailings reach their intended destinations with fewer delays and disruptions.Grace Coston, a Virginia voter and freelance interpreter working in France, shelled out the 65 euros for such a service when she needed to vote in this month’s special election in Virginia’s 11th District. Coston, 67, had tried submitting her ballot envelope to the automated machine at her local post office near Paris, but it told her that no U.S.-bound packages would be accepted. The office staff told her that they didn’t want to accept her mailing because they weren’t sure it would reach its destination.

National Voter Registration Day: While all of September is National Voter Registration month, this week Tuesday, September 16, marked National Voter Registration Day. Communities and organizations throughout the country celebrated the day in a variety of ways. The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors both put out statements marking the day. The League of Women Voters hosted more than 750 voter registration drives nationwide. In Florida, a number of supervisors of elections offices celebrated with everything from free hot dogs and boiled peanuts to gift basket drawings. In West Virginia, Secretary of State Kris Warner and Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick visited area high schools to encourage students to vote. Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar marked National Voter Registration Day by encouraging high schools to get more seniors registered to vote. In Genesee County, Michigan, the county jail hosted its annual National Voter Registration Day Forum, educating residents of the jail about their right to vote while detained and helping them begin the voter registration process. There were also events and outreach efforts in California, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and  Texas, among many others.

Podcast News: High Turnout Wide Margins recently traveled to the 40th annual Election Center conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, and spoke with election administrations and officials from across the county about how they do the work of elections in their communities. In this episode, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Judge Yashiba Glenn Blanchard in Jefferson County, Alabama. She was elected as the county’s probate judge in November of 2024, which means she hears probate cases – and is the chief election official for the county. They spoke about the decentralized nature of Alabama’s elections administration, what she’s learned about elections since coming into the role, and how she hopes to change the administration of elections in her community. In the latest episode of The Voting Booth from the American Enterprise Institute, co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Paul Gronke, Professor of Political Science at Reed College to discuss election administration in all-mail voting states. On the most recent episode of the Democracy Optimist, host Joshua Douglas speaks to Donna Cohen, a former educator and librarian, about ways to ensure civics is not just something we discuss briefly in school, but instead is a lifelong endeavor. On the latest Election Science Office Hours, Caltech’s Michael Alvarez, co-director of The Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy (LCSSP) at Caltech, speaks with Microsoft’s Matthew Masterson on elections, technology, and the current information environment.

Personnel News: The governing board of South Carolina Elections Commission voted to remove Executive Director Howard Knapp. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has announced he is running for governor.  Sean Wang has been named new executive director of the Center for Civic Design, and co-founder Whitney Quesenbery will transition into the new role of Chief Program Officer. Harney County Clerk Dag Robinson is the new president of the Oregon Association of County Clerks. South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson has officially announced she will seek a second term in office. Patrice Lattimore is the new Los Angeles city clerk. Cobb County, Georgia Elections Director Tate Fall is stepping down. Christi White is the new Uvalde County, Texas administrator of elections. Debbi Wilson has been named the interim registrar for Albemarle County, Virginia. Robbins Cherry is the new director of elections for Perquimans County, North Carolina. Wayne Rogers, former chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Party, said he will enter the race for Alabama Secretary of State. Beloit Township, Wisconsin Clerk Karry DeVault is retiring. Tim Dupuis, Alameda County California’s registrar of voters is going to retire next March. Michele Honeycutt is retiring as the Putnam County, Tennessee elections administrator. Lodi, Wisconsin Clerk Brenda Ayers is resigning. Congratulations to Cache County, Utah Clerk Bryson Behm for being awarded the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service  VOTE Certification in recognition of his commitment to running free, fair and secure elections.

In Memoriam: Longtime Alabama election official Ed Packard has died. He was 57. According to Yellowhammer News, Packard was the first person in the United States to earn a Master of Public Administration degree with a specialty in election administration in 1996 through Auburn University. Packard’s career in election administration began at Auburn (1992-1996) where he was lead coordinator for implementing election programs through contracts with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office. From Spring 1996 to Spring 1997, he worked for the State Board of Elections in Raleigh, North Carolina as an education and training specialist. Then it was back to Alabama. In 1997, he was appointed Administrator of Elections with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office. In 2007, he was appointed Supervisor of Voter Registration and oversaw statewide voter registration programs. Packard was a candidate in the 2006 Alabama Democratic primary for the office of Secretary of State. He was defeated by incumbent Secretary of State Nancy Worley, who then lost the general election to State Auditor Beth Chapman. In March 2013, Packard was named State Election Director in the office of the Alabama Secretary of State. In 2017, Packard was moved to the elections division of the Secretary and finished out his career there in December 2021. “Ed Packard was a hard-working state employee for two and a half decades. He was both a student and teacher of elections and voter registration issues. He gave the kind of customer service in that office that is so rare today in the business world, returning every call and getting to the bottom of every issue,” Chapman said in a statement.

New Research and Resources

Political Violence Discussion Paper: In a period of heightened political violence risk, communities are eager for practical tools that can address immediate harm and contribute to a future where everyone feels safe.  Over the past 10 years, the demand for community safety and de-escalation approaches to mitigate this risk — and the ecosystem of practitioners itself — has grown significantly. To map out the range of actors engaged in the work, identify emerging focus areas for further growth, and evaluate the ecosystem’s needs, Bridging Divides Initiative undertook a collaborative research process to better understand the state of community safety and de-escalation in the U.S.  Drawing on interviews with more than 30 practitioners conducted during the first quarter of 2025, this new discussion paper finds that community safety and de-escalation approaches to countering political violence are a fast-evolving specialization within the peacebuilding field. The wide variety of practitioners, coupled with rising demand fueled by the elevated risk environment, have led to both challenges and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration. Civil society, philanthropy, and other stakeholders have an important role to play in supporting the ecosystem to navigate these challenges, capitalize on these opportunities, and sustainably build capacity at a time of rapidly increasing need.

