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March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

In Focus This Week

New design resources to empower poll workers on Election Day
These resources are for anyone writing or updating their jurisdiction’s poll worker manuals.

By the Center for Civic Design

Poll workers are on the frontlines of elections. Manuals support poll workers in following the procedures they learn during training. They are essential to ensure an election runs smoothly. 

The three new non-partisan generic resources are publicly available on the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence  Resource Library, and make it easy for any election jurisdiction to create manuals that are well-designed and easy to navigate. 

Great manuals save time on election day by empowering poll workers with the answers they need rather than needing to call the office. These resources aim to help election offices create great manuals that answer questions and empower election workers to feel confident while doing their jobs. 

What’s in the toolkit
The Poll Worker Manual Toolkit has three resources:

  • The best practice guide: For election offices that already have a manual but are just looking to update it. This guide is made for election officials at every level of design and technology who are using any software or editing program, whether it’s Microsoft Word, InDesign, or Canva.
  • A Word template: A template election offices can start using right away, for those starting from scratch.
  • How-to-use Word guide: For election offices using the Word template, this companion guide is the place to start for election offices looking for instructions on how to use and make the most of Word.  

Top design tips 
Small design changes can have a big impact. The best practice guide covers topics like how to create a useful table of contents, best practices for images that support rather than supplement text and how to organize text so that it’s easier to read and understand. 

The table of contents is usually the first place people turn to when they open up a manual. Font size, bold, and indents are all design elements that show hierarchy and make the table of contents easier to skim. 

Image: An example of a table of contents page that’s organized and easy to follow (you can download a template of this TOC).

 

Images play a large role in communicating concepts, and they can make or break instructions in a manual. Illustrations are preferable to photos because they more clearly highlight the point you’re making. The best practice guide includes tips on choosing images that support instructions well 

A massive block of text can easily deter someone from reading the content. To design text so that it’s easy to read:

  • Use bullet points and write short sentences
  • Use headings to break long text into manageable chunks 
  • Limit each page to one topic 
  • Use numbers for steps and bullets for lists that are not step-by-step procedures
  • Use icons to call out important information and warnings

The best practice guide discusses these tips and others in depth, with examples and visuals to help you easily apply them.

First reactions
The Poll Worker Manual Toolkit has received a positive response from election offices so far. Pete Duncan, from Macoupin County, Illinois, shared that making the changes recommended in our guide was a quick process. He was able to complete 75% of the changes within two days. 

“The manual was fantastic; I would have been lost without it. I’m the most basic Word user in the history of Word users. Whatever the default font is what I used. There was a whole bunch of stuff in the guide I’d never thought of.,” Pete Duncan, from Macoupin County, Illinois

Get started using this resource
Find the poll worker manual toolkit in the Alliance Resource Library

Read more about designing manuals that empower poll workers on Election Day  and the core civic design best practices included in the toolkit on the Center for Civic Design website

The Poll Worker Manual Toolkit is part of the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence’s Resource Library, which offers generic, non-partisan, practical resources that election officials in any election jurisdiction can easily adapt for their use. It’s the new home of ElectionTools.org, well known for its catalog of civic icons and images, pocket voter guide template, poll worker resources and more.

These resources were created by the Center for Civic Design in partnership with the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, a nonpartisan collaborative that is bringing together election officials, designers, technologists and other experts to support the fundamentals of election administration. 

Many of the tips and tricks in these resources are based on CCD’s core civic design skills including plain language, information design, and accessibility. We offer interactive, skill-building workshops on these core skills so you can learn to apply them not only to poll worker manuals, but also to other voter communications. If you’d like to bring one of these workshops to an upcoming statewide conference, email hello@civicdesign.org.

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Election News This Week

2024 Primary Updates: Three more states – Georgia, Mississippi and Washington – held primary contests and it was relatively quiet in all three. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said that other than some minor, isolated issues the day went well in the Peach State. In four Gwinnett County precincts, election workers forgot to bring voter cards, but election officials were able to manually load ballots on voting machines. In Charlton County, two precincts opened late because poll workers didn’t bring the keys. In Columbia County, a ballot configuration error in a special election for the state House affected 130 voters, but election workers used backup procedures so that voting wasn’t interrupted. In Fulton County a warning on the countywide website about a January cyberattack caused some disinformation to spread on social media on Tuesday despite the fact that it had nothing to do with the election. Fulton County removed the warning banner from its website, including the elections page, after the concerns raised on social media. Secretary of State’s Chief Operating Officer Gabe Sterling gave a briefing Tuesday evening stating that voting went smoothly across Georgia. “Zero lines all day, no real issues on the ground. Everything seems to be working very smoothly. The counties have had a good day,” said Sterling. It was relatively smooth sailing in Mississippi as well. Following ballot shortage issues during 2023 elections, officials in Hinds County were more concerned about a voter shortage. “The last thing we’re worried about is a ballot shortage. What troubles me the most is the lack of turnout, that is disappointing,” Jacqueline Amos, Chair of the Hinds County Democratic Party Executive Committee said. “But I’m honestly pretty confident that this coming November is going to be different than last November as far as ballot issues.” Poll workers throughout the Magnolia State lamented to the media about low turnout, but seemed optimistic about November. “It’s poorly,” Beatrice Jackson, poll manager at the Democratic table, said of the turnout. “It’s always slow in the primaries. The next one will be much better.” In Washington’s King County, election workers spoke with the media about fixing ballot mistakes like missing signatures. One mistake that couldn’t be fixed is when an election worker discovered a mammogram reminder inside a ballot envelope instead of a ballot. Halei Watkins, communications director for King County Elections said that there is a lot of commentary, good and bad, included with returned ballots. The county posts the positive notes on a board for all ot see. One note read, “Thanks elections workers for all you do.” A post-it read, “Thank you election workers.” Another voter also wrote “Thank you elections workers,” on their safety envelope. And someone sent in a hand-drawn “I voted” sticker.

Hearing on The Hill: State and local elections officials testified before the Senate Rules Committee this week with a lot of testimony and commentary focused on the impact Artificial Intelligence may have on the 2024 election and the need to protect election workers. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia), who also chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he is concerned that intelligence agencies have indicated that “we are potentially less protected as we go into 2024 in terms of the security of our elections than we were during 2020.” “That’s a pretty stunning fact,” Warner said. Among those testifying were Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Douglas County, Nebraska Election Commissioner Brian Kruse and Isaac Cramer, the executive director of the Charleston County Board Of Voter Registration and Elections. During his testimony, Kruse expressed gratitude for a positive relationship between the Douglas County Election Commission and local media to assist in disseminating accurate and timely information to voters, especially with the implementation of voter ID in 2024. “It is my privilege to serve the voters of Douglas County and an honor to be here representing the 93 county election officials in Nebraska who work diligently to conduct accurate elections,” Kruse said in conclusion of his testimony. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) asked Benson how threats to election workers impact their work. “Not only does it cause us to fear going to work… it takes us away from the actual work of administering elections every time we need to issue protections or think about our own safety,” Benson said. Cramer said as Charleston County prepares for the 2024 election, his office’s main concerns are protecting election workers, the security of polling places and the assurance of reliable federal funding. He said that during the June 2022 primaries, “our polling places became battlegrounds for disruptive elements seeking to undermine the electoral process.”Allen focused portions of his testimony on the steps Alabama has taken to ensure election integrity in the Yellowhammer State. “We have enacted legislation in Alabama that makes it illegal for any voting tabulator to be connected to the internet,” he said. “Alabama state law requires the use of paper ballots in all elections. Each of our voters must verify their identity with photo identification at his or her polling place”

Eclipse News: We here at electionline LOVE IT when there is unexpected synergy between a major event and elections. This year, it’s the April 8 total solar eclipse. How, you may wonder, is there synergy there? Well, it turns out April 8 which is the day of the eclipse is also the voter registration deadline in Pennsylvania and Erie County is in the path of totality. According to a press release from County Clerk Karen Chillcott, the county is expected to be heavily impacted by visitors wishing to view this once in a lifetime event, and the local population could see itself double in the days leading up to the eclipse. This spike in population could affect the ability of Erie County citizens and Erie County employees to get to the Courthouse safely on April 8. “Also in consideration was the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. If the Erie County Courthouse were to remain open to the public, the Sheriff’s Office would be at the Courthouse rather than being out in the community, on a day when emergency services will already be strained due to the event,” Chillcot said. The county commission voted to extend the voter registration deadline to April 9. “The decision to extend the deadline was not taken lightly, and agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of State, the Governor’s Office, PEMA, and others were consulted prior to making the decision. Ahead of the meeting tonight, Erie County Council received a Resolution from the Board of Elections as well as a Court Order signed by the Honorable Judge Mead of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas,” Chillcot said. The county is encouraging residents to register in-person by April 5 or go online to register.  Should anyone come to the courthouse on April 8 to register to vote, there will be a sign at the front of the Courthouse with directions on how to register: A QR Code will be provided for those who wish to register to vote online; A folder with applications and pens will be located at the front of the courthouse, with an option to drop the application into the secure ballot box; If any application has an issue or has any missing information, someone from the Voter Registration Office will contact the applicant to resolve those issues; The Voter Registration Office will reopen to the public on April 9 to receive applications; and Any application received by April 9, 2024 will be considered valid and timely

The Largo Argentina square in Rome where Caesar was killed (2022).

Lessons from the Past: An electionline reader forwarded us this really interesting article about how Ancient Rome successfully fought against voter intimidation. It might seem odd that something from Ancient Rome could be relevant in today’s elections, but as David Hollader, a professor of history at Iowa State University wrote for The Conversation, “as voting access evolves in the U.S., the political importance of this centuries-old coin seems more compelling. It turns out that efforts to regulate voting access go way back.” In his article, Hollander writes about encountering a silver denarius, a Roman coin first minted over 2,000 years ago that depicted figures walking across a narrow bridge and dropping something into a box.Hollander notes that the coin in particular is hardly the most attractive Roman coin, but it is vital evidence for the early stages of a political struggle that culminated in Caesar’s assassination and the fall of the Roman Republic. In 139 BCE a law was passed requiring written ballots which made it more difficult for elites to influence voting. In other lessons from the past, CBS Saturday Morning spoke with descendants of suffragettes like Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony about the roles those women played in the suffrage movement and the importance of voting today. 