Democracy Task Force Report: The American Bar Association has released the final report of the ABA Task Force for American Democracy, a two-year, bipartisan effort to address the most pressing threats to the rule of law and democratic institutions in the United States. Co-chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh C. Johnson and retired federal appellate Judge J. Michael Luttig, the task force assembled distinguished leaders from across the legal, business, academic and civic sectors. The report calls for immediate and sustained action to bolster public confidence in American democracy, including major reforms to elections, civics education and the role of lawyers in defending constitutional governance. Drawing on two years of hearings, listening tours and research, the report advances reforms in 12 core areas, including:

• Civics Education: Substantially increase federal and state investment in K–12 civics, adopt enhanced instructional requirements and support the bipartisan Civics Secures Democracy Act to create “a more informed and engaged electorate.”
• Redistricting: Establish independent, citizen-led redistricting commissions to eliminate partisan gerrymandering and ensure voters choose their representatives.
• Election Processes: Encourage states to adopt open primaries, ranked-choice voting and/or fusion voting to reduce polarization and improve accountability.
• Election Administration: Depoliticize the selection of election officials and establish professional standards and codes of responsibility.
• Election Worker Safety: Provide federal funding and stronger state protections to ensure the safety of election workers and deter threats and interference.
• Voting Access: Expand automatic and same-day registration, standardize early and mail voting procedures and support the Election Day Holiday Act to increase participation.
• Election Security: Mandate hand-marked paper ballots or paper audit trails and require robust post-election audits to safeguard integrity.
• Combatting Disinformation: Support laws like the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act to address political deepfakes and require disclosure of AI-generated content.
• Role of Lawyers: Affirm lawyers’ obligations to the rule of law, expand CLE programs and create accessible, credible election law resources.
• Frivolous Litigation: Require three-judge panels and expedited appeals for election challenges.
• Law School Training: Implement curricula that prepare future lawyers to uphold democracy and the rule of law, as pledged by over 120 law school deans.
• Civil Discourse: Promote initiatives like “Disagree Better” to model respectful debate and reduce polarization.

The task force’s work included a national listening tour in key states, partnerships with secretaries of state, law schools and bar associations and mass mobilization efforts such as the reaffirmation of lawyers’ oaths on Law Day, May 1, 2025. The full report is available here.

Voter Registration Drives: Fair Elections Center and Nonprofit VOTE recently announced the release of the latest 50-state voter registration drive guides. These guides are designed to help local organizers and community leaders across the country navigate new laws and regulations as they continue to bridge the voter registration gap in the run-up to the 2026 midterms. The voter registration drive guides, covering 49 states and Washington, D.C. (North Dakota doesn’t require voter registration), provide a comprehensive and trusted resource for nonprofit leaders, campus organizers, community outreach groups, and others seeking to understand and comply with state-specific voter registration rules. They are compiled by election law experts in Fair Elections Center’s Voting Rights Project.  “We believe that democracy works best when all voices are heard at the ballot box,” said Michelle Kanter Cohen, Policy Director and Senior Counsel with Fair Elections Center’s Voting Rights Project. “Helping eligible citizens register to vote should not be a contentious issue. Empowering people and communities to make their voices heard is something we should all be working towards for the greater long-term health of our republic. This isn’t about partisanship—it’s about participation.” Armed with up-to-date registration information, nonprofits help cut confusion, remove barriers, and drive turnout — especially in underserved communities. They’re trusted messengers, and voters they engage are 10% more likely to vote. “A civic engagement infrastructure is something that needs to be nurtured and maintained constantly—not just during election season,” said Chyann Sapp, Nonprofit Vote’s Campaign Director for National Voter Registration Day. “We collaborate with Fair Elections Center on these comprehensive tools to help our partners build year-round, durable civic engagement capacity within the nonprofit sector. Whether they’re engaged in digital outreach, programming, or field-based voter drives, nonprofits can use these fact sheets to train staff, inform strategy, and ensure every touchpoint—from texts to town halls—is rooted in accurate, accessible civic guidance.” Access state voter registration drive guides here. 

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Alaska Ballot Measure: A group of Alaska Republicans has filed a ballot initiative seeking to clarify a requirement that only U.S. citizens be allowed to vote in Alaska elections. Already, Alaska statute states that to vote in Alaska, a person must be a U.S. citizen. Reports from the Division of Elections indicate that noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare. The ballot initiative would amend the statute to add a single word: “only.” Existing law states that “A person may vote at any election who … is a citizen of the United States.” The petition seeks to amend the statute to dictate that “Only a person who … is a citizen of the United States … may vote at any election.” The initiative sponsors, former Senate Majority Leader John Coghill of Fairbanks, former House Speaker Mike Chenault of Kenai and former Anchorage Sen. Josh Revak, say the change is needed. “With things that are going on in the world today, we need to make explicitly clear what our intentions are and what the people in the State of Alaska would like to see,” Chenault said in a brief interview. “That’s why we put forth this initiative.” The initiative proposed by Coghill, Chenault and Revak would not amend the Alaska Constitution. Passing a ballot measure in Alaska requires gathering thousands of signatures from voters across the state to place the question on a statewide ballot. If the organizers succeed in gathering the requisite signatures, a ballot measure is typically accompanied by a statewide campaign to garner support from voters. 

Shasta County, California Ballot Measure: The Shasta Election Task Force said they have submitted more than 10,000 signatures to the County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Office in an effort to place a measure on the ballot that would alter the voting process. The group delivered three boxes of petitions on Tuesday morning, initiating the process for staff to verify the signatures. The proposed amendments include implementing voter ID requirements, ensuring same-day election results, and maintaining clean voter rolls. The group aims to have the measure on the ballot by next June, or sooner if possible, contingent upon the validation of the signatures. When asked about the legality of their proposals in relation to state law, the group expressed confidence that their measures are legal.