 

Personnel News: Former Cochise County Elections Director Lisa Marra is now the director of elections for the state of Arizona.  Bryce Miner has resigned as the deputy director of elections for Columbiana County, Ohio. Christine Harvin is the new executive director of the Clarendon County, South Carolina voter registration and electoral board. Brianna Schletz is the new executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Congratulations to Zoë Burch, voter services manager for the Charleston County, South Carolina board of voter registration and elections who received the Excellence in Elections Award from the South Carolina Election Commission. Seminole County, Florida Supervisor of Elections Chris Anderson has been removed from the county’s canvassing board. 

In Memoriam: Kenneth Bennett, a former employee of the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office has died. Kenneth began his career with the office as a senior information system analyst in 2004. He worked in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) section. According to Dean Logan, registrar-recorder/county clerk, Kenneth’s hard work, expertise and leadership in the GIS field were recognized nationwide. Kenneth eventually led the election systems division and information technology department responsible for GIS, ballot management and election systems. When the county took steps toward replacing its voting system in 2009, Kenneth was involved. “I am proud to say that Kenneth was there from the very beginning, undaunted by the challenge and willing to shoulder a tremendous load,” Logan said. “The success of the [VSAP] would be impossible without his leadership. Kenneth’s memory and legacy carry on with every voter we serve.” In addition to work for Los Angeles County, Kenneth also worked with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Technical Guidelines Development Committee and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He is survived by a wife and two children. 

Legislative Updates

Federal Legislation: The White House recently released the FY25 budget and for the third year in a row, the White House has recommended substantial funding for elections infrastructure. The budget recommends $5 billion in HAVA Security Grants over the next decade, with $1.625 billion front-loaded in this year’s budget to meet the urgent need of elections offices.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAAA)was recently reintroduced to the Senate. The reintroduction was brought on by Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), and 48 of their Senate Democratic colleagues. This is a summary of some of the key provisions in the VRAA: The VRAA modernizes the formula for determining which states and localities have a pattern of discrimination and are thus subject to preclearance. The bill thereby imposes preclearance on states with “15 or more voting rights violations” in the last 25 years, or 10 such violations, if “at least one of which was committed by the State itself.” It also requires preclearance for localities with three of more violations in the last 25 years. The VRAA would require preclearance for any election law or procedure, in any state or locality, relating to the following “covered practices”: Changes to add seats elected at-large in states or localities with sufficiently large minority populations; Changes to political subdivision boundaries that reduce minority representation in states or localities with sufficiently large minority populations; Changes through redistricting impacting states or localities with sufficiently large minority communities that experienced a significant growth in population; Changes in documentation or qualifications to vote (i.e. voter ID laws); Changes reducing multilingual voting materials or altering the manner in which such materials are provided or distributed; Changes that reduce, consolidate, or relocate polling locations or reduce voting opportunities; Changes to the maintenance process for voter registration lists that adds a new basis for removal from the list in jurisdictions with sufficiently large minority populations. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group. While still on the books, this section has been eroded over time, most recently through the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2021 decision in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee. The VRAA sets out to strengthen this provision. Notably, it standardizes the “totality of the circumstances” analysis used to evaluate potential violations by codifying the nine Senate Factors, derived from the Senate report accompanying the 1982 amendments to the VRA, that were adopted by the Supreme Court in Thornburg v. Gingles. The VRAA expands Section 2 to bar the enactment of any voting law that has the purpose or will have the effect of diminishing the ability of voters of color to participate in the electoral process or elect their preferred candidates. The VRAA would impose new notice and disclosure requirements on states for: (1) changes to voting rules or procedures that are adopted within 180 days of an election for federal office; (2) polling place resources; and (3) redistricting, reapportionment, and other changes in voting districts involving federal, state, and local elections. Compliance with these transparency provisions would be voluntary for smaller jurisdictions. This Act would also incorporate the Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act, which expands and clarifies protections for election workers, polling places, and other election infrastructure against threats, harassment, and violence. Damages or threats to property in violation of the statute are punishable by a fine, up to six months imprisonment, or both, and serious injury against persons are punishable by fine, up to one year imprisonment, or both.

Alabama: The House gave approval to a bill that allows people to be charged with, in some cases, felonies for helping others with absentee voting. Representatives voted 75 to 28 to pass the bill. The Senate previously passed the bill Feb. 13 with a vote of 27 to 8. “Ballot harvesting is a practice in which groups or individuals seek to profit off of the absentee voting process by knowingly ordering, requesting, collecting, pre-filing, obtaining or delivering an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot other than his or her own absentee ballot application or absentee ballot,” Sen. Garlan Gudger said in a statement. “SB1 will help strengthen Alabama’s absentee voting process while protecting voters who are disabled and protecting our overseas military voters. SB1 will make it illegal to pay or receive payment to assist voters in completing an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot.” Although the bill must be concurred by the Senate before it can receive Gov. Kay Ivey’s signature and become law, Ivey has already voiced support for the bill.

Colorado: Republicans in the Colorado House of Representatives are seeking to impeach the Democratic secretary of state, who they say can’t be trusted to run fair elections. Spearheaded by the top Republican in the Democrat-majority chamber, Minority Leader Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs, and Rep. Ryan Armagost of Berthoud, the effort has the backing of 17 of the 19 House Republicans. “Since being elected, the Secretary of State has used her position as a platform for her partisan political ideology and has proven herself unfit for this elected position,” the group of Republicans wrote in a letter to Speaker Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon) about Secretary Jena Griswold. The letter indicates that Pugliese and Armagost submitted an impeachment resolution Feb. 8, and it requests that McCluskie bring the resolution to the House floor for consideration. “This resolution is an unwarranted waste of time, and I’m disappointed to see House Republicans bow to the most extreme fringes of their party simply because the Secretary of State did her job,” McCluskie said in a statement. “Donald Trump is the problem, not the secretary. But instead of dealing with MAGA extremists in their ranks, they’re defending Trump, and attacking his opponents.”

Connecticut: Democrats and Republicans heard testimony on a pair of bills aimed at shoring up election security and cracking down on violations of state election laws. State Sen. Mae Flexer and State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, two Democrats who co-chair the legislature’s Government Administrations and Elections (GAE) Committee, are pushing for legislation to protect election workers—a category that includes poll workers, Registrars of Voters, Town Clerks, and many state officials. Amid rising political polarization and conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, election workers have faced a wave of threats, intimidation, and harassment. The Democratic bill (House Bill 5448) creates new criminal penalties for threatening or harassing election workers, shields the personal information of election workers for a period of time around Election Day, and bans the possession of a gun within 1,000 feet of critical election sites—including all polling locations and vote-counting facilities. State Sen. Rob Sampson, the ranking Republican on the GAE Committee, said he agrees with the concept of the bill but opposes sections he believes infringe on certain individual rights. Sampson and his fellow Republicans are backing a separate bill (Senate Bill 390) which seeks to impose a mandatory minimum prison sentence on those found guilty of certain elections-related felonies. Republicans point to widespread allegations and video evidence of absentee ballot misconduct in the city of Bridgeport. They argue that current laws on the books make it so that those who are caught engaging in ballot misconduct are not punished harshly enough in their view.

Idaho: A bill that would place restrictions on who could apply for an absentee ballot was sent out for possible amendments after members of the public and several state and county elections officials came out against the bill. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Kingsley, R-Lewiston, House Bill 667 would make several changes to absentee voting.  Under the bill, a voter would only be able to request an absentee ballot if they were unable to vote in-person on Election Day or on all the other early voting days if the voter “anticipated being out of the jurisdiction on such days” or the voter “has an illness or another disability that would prevent the elector from voting in person on such days.” Currently, Idaho voters can request an absentee ballot for any reason. House Bill 667 would also prohibit political parties and other organizations from mailing absentee ballot request forms to voters. Under the bill, only a voter could request that an absentee ballot form be mailed to them. The bill would also block political parties and other organizations from filling out absentee ballot forms for a voter. A proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote from both the House and Senate. That means it would have taken 47 votes to pass the House. Instead, the Idaho House voted 42-27 in favor of the bill – falling short of the necessary two-thirds vote. 

A proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution that sought to block ranked choice voting failed in the House this week and won’t appear on the ballot in November. Pushed by Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, House Joint Resolution 4 included the following proposed language to add to the Idaho Constitution: “PERSON WITH HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES ELECTED. In all partisan primary elections and general elections, and for the election of judges, there shall be one round of voting, and the person having the highest number of votes for an office shall be deemed to have won such election.” Barbieri told legislators his amendment was specifically targeting ranked-choice voting. A ranked choice voting system is one of the provisions of the separate open primary ballot initiative that Idahoans for Open Primaries are hoping to qualify for the November general election. Under the proposed ranked choice voting system in the open primary initiative, the top four candidates from a primary election would advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. In the general election, voters would vote for their favorite candidate, and then have the opportunity to rank the remaining three candidates in order of preference on the same ballot. The candidate with the fewest votes would be eliminated, and their votes would instead be transferred to the second choice of candidate on a voter’s ballot. That process would continue until there are two candidates left and the candidate with the most votes would be elected the winner.  

Illinois: Illinois law has no explicit restriction on guns in polling places. State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) is working to change that with a proposal (House Bill 5178) that would forbid firearms at “any building, real property or parking area of a polling place.” He said it’s necessary given rising security concerns surrounding elections. “As we have seen, election locations (are) increasingly under threat of those who are trying to disrupt the process of being able to vote — people who are increasingly using violence to intimidate people and bringing guns to these polling places to scare people from executing their constitutional rights,” Morgan said. “As communities and counties and townships try and find different locations to safely execute these elections, we want to make sure that they’re safe from gun violence and the threats that are happening all over the country.” Gun rights advocates said Morgan’s proposal is an answer in search of a problem. “Show me the data that there is a problem, and if there is a problem, then great, let’s see it,” Illinois State Rifle Association lobbyist Ed Sullivan said. “I can almost guarantee you, there’s not.” 

Indiana: Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill this week that critics say violates federal law when it comes to removing people from the voter rolls. The measure requires the state to compare voter registration to Bureau of Motor Vehicles data on credentials given to noncitizens. People flagged by that comparison would have to show proof of citizenship to their county election officials within 30 days in order to be able to vote. Immigration attorneys say that proof is difficult and sometimes impossible to obtain within 30 days. And the BMV data is often out-of-date. The citizenship provision won’t take effect until July of 2025. HEA 1264 also allows the state to buy people’s credit information, to compare it to voter data and flag potential mismatches. Similarly, the state will search the voter list for people whose addresses appear to be nonresidential. County election officials must then further investigate to ensure people are appropriately registered where they live. Supporters said the legislation will help further strengthen Indiana’s election system.