Michigan: A bill reintroduced by Sen. Mary Cavanagh, a Democrat from Redford Township, would impose a $1,000 fine on anyone who knowingly lies about elections or a voter’s eligibility. Employers who had someone working for them “for election-related purposes” violate the provision — such as a lobbyist who suggests certain groups aren’t eligible to vote early — could face a fine of up to $10,000. The goal is to deter election-related misinformation in a critical swing state, Cavanagh said during a Senate Elections and Ethics Committee hearing Wednesday. Such efforts “can cause confusion, reduce voter turnout, and ultimately undermine the legitimacy of our electoral system,” she said. Cavanagh’s proposal would target only those who “maliciously” spread false information, she said. “We worked very closely with the ACLU as well as the Secretary of State’s office, the AG and municipal government to make sure we’re not infringing on anyone’s rights or someone just passing information to their neighbor,” Cavanagh said.

Mississippi: Last week, members of the House Select Committee on Voters Rights began work on three issues that have stumped Mississippi lawmakers for years: restoring voters’ right to sidestep the Legislature and put issues on a ballot, restoring voting rights to convicted felons and allowing people to easily vote before election day. House Speaker Jason White has tasked the bipartisan panel — one of four select committees he formed to tackle complex issues before the next legislative session — to hold public hearings on the issues and craft legislation. “Once again, the House’s legislative priorities will be clear and informed from the start as we maintain our focus and energy on preparing for the 2026 legislative session,” he wrote recently of the select committees. The Committee heard from Samantha Buckley, director of policy for the Secure Democracy Foundation. Her presentation made clear that Mississippi is far behind the curve on dealing with these three voting rights issues.

Virginia Executive Order: Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed an executive order last week aimed at boosting the state’s election security by directing the Department of Elections and other agencies to update safeguards that protect voter data, voting machines, and election systems from cyber threats. Youngkin’s order also calls for stronger cybersecurity protocols, regular system testing, and closer coordination with state and local election officials. The governor’s office said the move is part of a broader effort to give Virginians more confidence in the fairness and accuracy of local, state, and federal elections. The order tasks election officials with ensuring that voter data is shared securely and that ineligible voters are removed from the rolls through the expanded use of the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE database. It also requires the Virginia Fusion Center and Department of Emergency Management to conduct a statewide election preparedness exercise before early voting in a race begins to test coordination, response plans, and communication across agencies.

Wisconsin: According to Votebeat, Wisconsin Republicans are reviving a plan to let poll workers process absentee ballots on the Monday before an election, a change long sought by election officials, but blocked by a small but influential group of conservative lawmakers. This time, the proposal is tied to measures conservatives want, including regulations for ballot drop boxes and an explicit ban on clerks fixing, or curing, errors on ballots. By bundling the measures together, GOP leaders hope to finally unite their party on a plan that would shorten the wait for election results, reduce the opportunity for election misinformation, and avoid a veto by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The proposal, which Votebeat obtained in draft form from Republican Rep. Scott Krug, is set to be publicly released next week. Krug, former chair of the Assembly Elections Committee and now assistant majority leader in the Assembly, said he “will use every little ounce of political capital effort I created on elections to get Monday processing done, because that’s 90% of our problem in the state: perception.”

Legal Updates

Federal Litigation: U.S. District Judge Denise Casper has rejected the Administration’s request to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the president’s sweeping changes to the U.S. election process, which Democratic states claim is “blatantly unconstitutional.” In a 30-page ruling, Casper found that the states sufficiently pleaded their standing and that they’d face immediate harm under the new rules, which would implement a documentary proof of citizenship voting requirement and ban counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day. The government sought to tie federal funds under the Help America Vote Act — a 2002 law aimed at making voting more inclusive, accessible and efficient — to the states’ compliance with the changes. This gives the states standing to sue, Casper said. “This potential loss of federal funding is an imminently threatened economic injury sufficient to confer standing,” the Barack Obama appointee wrote, rejecting the government’s motion to dismiss. A coalition of 19 states filed the lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court in April. They challenged an executive order from President Donald Trump that announced the new requirements, which the states say exceed the powers of the president and would disenfranchise lawful voters around the country. In her ruling, Casper didn’t make any determination on the lawfulness of the executive order, rather only if the states had the right to challenge it in court. The government argued that the states lack the ability to do so because it has yet to take any actions to enforce the new rules. The judge disagreed, citing case law from a 2007 patent case that found “where threatened government action is concerned, a plaintiff is not required to expose himself to liability before bringing suit to challenge the basis for the threat.” “The … states have alleged an injury sufficient to support standing and ripeness to challenge,” Casper wrote.

Alabama: A panel of judges at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments this week in a case over the validity of an Alabama law banning voters from receiving assistance obtaining absentee ballot applications. The dispute centers on Alabama Senate Bill 1, enacted in 2024 amid national debates on election integrity. The law bans third-party submission of absentee ballot applications except by family, household members or caregivers, and prohibits payments or gifts for assisting with applications.  However, a lower court blocked the law in September 2024 after a group of nonprofits, including the NAACP’s Alabama conference, League of Women Voters chapters, Greater Birmingham Ministries and Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, sued in April 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor, an appointee of George W. Bush determined that SB1’s submission and payment provisions likely violate the Voting Rights Act. Proponents of SB1 frame it as a bulwark against “ballot harvesting” fraud. As Alabama’s brief states, the law targets “election fraud, absentee voting and vulnerable voters,” citing historical risks like unauthorized collections that could coerce or manipulate ballots. The three-judge panel pressed Bowdre about the potential for severe criminal penalties — up to 20 years in prison and $30,000 in fines — for assistants who receive any payment while helping voters. U.S. Circuit Judge Robin Rosenbaum raised a specific concern about how the law might criminalize routine assistance, such as a paid health care worker helping a disabled person fill out an absentee ballot application.  U.S. Circuit Judge Andrew Lynn Brasher also explored the criminal penalty issue, asking whether the law’s restrictions on economic transactions for voter assistance might be constitutionally problematic. 

A lawsuit filed by a Decatur resident claiming that ballots were missing candidate names in at least two precincts has been dismissed by the Morgan County Circuit Court. The suit — which sought an injunction that would put a hold on certification — was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it can’t be refiled. The court said that the person who brought the suit, Maurice Ayers, failed to meet requirements to proceed, including missing the deadline to contest an election, naming the election winner as a defendant as required by state law, failed to pay a security fee, and did not provide verification for all of the claims presented. While the court recognized that the Ayers “demonstrated that certain witnesses may have received ballots without all the candidates’ names, the Plaintiff has failed to set out, by logic or evidence, that the outcome of the election would have been altered in any way,” and, “failed to demonstrate he or any other person will suffer irreparable harm without an injunction.” In the second count in the suit, a Petition for a Recount, the court stated that it has no jurisdiction to “order or preside over a recount under the circumstances alleged.”

Both challenges to the election results of the Prichard mayoral race have been denied by Mobile County Circuit Judge Michael Youngpeter. Citing the fact that “neither complainant even attempted to file security for costs”, Youngpeter dismissed both lawsuits because the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. The dismissal means that the uncounted provisional ballots that were turned in late by the Prichard City Clerk to the Board of Registrars, as many as 32, will remain uncounted. Martin had closed to within three votes of Jimmie Gardner for runner-up in the Mayoral race after 4 provisional ballots were counted at the canvassing one week after the election. Carletta Davis received the most votes and will now face incumbent Jimmie Gardner in the runoff election on September 23rd.

Arizona: The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week that Secretary of State Adrian Fontes cannot enforce his ban on offensive or insulting speech at or around polling places. The court concluded that the provisions Fontes included in the Elections Procedures manual are so broad that they could criminalize unintentional conduct. Judge Kim Wardlaw, writing for the unanimous three-judge panel, also said the language would outlaw any activity that has the effect of harassing, intimidating or coercing voters, regardless of whether that was the intent. And the threat of prosecution, she said, could “chill” individuals from engaging in otherwise legal political activity. “Indeed, it is inherent in the very nature of political and electoral expressive conduct that plaintiffs may not know which political issues may become relevant or offensive at the polls,” the judge wrote. “And it is inevitable that some political and election speech — matters of public concern — will have the effect of being offensive to someone.” But the judges punted on a separate question of whether Fontes can give himself the power to finalize election returns and declare winners even if the results from one or more counties are missing because their supervisors refused to certify the results. Wardlaw acknowledged that such an action, if it were to occur, could disenfranchise some Arizonan voters by leaving their votes out of the final tally. And that could change the results of some elections. She said, though, the challengers never made a clear showing that a county actually would balk at finalizing results. And that, Wardlaw wrote, meant they have no standing to contest the provision.

Florida: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has ruled that provisions of a Florida law restricting the state’s process for getting citizens’ initiatives on the ballot can go into effect. The decision issued last week overrules a lower court’s order that blocked portions of the law from being enforced while the legal challenge brought by grassroots campaigners plays out. Known as H.B. 1205, the law sets new limits on how many petitions Florida voters can collect in their effort to get a constitutional amendment on the state’s ballot, a provision punishable by a felony if voters violate it. The measure also bars non-U.S. citizens and non-Florida residents from gathering signed petitions for ballot initiatives. The citizenship and residency provisions had been blocked under a July 8 ruling by U.S. District Judge Mark Walker. The three-judge panel of the Eleventh Circuit has overturned that, siding with arguments made by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ’ administration that the restrictions are needed to reform a constitutional amendment process that lawmakers claim has been tainted by fraud.

Idaho: A three-judge panel of the  U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments this week on whether Idaho’s recent voting laws unconstitutionally target voters based on age. March For Our Lives Idaho, along with the Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans, sued Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane over House Bill 124 and House Bill 340 — legislation that passed in 2023 eliminating student identification as a valid form of ID for voter registration and at the polls. House Bill 340 created a new list of acceptable ways to prove identity and residency to register to vote and allowed the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a no-cost voter photo ID.  Attorney David Fox, arguing on behalf of March For Our Lives Idaho, said that laws were a “targeted strike on young voters.”  He said the laws violate the 26th Amendment of the Constitution, which states that U.S. citizens who are 18 years or older cannot have their right to vote denied or abridged on the basis of age.  Idaho Deputy Solicitor General Michael Zarian countered that the state is allowed to create reasonable restrictions on voting to ensure security, and that the laws in question “don’t place a special burden on anyone.”  “Any student who would have used a student ID before is now simply in line with the rest of the electorate who has always had to go to the DMV and obtain a compliant identification,” Zarian said.  

Louisiana: Lawyers representing a group of Louisiana voters challenging the creation of a second majority-Black congressional district in the state told the Supreme Court this week that a key provision of the Voting Rights Act is “inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the Constitution.” The filing came in a dispute that could lead to a major decision on voting rights and redistricting. The dispute began several years ago, when a group of Black voters filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the congressional map adopted by the Louisiana Legislature in 2022. That map contained only one majority-Black district, although nearly a third of the state’s population is Black. The Black voters contended that the 2022 map diluted the votes of Black residents. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case in March. On June 27, the justices announced that they would hear arguments in the case again during the 2025-26 term; they later directed the litigants to address a specific question: whether Louisiana’s intentional creation of a second majority-Black district violates either the 14th Amendment or the 15th Amendment, which bars both the federal government and states from denying or abridging the right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Both amendments were enacted in the wake of the Civil War in an effort to establish equality for formerly enslaved persons. In briefs filed at the Supreme Court late last month, Louisiana urged the justices to leave the lower court’s ruling that struck down the 2024 map in place, telling them that it “wants out of this abhorrent system of racial discrimination.” Race-based redistricting is unconstitutional, the state wrote, even if it occurs as a result of a desire to comply with Section 2. The Black voters, by contrast, continued to defend both the 2024 map and the VRA, telling the justices that the law “is the crown jewel of civil rights legislation.” In their briefs this week, the “non-African American” voters argued that Section 2 “heavily impinges on States’ sovereign power to regulate their elections and draw congressional districts.” Moreover, they added, “remedial ‘race-based districting cannot extend indefinitely into the future.’” The voters urged the Supreme Court to send the case back to the lower court quickly with instructions to “expeditiously finish what it almost completed in early 2024: a map based on traditional redistricting principles unburdened by any VRA quota.”