Louisiana: Secretary of State Nancy Landry (R) is supporting a package of bills around elections that will be brought before the legislature this year. Beginning with updating our states voter rolls to make sure they’re accurate and up to date, a proposal that was vetoed by former Governor John Bel Edwards. She also would like to see a special division of election integrity created inside her office. Part of the plan would also ensure that no one would be allowed to assist with more than 1 absentee ballot unless that person is a family member of the voter who’s at least 18 years old. The Secretary also wants to see a uniform way for election supervisors to tabulate ballots for every parish in the state.

 

Maryland: State authorities would be able to prosecute people who threaten to harm election officials or their immediate family members because of an official’s role in administering the election process, under a bill passed unanimously by the Maryland Senate late last week. The Protecting Election Officials Act of 2024, which has the support of Gov. Wes Moore, would make threatening an election official a misdemeanor punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. A similar measure is pending in the House. The bill would prohibit someone from knowingly and willfully making a threat to harm an election official or an immediate family member of an election official, because of the official’s role in administering the election process. Harm would include serious injury or serious emotional distress, under the bill. Threats would include spoken ones, as well as threats made in any written form.

Michigan: The House Elections Committee heard testimony this week on a bill to permanently bar people convicted of many election-related crimes from serving on boards that certify election results. The bill lists a wide variety of state or federal election fraud, illegal influence or voter threat convictions that would disqualify a person from serving on the Michigan State Board of Canvassers or county canvassing boards that confirm vote tallies. That function has become the target of efforts to reverse election results. “Individuals who have shown a willingness to violate Michigan election law have no business overseeing our state elections, let alone certifying results,” said bill sponsor Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield).  “Period. End of story.” The crimes include offering bribes for votes, intimidation or obstructing voters, absentee ballot fraud, illegally breaking open a ballot lock or seal, and altering a ballot. Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) said lifetime bans for misdemeanor or felony election violations would be tougher than the 20-year ban in the Michigan Constitution on a felon holding an elected or appointed office.

Mississippi: The House passed a bill to give voting rights back to people who were previously convicted of certain non-violent felonies. House Bill 1609, which required a two-thirds majority in the House to move forward on the historic legislation, passed through the chamber 96-11, garnering a large amount of bi-partisan support. The bill will now move on to the Senate, where it will also require a two-thirds vote to pass before possibly going to the governor’s desk for final consideration. If passed, prior felony conviction holders would be forgiven if they committed bad check writing or felony shoplifting, to name a few. Other crimes such as murder, arson and embezzlement would not be covered under the bill. “If this bill passes, there are people who are ineligible to vote right now who will be able to vote automatically without filing anything in a court, without having other legislation passed,” Rep. Elliot Burch, R-Lucedale, who presented the bill said. “I believe it is a way for people who are unable to vote right now, but have done their time and are productive members of society to have the opportunity to vote.” Burch also offered an amendment to the bill that received almost no backlash. That amendment took perjury and bribery, which were originally crimes violators could be forgiven for, off of the restoration list. It also prohibited sexual battery and human trafficking from being eligible for restoration, though those are not currently on the disenfranchising list.

The Senate passed bipartisan legislation that would allow no-excuse early voting in Mississippi for 15 days before Election Day, including the Saturday before.  Eight Republicans in the 52-member, GOP majority chamber voted against Senate Bill 2580. The measure now heads to the House. Senate Elections Chairman Jeremy England, a Republican from Vancleave, said during debate over the bill that the measure adds security to elections because it requires voters to cast a ballot in person at their county circuit clerk’s office.  “I think this is a bill that number one our constituents are asking for,” England, a Republican from Vancleave, said. “This issue has been discussed with constituents and we’re one of only three states that don’t do this currently. This is, in my opinion, … a step in the right direction.”  Mississippi allows in-person absentee voting before elections, but voters must meet criteria, such as being over 65 or disabled, or provide one of a handful of valid “excuses,” such as being out of town for work on election day and follow a long list of rules and procedures.

Sarpy County, Nebraska: The Sarpy County Board of Commissioners heard an agenda item at Tuesday’s board meeting that would bring security cameras to ballot drop box locations. Seven cameras would be placed at six drop box locations: Springfield, Gretna Ace Hardware, Bellevue Public Library, Sarpy County Building (two drop box locations), Sarpy County Courthouse and La Vista Police Department. The county plans to install the cameras April 1. “I think it’s that important that people know that our elections are safe, secure and their vote matters,” Commissioner Don Kelly said. Kelly hopes the cameras accomplish two things: deter anyone from doing anything illegal to compromise elections and make sure voters know the county is taking all steps possible to “make sure the integrity and security of our elections is upheld.” County Administrator Bonnie Moore reassures the community that this decision didn’t come about because there was an incident that forced the county to install the cameras. “This is just Sarpy County being proactive,” Moore said. Both Moore and Kelly praise the county’s Election Commissioner, Emily Ethington, for her work in getting the item on the agenda and, hopefully, bringing the cameras to ballot drop box locations. The cost of the cameras will come out to $50,560. The money is in the county’s budget.

New York: Two new bills will allow counties to deploy ballot drop boxes and set up “portable” polling stations for early voting. Both bills are meant to make voting easier and would be optional, left to the discretion of bipartisan election offices in each county. But they are the latest flashpoints in an ongoing clash over voting methods between Democrats who control both legislative chambers and Republicans, who fought the earlier reforms and oppose the two pending proposals. Neither bill is new. The Senate has passed them both several years in a row, most recently in January, but they remain in limbo because the Assembly hasn’t taken them up. One bill would allow counties to set up one or more “secure receptacles” where voters could deposit their absentee ballots instead of mailing them. In a Senate floor debate in January, Republicans cast doubts about the security of ballot boxes, questioning where they would be placed and whether they would be supervised or monitored with surveillance cameras. They raised the prospect of wrongdoers casting multiple ballots or taking votes from the boxes. Another bill approved would allow counties to open one or more “portable” voting stations for at least three days during the early-voting period, when fewer voting sites typically are open than on election days. Sites must be chosen to draw as many voters as possible, based on population density, travel time, public transportation routes and other factors, the bill states. Those added polling sites might be mobile − housed in a van, for instance − or situated in familiar places such as a library, depending on what county officials choose. Both are awaiting action in the Assembly Election Law Committee. 

Virginia: Gov Glenn Youngkin (R) has vetoed a bill that would have returned the commonwealth to the interstate voter registration compact known as ERIC. Youngkin’s administration removed Virginia from ERIC last year, citing concerns about how the data is shared. “The financial burden of rejoining ERIC includes membership fees, which have increased more than 115% since 2022, and participation expenses. ERIC’s mandatory Eligible but Unregistered mailing will cost the Commonwealth hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is superfluous considering Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles’ automatic registration policies and sameday registration for voting,” said Youngkin in his veto statement regarding SB 606. “Since leaving ERIC, Virginia established data-sharing agreements with numerous states incurring no additional costs. Additionally, the Department of Elections has increased its data sources by collaborating with forty-one states to obtain driver’s license surrender data, while ERIC only provides data sharing with twenty-five states.”

Wyoming: No elections-related bills survived this year’s legislative session including six election bills that died this year were sponsored by the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, which spent months before the session debating and crafting the legislation. Most of these measures died early in the session after failing to meet the two-thirds threshold required to be introduced during a budget session. The dead committee bills aimed to address voter residency requirements, election worker intimidation, campaign finance reporting and the use of private funds to conduct elections.  One of the most consequential measures that the committee sponsored was a durational residency bill that would have required voters to attest that they have been a “bona fide” resident of Wyoming for at least 30 days before an election in which they vote.  Lawmakers introduced the measure, and it passed the House Corporations Committee on an 8-1 vote. But the bill ultimately missed the deadline to be considered in the House Committee of the Whole. Another committee-sponsored bill that would have barred the use of private funds to conduct elections, with an exception for special districts, likewise failed to make the deadline to be considered in the House Committee of the Whole. The Corporations Committee also brought a bill that would have created a misdemeanor offense for election intimidation, which is currently only punishable by a felony. The panel also sponsored a measure clarifying residency requirements for state legislature candidates and another that would have required any group of two or more people to report campaign finances if they pool or jointly expend funds totaling more than $1,000 for campaign activity.  All of these measures failed introduction on the first day of the session.

Legal Updates

Alaska: A group trying to preserve Alaska’s ranked choice voting system has asked a state judge to rule before Election Day on state campaign regulators’ decision to penalize supporters of the repeal. The Alaska Public Offices Commission ruled in January that Alaskans for Honest Elections, a group of repeal supporters, illegally sent campaign money through an organization registered as a church in Washington state. APOC commissioners fined the group more than $94,000 and ordered they make regular public disclosures. The pro-repeal side appealed APOC’s decision to state courts in February, and under the normal course of events, a judge would rule sometime next year. But last week, attorneys representing Alaskans For Better Elections, an anti-repeal group, asked Judge Laura Hartz to speed up the case and issue a verdict during the campaign season. Attorney Scott Kendall, representing Alaskans for Better Elections, said it’s important to his client that the pro-repeal side be required to post accurate information about the source of its money. The Alaska Division of Elections is expected to formally certify a ballot measure this month that would repeal the state’s open primary election and its ranked choice general election, which were created by a 2020 ballot measure. Certification would clear the way for a repeal measure to appear on the November general election ballot. 

Arizona: James Clark, 40, of Falmouth, Massachusetts was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for making a bomb threat to the Arizona secretary of state’s office – one of the heftiest sentences yet under a federal task force cracking down on election threats. Clark sent a message in February 2021 to an unnamed election official via a secretary of state’s office website, according to court records. The threat warned that if the state attorney general didn’t resign within two days, a bomb would go off in her office, according to court records. U.S. District Judge Michael Liburdi in Phoenix sentenced Clark to a term that tied for the longest handed down for election threats since the 2020 campaign.

Tim Seay, a former mayoral candidate in Phoenix has pleaded guilty to computer tampering and seven counts of false voter registration. Seay admitted to going online to register people to vote without their permission. In exchange for the guilty plea on the computer crime, the voter registration charges are being dropped. Seay’s plea agreement stipulates he will avoid prison time if he completes supervised probation and community services. He’ll be formally sentenced in April.