Maine: The U.S. Department of Justice announced this week that it sued Maine and Oregon for declining to turn over personal voter information. “Maine has some of the best elections in the nation,” Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in a statement. “It is absurd that the Department of Justice is targeting our state when Republican and Democratic secretaries all across the country are fighting back against this federal abuse of power just like we are.” Maine’s Department of the Secretary of State has received no notification of the lawsuit, as of late Tuesday. No documents have yet shown up on the court record database PACER. But in a press release, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division said that it sued the two states and their respective secretaries of state for not providing information about voter list maintenance procedures and electronic copies of statewide voter registration lists. Bellows, a Democrat, has twice rejected the Trump administration’s requests for sensitive voter data, first on Aug. 8 and most recently on Sept. 8.

Mississippi: Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to sharply curtail the federal Voting Rights Act by limiting who can sue to enforce protection against racial discrimination at the ballot box.  The Mississippi appeal could have significant repercussions nationwide and for the federal law that stems from the Civil Rights era. If the nation’s highest court rules in Fitch’s favor, it would mean civil rights groups could no longer bring a suit on behalf of citizens. “This direct appeal presents an important legal question that has divided the courts of appeals: whether private parties may sue to enforce section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,” Fitch’s office writes. “The answer is no.” According to Mississippi Today, the AG’s office declined to comment on why it filed the appeal, which stems from a lawsuit brought by the Mississippi branch of the NAACP over the state’s legislative districts. The litigation resulted in a federal three-judge panel ruling last year that Mississippi’s legislative districts diluted Black-voting strength in three areas of the state. The panel, comprised of all George W. Bush-appointed judges, ordered lawmakers to redraw its districts to give Black voters in three areas of the state a fairer shot at electing candidates of their choice. Special elections for these races are currently ongoing, with the general election scheduled to happen in November.     

New York: New York Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman shot down a bid from Jim Walden, a longshot ex-candidate for New York City mayor, to have his name removed from the November general election ballot. In a four-page ruling, Pearlman found that the city’s election board properly rejected Walden’s application to suspend his campaign and get pulled from the ticket. Earlier this week, the board found that Walden was three months too late. “The court only has the authority to review whether the board of elections enforced the law reasonably, not whether the law itself is reasonable,” Pearlman wrote. “Here, as the board of elections followed the law precisely as written, refusing to accept a declination of candidacy more than 3 months after the deadline for such paperwork, the court finds that the board was not arbitrary and capricious.”

North Carolina: A panel of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that a felon voter law in North Carolina was discriminatory against Black voters despite an amendment by the Republican-controlled General Assembly to salvage it. The statute made it a crime for a convicted felon to cast a ballot before their voting rights have been restored. Critically, criminal intent was irrelevant — a person can be convicted even if they voted under the mistaken belief they were eligible to do so. The Reconstruction-era law was struck down last year by U.S. District Judge Loretta C. Biggs, a Barack Obama appointee, who wrote in an opinion that the law was “enacted with discriminatory intent” and “continues to disproportionately impact Black voters.” The Fourth Circuit reached the same conclusion. U.S. Circuit Judge DeAndrea Gist Benjamin, a Joe Biden appointee, writes in a 25-page opinion that it’s impossible to separate the 1877 law from its racist origins. The statute does not explicitly mention race, but it was “propelled by the same wave of racism and resentment” that led to constitutional changes in the 1870s banning interracial marriage and mandating school segregation, Benjamin writes. And it continued to disproportionately impact Black voters, the court finds. Between 2015 and 2022, approximately 63% of the people who were investigated for violating the strict liability voting law were Black. Only 21 percent of the Tar Heel State population is Black.

Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Supreme Court this week unanimously rejected a challenge to a proposed ballot initiative that would open taxpayer-funded primary elections to all candidates and voters, regardless of party affiliation – paving the way for the signature petition process to begin. Oklahoma currently uses a closed partisan primary system, which denies roughly 466,000 registered independent voters a voice because they are not registered with the Democratic or Republican Party. Oklahoma United officially filed State Question 836 (SQ 836) in January. The initiative would do away with publicly funded party primaries and replace them with a nonpartisan open primary system that allows all voters and candidates, regardless of party, to participate on a single ballot. Then, the top vote-getters (in this case the top two) move on to a guaranteed general election. The initiative was challenged in court by the Oklahoma Republican Party and some of its members. They argued that the initiative summary (called the “gist”) was misleading, and the initiative threatened voters’ rights to association. In an 8-0 decision, the state Supreme Court disagreed – and ruled that the challenge was premature.  “The People’s right to propose law and amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution through the initiative process is precious, and any doubt as to the legal sufficiency of an initiative petition should be resolved in its favor,” Justice Douglas Combs wrote in the court’s opinion. The campaign for SQ836 is now clear to gather petition signatures. It will need nearly 173,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Oregon: The U.S. Justice Department sued Oregon and Maine for rejecting demands that the states turn over troves of personal voter information. A 22-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene names Oregon and Secretary of State Tobias Read and alleges that the state broke federal laws by failing to provide electronic copies of statewide voter registration lists and information regarding voter list maintenance procedures. In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said states can’t pick and choose which federal laws they follow.  “American citizens have a right to feel confident in the integrity of our electoral process, and the refusal of certain states to protect their citizens against vote dilution will result in legal consequences,” Dhillon said. Read, a Democrat elected last year with promises to defend Oregon’s pioneering vote-by-mail system, said he looked forward to fighting the case in court. Oregon is already suing the federal government over Trump’s attempts to end mail voting, along with 36 other lawsuits. “If the president wants to use the DOJ to go after his political opponents and undermine our elections, I look forward to seeing them in court,” Read said. “I stand by my oath to the people of Oregon, and I will protect their rights and privacy.” The Justice Department said it’s alleging that Read violated federal law by refusing to share an unredacted electronic copy of the state’s voter registration list, provide information on the state’s voter list maintenance program or disclose registration information for any ineligible voters.

South Carolina: The S.C. Election Commission can turn over its voter database to the U.S. Department of Justice after the state Supreme Court on September 11 tossed a lower court injunction blocking the transfer. In the unanimous ruling, the justices found that S.C. Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein’s Sept. 2 order “falls far short” of establishing that the South Carolina resident who sued to stop the transfer would suffer “immediate and irreparable damage” if election officials surrendered the information.  The Justice Department has said it needs state voter data to ensure federal election security, though critics note that widespread voter fraud has never been found in a modern American election. With the injunction lifted and the case ready to proceed on the merits, Gov. Henry McMaster’s office lauded the Supreme Court’s ruling in a comment to the S.C. Daily Gazette. In court filings, attorneys for the governor argued that turning over the data wouldn’t cause harm to South Carolinians since the federal government already has virtually all the information in one place or another, though privacy advocates noted that some of that data is shielded from Justice Department access.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: U.S. Supreme Court | Voting Rights Act | Voter registration 

California: San Luis Obispo County

Connecticut: Voting Rights Act 

Indiana: Election changes 

Louisiana: Election fraud 

Michigan: Electoral system 

Minnesota: Voter data

Nevada: Rural clerks 

North Carolina: Turnout 

North Dakota: Voter ID

Oregon: Vote by mail

Texas: Voter registration 

Washington Voter data, II | Vote by mail 

Texas: Voter registration 

Washington Voter data, II | Vote by mail 

Upcoming Events

Public Trust In Elections: Join Votebeat for a conversation on public trust in elections with an elections expert and two experienced election officials. Moderated by Votebeat Editorial Director Jessica Huseman, you’ll learn about the state of public trust in elections, and the factors that influence it. Panelists are: Charles Stewart III, Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science at MIT; Seth Bluestein, Philadelphia City Commissioner; and Karen Brinson Bell, former executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections. When: September 19, 12pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

Wyoming Association of County Officers Conference: When: September 23-25. Where: Rock Springs. 

Lessons from the 2024 Elections for 2026 and Beyond: A Conversation with Nate Persily: The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA Law promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy aimed at ensuring continued free and fair elections in the United States. This webinar will be a conversation with Nate Persily, Stanford Law School & Rick Hasen, UCLA School of Law. When: October 7, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online.

Civic Impact Summit: the Path to 2026: Join the Center for Election Science’s inaugural, national summit for civic impact. This virtual, one-hour event will focus on the impacts of approval voting within our current political environment. If you can’t join in person, click the link below to see the fiscal impact of your support for this critical work. When: October 8, 3pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

Leah Litman on the Supreme Court: University of Michigan Law School Professor Leah Litman will discuss her provocative new book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes, which argues that the Court has abandoned legal reasoning in favor of political grievances dressed up in judicial language. With her signature blend of serious legal analysis and irreverent wit, Litman will discuss how major Supreme Court decisions are made. Litman will be in dialogue with UCLA Law Professor Rick Hasen. When: October 14, 7:30pm Pacific. Where: The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. 

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. 

Redistricting and Re-Redistricting Controversies and the 2026 Elections: The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA Law promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy aimed at ensuring continued free and fair elections in the United States. This webinar will be moderated by Rick Hasen and feature: Guy-Uriel Charles, Harvard Law Moon Duchin, The Data and Democracy Lab Data and Democracy Research Initiative, U of Chicago Michael Li, NYU Law Brennan Center for Justice Nicholas Stephanopoulos, Harvard Law. When: October 16, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

Democracy at 250: From Gerrymandering to Genuine Representation: As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, questions of representation and democratic legitimacy are front and center. From partisan gerrymandering and primary systems that drive polarization to calls for proportional representation and ranked-choice voting, Americans are increasingly debating how electoral structures shape the health of our republic. This event—part of R Street’s 250th Anniversary Series—brings together R Street’s Governance Policy Director, Matthew Germer; political analyst Chris Stirewalt; and legal scholar Walter Olson to explore the landscape of electoral reform and what it means for American democracy at 250. Together, they will examine: How current electoral practices affect representation, accountability, and public trust. The range of reforms under discussion, from proportional representation to ranked-choice voting and beyond. The legal, political, and cultural barriers to reform. How the Founders’ principles—equality, popular sovereignty, and civic virtue—might guide us in strengthening democratic institutions today. A reception will follow to continue the conversation. When: October 21. Where: Washington, DC. 

Symposium at Auburn University: The 5th Biennial Auburn Symposium in Election Administration will be held October 26-28, 2025 at the Hotel at Auburn University. The Symposium launched in 2015 to foster conversation about critical issues that impact American democratic institutions, support the development of common understanding and language across diverse professional communities engaged in the practice of election administration, and promote dialogue between those who conduct elections and those who study the way elections operate. The series is held in odd-numbered years on the Auburn University campus. This year, the theme is Innovative Election Administration Funding Solutions, exploring new, practical, and sustainable solutions to address the critical issue of adequate funding of election administration across local, state, and/or federal levels in the United States. Questions: elect1@auburn.edu. When: October 26-28. Where: Auburn, Alabama. 

NDACo Annual Conference [North Dakota]: When: October 26-28. 

Media, Social Media, and the Changing Election Information Environment in 2026: The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA Law promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy aimed at ensuring continued free and fair elections in the United States. This webinar will be moderated by Rick Hasen and feature: Danielle Citron, UVA Law, Brendan Nyhan, Dartmouth, and Amy Wilentz, UCI Emerita. When: October 30, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

2025 National Student Vote Summit– The Students Learn Students Vote Coalition is proud to host the 10th annual National Student Vote Summit. At the summit, we’ll unite nonprofit leaders, campus staff, administrators, faculty members, philanthropic partners, election officials, and students from across the country to continue a decade-strong tradition of collective action and impact. Building on the momentum and insights from our 2024 Summit—where more than 300 nonpartisan student vote leaders took on challenges like local election turnout, combating misinformation, and reducing post-election disengagement — this milestone gathering aims to amplify our collective power and chart a course for an even more impactful 2026.  We’ll kick off the Summit with the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Awards Ceremony, celebrating college student voting achievements nationwide and setting the stage for a memorable experience. Awards will be presented to college and university campuses, student leaders and individual champions for their nonpartisan contributions to increasing student voter engagement in the 2024 Election.  Thanks to our incredible host partners at the University of Maryland, College Park, we’ll gather once again at UMD’s Stamp Student Union. There, in collaboration with TerpsVote, we’ll create an inspiring space for learning, connection, and celebration. Every participant will leave equipped with the tools, relationships, and momentum to make 2026 a historic year for nonpartisan student voter engagement. When: November 12-15. Where: College Park, Maryland. 