Georgia: Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee dismissed some of the charges against former President Donald Trump and others, but the rest of the sweeping racketeering indictment remains intact. McAfee quashed six counts in the indictment, including three against Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee. But the judge left in place other counts — including 10 facing Trump — and said prosecutors could seek a new indictment to try to reinstate the ones he dismissed. It’s the first time charges in any of Trump’s four criminal cases have been dismissed, with the judge saying prosecutors failed to provide enough detail about the alleged crime. The challenged counts charge the defendants with soliciting public officers to violate their oaths. One count stems from a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Jan. 2, 2021, in which Trump urged Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes.” McAfee said the counts did not allege sufficient detail regarding the nature of the violations. “The lack of detail concerning an essential legal element is, in the undersigned’s opinion, fatal,” McAfee wrote. “They do not give the Defendants enough information to prepare their defenses intelligently.”

Louisiana: U.S. District Judge John DeGravelles has ruled the state must pay a portion of attorneys’ fees for then-Attorney General Jeff Landry’s unsuccessful attempt to halt a Louisiana Supreme Court election. DeGravelles ruled that Landry and former Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin are responsible for part of the legal costs incurred by Chief Justice John Weimer and three sheriffs who joined him to block the attorney general’s move to delay a November 2022 election in which Weimer was seeking reelection. Ultimately, tax dollars will cover the court-ordered payment.  Landry and Ardoin, both Republicans, were defendants in a lawsuit the Louisiana NAACP brought against the state in 2019 to add a second majority-Black seat to the state Supreme Court’s seven districts. Two years ago, Landry effectively switched sides and joined the NAACP in asking the court to pause the election in which Weimer, an independent, would run unopposed. DeGravelles removed the stay order a magistrate judge had put in place in time for Weimer to qualify for his race. DeGravelles’ order requires Landry and Ardoin, who’s now the governor’s director of intergovernmental relations, to pay more than $36,000 in opposition attorneys’ fees. Lawyers for Weimer and the sheriffs had sought closer to $60,000, but the judge ruled a lack of itemized billing from attorneys didn’t provide enough specifics to determine a payout.

Maryland: A group questioning the validity of state voting systems and election procedures across the country is asking a federal court to rule Maryland’s election board is out of compliance with state and federal elections laws. The lawsuit, filed by Maryland Election Integrity LLC and Missouri-based United Sovereign Americans, is the first of many suits United Sovereign Americans is planning nationwide, according to a spokesperson. The 34-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland listed various claims, including that the elections board failed to keep accurate voter rolls, used voting machines with error rates beyond the legal threshold and denied the plaintiff’s requests for election reports through Maryland’s public information laws. In their filing, the plaintiffs asked the court to keep the state board of elections from certifying elections until their claims have been satisfied, among a long list of other requests. Maryland Election Integrity LLC is represented by Ed Hartman III. The lawsuit describes his clients’ organization, which was established in January 2024, as “Maryland voters and interested citizens with standing.” A Sovereign Americans spokesperson said Kate Sullivan was leading the Maryland group’s lawsuit.

Michigan: The Michigan Court of Appeals has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Flint election officials by the Michigan Republican Party and the Republican National Committee. Their lawsuit claims Flint election commissioners in August and November of 2022 ignored GOP applicants in order to stack the city’s cadre of election watchers with more Democrats than Republicans. But the appeals court didn’t rule specifically on those claims and focused its decision on legal standing. The court held that the state and national parties were too far removed to show a direct connection to the case and hinted the plaintiffs might have had better luck if the lawsuit had been filed by the Genesee County Republican Party. “A closer question, and one not raised on appeal, is whether plaintiffs would have organizational standing based upon the rights and interests of the Republican chair for Genesee County. Because the issue has not been raised, we decline to consider it,” said the unanimous opinion. Flint City Clerk Davina Donahue, who sits on the city’s elections commission, told Michigan Public she thinks the appeals court got it right. “Michigan elections are run at the local level so we’re glad that the Court of Appeals recognized that this is a local issue,” she said. Donahue also said she is confident in how the city handled the August and November 2022 elections.

The Republican National Committee filed a federal lawsuit pressing an earlier demand that Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson take steps to purge voter rolls of what it previously described as suspiciously — and in many counties, impossibly — high numbers of registered voters. Claiming that 53 of Michigan’s 83 counties — including Macomb, Oakland and Wayne — have more active registered voters than they do residents over the age of 18, the lawsuit, which was also filed on behalf of two state residents, asked for a judge to find Benson’s office in violation of federal law and order it to “develop and implement reasonable and effective registration list-maintenance programs.” Benson’s office, which saw a similar lawsuit brought in 2021 by the conservative Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) over the purging of dead voters from registration rolls dismissed this month, denounced the new lawsuit.