57th Annual Tennessee County Officials Association (COAT) Conference: When: November 16-19. Where: Pigeon Forge. 

The Supreme Court, the Voting Rights Act, and the 2026 Elections: The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA Law promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy aimed at ensuring continued free and fair elections in the United States. This webinar will be moderated by Rick Hasen and feature: Ellen Katz, University of Michigan,  Lenny Powell, Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and Deuel Ross, Legal Defense Fund. When: November 18, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

2025 New England Association of City and Town Clerks Conference: When: November 19-21. Where: Bangor, Maine. 

JEOLC 2026: The Election Center will host the 2026 JEOLC conference at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City, Virginia from January 6-10. One CERA renewal class will be offered. Please visit the Election Center website for more information and to register when it’s available. 

iGO Midwinter Conference: The International Association of Government Officials will hold its Midwinter Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico from January 19-23, 2026. Please visit the iGO website for more information and to register.

2026 NASS Winter Conference: The National Association of Secretaries of State will hold its 2026 Winter Conference in Washington, DC from January 28-31. Please refer to the NASS website for more information about the event and to register. 

2026 NASED Winter Conference: Twice a year, National Association of State Election Directors members gather to discuss the latest developments in election administration. Members of the public are welcome to attend at the non-member registration rate. Please refer to the NASED website for information about the 2026 Winter Conference. When: Feb. 1-3, 2026. Where: Washington, DC. 

2026 NACo Legislative Conference: The National Association of Counties will hold its 2026 Legislative Conference in Washington, DC from February 21-24, 2026. Please visit the NACo website for more information about the event and to register.

Election Center February Workshop: Focusing on interaction and sharing of practices selected by members to receive People’s Choice Awards, the February Workshops formalize those critical conversations that happen at conferences during meals, in the hallways, & the hotel lobby. The agenda augments the award-winning member presentations with applicable research and resources.Two CERA core courses and one renewal will be held following the workshop.  When: February 25-27. Where: Jacksonville, Florida.

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, 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. 

Data Scientist Manager, CIRCLE– This is a limited term position for two years, with the possibility of extension contingent on grant funding. This position is not eligible for severance pay. CIRCLE, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tisch College within Tufts University, is a non-partisan, independent research organization focused on youth civic engagement in the United States. CIRCLE conducts extensive research that examines how young people in the United States develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions for effective democratic engagement and leverages that research to improve opportunities for all young people to acquire and use the skills and knowledge they need to meaningfully participate in civic life. CIRCLE is especially concerned with understanding, addressing, and ultimately eliminating the systemic barriers that keep some young people marginalized from and underrepresented in civic life. CIRCLE covers a broad range of disciplines and fields, from K-12 civic education, youth voting, youth organizing, youth and civic media, to community characteristics that promote civic development. The Data Scientist/Manager serves as CIRCLE’s technical anchor for all data-intensive research initiatives, bridging advanced analytics with strategic leadership in youth civic engagement research. This role owns the full data lifecycle – from architecting robust systems for all record datasets to translating complex findings into policy-relevant insights. The position requires equal mastery of technical execution (R, SQL, BigQuery) and collaborative leadership, guiding both internal teams and external partners through data challenges in a fast-paced research environment. Salary Range: $79,600 to $119,500. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.  

Deputy County Administrator / Auditor-Treasurer, Otter Tail County, Minnesota – Otter Tail County is seeking a full-time Deputy County Administrator / Auditor-Treasurer. This position will be part of the County Leadership Team overseeing the Finance, Property, and License Management Team and Countywide initiatives such as the Long-Range Strategic Plan.  This position is responsible for overseeing and administering the duties and functions of an Auditor-Treasurer including financial operations and policy development, property recordings, assessor, elections, property tax administration, state audits, tax increment financing, property forfeitures, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.  This position would fulfill the appointed duties of an Auditor-Treasurer. Under the direction of the County Administrator, the Deputy County Administrator assists in managing and administering the affairs of the county and carrying out the policies of the County Board.   This position is responsible to provide oversight in the planning, development, management, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of multiple complex functions of one of four service teams in the county organization.  Lead interdepartmental and interagency work teams to improve county service alignment and performance.  Priorities include service alignment, leadership and accountability to county-wide board goals.  The Deputy County Administrator acts on behalf of the County Administrator in that person’s absence. Salary: DOQ. Deadline: September 30. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Deputy of Elections, Yolo County, California– Under administrative direction of the Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters, the Deputy of Elections assists the Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters in the planning, administration, direction, and coordination of the Elections Branch; develops and implements program policy, procedures, and strategic initiatives; oversees major program areas and ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations; assists the Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters with the administration and direction of the department; and may serve as an Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters designee or in their absence. An ideal candidate is a highly adaptable and meticulous elections professional with proven leadership experience navigating the rapid pace and strict deadlines of election administration. They possess strong technical skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving, ensuring the accurate and timely execution of all election-related duties. In addition, the following knowledge and abilities are associated with this position. Salary: $111,321.60 – $135,304.00 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Development Specialist–CEIR is seeking a dedicated and experienced Development Specialist to join our team. This role will lead our fundraising and development initiatives, building robust systems to sustain and expand our vital work in election administration and research. The ideal candidate brings demonstrated success in nonprofit fundraising, expertise in modern development tools and strategies, and a commitment to nonpartisan democratic institutions. Key Responsibilities: Develop and implement comprehensive, forward-looking fundraising strategies aligned with CEIR’s mission and growth objectives, in partnership with the Executive Director and senior staff. Establish and optimize development infrastructure including: Donor engagement and stewardship, Gift processing and acknowledgement, Performance metrics and reporting framework, Database management and constituent records. Manage the full grant lifecycle, from prospect research through proposal development and reporting. Leverage Bloomerang CRM to maintain detailed constituent records and analyze giving patterns to inform strategy. Create compelling fundraising materials and impact reports for diverse audiences. Lead individual giving campaigns and special appeals in collaboration with CEIR staff and outside contractors. Support Executive Director in donor development, solicitation, and stewardship for major gift and institutional donors to maximize his efficacy. Salary Range: $67,000-98,000. Deadline: September 26. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

 Election Assistant, St. Charles County, Missouri – The purpose of this position is to assist the Director of Elections in the Administration of elections. Lead and train intermittent employees at all satellite voting sites. Set up and manage election equipment, on demand ballot printers, poll pad voter check in stations and ADA compliant ballot marking devices at satellite voting sites. Lead Initiative Petition temporary staff. This position acts under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Elections. Salary: $45,192.76. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Election Operations & Workforce Manager, Charleston County, South Carolina–  The Board of Voter Registration and Elections is an award-winning organization dedicated to excellence in electoral processes. 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. We are committed to continuous improvement, innovative practices, and exceptional service to our community, ensuring every voter’s voice is heard.   Are you driven by a passion for democracy and civic engagement? Join the Board of Voter Registration and Elections as the Election Operations and Workforce Manager and play a critical role in delivering seamless, fair, and accessible elections. Key Responsibilities: Poll Worker Recruitment and Management; Polling Location Management; Liaison and Community Engagement; Support for Election Operations on Election Day and Early Voting; and Team Leadership. Salary: $68,140 – $89,252. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Organizer, Minnesota– We are looking for a creative and collaborative Organizer to join the Common Cause team in Minnesota. This is a key role supporting our organizing and outreach programs and promoting civic engagement across the state. This is a full-time role reporting to the Executive Director, Minnesota and is based in Minnesota, with a preference for candidates located in Olmsted County or St. Cloud, with an expectation to travel around Minnesota at least 2 days per week, with a maximum of 5 days a calendar week during the legislative session, and peak summer engagement season. This is a termed position, starting on November 1, 2025 and ending October 31, 2027. Salary: $63,860 – $80,340 a year. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Organizing Associate, Center for Tech and Civic Life–When you think about elections, you might think about popular candidates, “I voted” stickers, and all sorts of paperwork and deadlines. Behind the scenes are thousands of people in state and local government working hard to make sure accurate election information is published, ballots are counted, and voices are heard. We are seeking a motivated and outgoing community organizer and advocate to help foster valuable and lasting relationships with local elections offices across the country. As CTCL’s Organizing Associate, you will support CTCL’s nonpartisan advocacy strategy to empower elections officials in administering inclusive and secure elections. The ideal candidate thrives in social environments and is eager to get out from behind a screen and into the field. You will visit small towns and major cities across the country to connect with local election administrators and their staff at association meetings, support the development of campaign resources and materials, and build relationships with potential partners to better understand how to connect elections offices with helpful information and public resources. Salary: $60,623.27 to $77,597.75. Deadline: October 3. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Policy Director & Counsel, Voting & Fair Representation, Common Cause– We are looking for a Policy Director & Counsel, Voting & Fair Representation to join our work to advance multi-state and federal policy wins on voting rights, election administration, and fair representation issues. This role will take ownership of issues within the Voting & Fair Representation pillar—from ideation through execution. The Policy Director & Counsel will collaborate with departments and teams across the organization, providing strategic guidance and legal analysis, conducting research to strategically support our issues, and amplifying our issues externally. This role is ideal for a proactive thinker who thrives on anticipating what’s next in the democracy landscape and translating research and analysis into actionable strategies. This is a full-time role reporting to the Senior Policy Director, Voting & Fair Representation; this role is remote anywhere within the lower 48 United States, though we have a strong preference for someone who is based in DC and who can work in our office at least two days per week. We hope our new Policy Director & Counsel will start in December. Salary: $108,150 – $128,750 a year. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Remote Sales Director, SOE Software– SOE Software is seeking a driven Sales Director to expand our modernization and transparency solutions for state and local governments. In this full-cycle sales role, you’ll own the process from lead generation through contract signing. You’ll represent SOE at conferences and events, confidently starting conversations and building lasting relationships with government officials. By connecting our technology to outcomes like transparency, accessibility, and public trust, you’ll help election offices and public agencies better serve their communities. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Senior Organizer, Colorado, Common Cause– We are seeking a proactive, collaborative, English and Spanish-speaking Senior Organizer to join the Common Cause team in Colorado. In 2025, Common Cause successfully led an effort to pass the nation’s 8th state-level Voting Rights Act. The Colorado Voting Rights Act protects Colorado from threats to dismantle the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and creates stronger protection against voter discrimination. The Colorado Senior Organizer will be critical in driving public education and voter outreach efforts around the new law and executing nonpartisan voter protection efforts in 2026. This is a full-time, fixed-term position for a period of 12 months, from November 15, 2025, to November 15, 2026. The role reports to the State Director and is based in Colorado with a preference for this individual to work out of our Denver office at least 1 day per week. They will also travel to communities across the state on a frequent basis, with the possibility of occasional overnight travel. Salary: $72,100 – $89,610 a year. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Training Program Manager, Charleston County, South Carolina– Democracy works best when every election runs flawlessly—and that starts with exceptional training. As Training Manager for the Board of Voter Registration and Elections, you’ll empower our poll managers and staff to deliver elections that are fair, accessible, and trusted by every voter in Charleston County. The Board of Voter Registration and Elections is an award-winning organization dedicated to excellence in electoral processes. 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. We believe that people are the foundation of successful elections. That’s why training is not just a task—it’s a core function of our mission. When our teams are prepared, voters can be confident that their voice will be heard, and their ballot counted. As Training Manager, you are not simply teaching procedures—you are building trust in the democratic process. You will design and deliver training that helps every poll manager, staff member, and Board member understand the importance of their role, perform it with confidence, and meet the highest standards of service to our voters. Salary: $68,140.00 – $82,000.00 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Marketplace

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