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Jeffery S. Matis issued a bench warrant for Attorney Stefanie Lambert Junttila, granting a request from the prosecution after she repeatedly failed to provide fingerprints and a DNA sample as required by law. Lambert Junttila did not appear at the show cause hearing and will have 24 hours to turn herself in, with prosecutor Tim Maat requesting that the warrant not be executed until 5 p.m. Friday in line with a previous agreement he had made with Lambert Junttila, where she asked that Maat not send officers to her home to arrest her. Lambert Junttila is one of three individuals indicted as part of a probe into alleged tampering with voting tabulators following the 2020 election where President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump. Attorney and former Republican attorney general nominee Matthew DePerno and former state Rep. Daire Rendon (R-Lake City) were also indicted.  The court had issued multiple orders for Lambert Junttila to have her fingerprints and a DNA sample taken, as is required by law. Matis noted the initial order requesting fingerprints and DNA sampling was issued on Aug. 4, 2023, with a deadline of Aug. 10, 2023.

Montana: The attorney representing several voters in the Fort Shaw Irrigation District filed a motion March 6 requesting summary judgment in their case against the district and Cascade County over 2023 election errors, arguing that the mistakes were in part due to former county employees. In their brief submitted March 6, they argue that Lynn DeRoche, former county elections employee, provided incorrect information to Merchant and Charla Merja, clerk of the Fort Shaw Irrigation District. They argue that state law changed in 2019 to eliminate the requirement that those who co-own property in the district must designate the person who will vote on behalf of those acres. They argue that DeRoche provided a sample letter from previous elections that included language indicating those designations were required.

North Carolina: A three-judge panel of the North Carolina Superior Court ruled that Republican legislators’ changes to the State Board of Elections are unconstitutional. In a unanimous decision, the judges wrote that the changes infringe on the governor’s constitutional duties. In 2023, Republicans passed a law changing state elections administration. The legislation passed along party lines and over Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto. Cooper sued. The law stripped the governor of all appointments to the Board of Elections. As it is now, governors appoint all five members of the board from a list of recommended candidates submitted by the state’s two major political parties. Three come from the governor’s party and two from the other party. The law would increase the board membership to eight, with four members appointed by Republican legislative leaders and four by Democratic legislative leaders. If the board was unable to elect its chairman or choose an executive director, Republican leaders would select them.  The law also reduces county boards of election from five members to four. Legislators would choose all four members, with Republican legislative leaders picking two and Democratic legislative leaders selecting two. Two of the judges are Republicans and one is a Democrat. Republican legislative leaders have announced their plans to appeal

U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs refused to end efforts by civil rights groups that sued over the requirement on allegations that its provisions are marred by racial bias. Biggs denied a “summary judgment” motion filed 2 1/2 years ago for members of the State Board of Elections, which is implementing the 2018 ID law enacted by the Republican-controlled General Assembly. After legal delays in state and federal courts, the photo ID requirement under that law began with municipal elections last fall and the March 5 primaries. Biggs wrote she was denying the board’s motion in part because “genuine disputes” over the facts in the case are present, and otherwise the legal parties “dispute the inferences which may reasonably be drawn from key undisputed facts.”

Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Supreme Court will consider overturning its own ruling limiting the use of absentee ballot drop boxes, the justices said this week. The court ruled in July 2022 that absentee drop boxes may be used only in election offices and no one other than the voter can return a ballot in person. The justices issued an order saying they would review the ban on drop boxes but won’t reconsider any other parts of the case. Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote in dissent that there’s no reason to revisit the decision and the liberal majority is signaling that they intended to declare drop boxes legal in a “shameless effort to readjust the balance of political power in Wisconsin.” “Overturning (the ruling), a mere two years after its issuance, is nothing but a partisan maneuver designed to give the majority’s preferred political party an electoral advantage,” Bradley wrote. “This is not neutral judging.”

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Open source voting equipment | Voting Rights Act, II | Voting systems | Artificial intelligence, II | Voter intimidation | Vote by mail | Voter registration | Voter ID | Election integrity

California: A PR Game in Orange CountySenate race | Election reform, II | Voter registration reforms | Voter fraud | Huntington Beach 

Connecticut: Election workers 

Florida: Ranked choice voting 

Idaho: Election security 

Indiana: Ranked choice voting 

Iowa: Ranked choice voting  

Kentucky: Civics education

Massachusetts: Vote by mail 

Missouri: ERIC; Ex-felon voting rights 

Nevada: Democracy 

New Hampshire: Military & overseas voters | Voter registration

Oregon: Secretary of state race 

Pennsylvania: Election workers 

South Carolina: Democracy 

Wisconsin: 2020 election 

Upcoming Events

Documentary Screening of “Democracy on Trial” & Panel Discussion: Join the NPC Events Team for a screening of FRONTLINE’s “Democracy on Trial” followed by a discussion with Director & Producer Michael Kirk. FRONTLINE investigates the roots of the criminal cases against former President Trump stemming from his 2020 election loss. With the presidential race for 2024 underway, veteran political filmmaker Michael Kirk and his team examine the House Jan. 6 committee’s evidence, the historic charges against Trump and the threat to democracy.” Watch the trailer here. When: March 27, 6pm. Where: Washington, DC

EAC EAVS Comments Deadline: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the EAC announces an information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. The EAC intends to submit this proposed information collection (2024 Election Administration and Voting Survey, or EAVS) to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for approval. The 2024 EAVS asks election officials questions concerning voting and election administration, including the following topics: Voter registration; overseas and military voting; voting by mail; early in-person voting; polling operations; provisional voting; voter participation; election technology; election policy; and other related issues. When: April 9

Race and Risk of Election Subversion: 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. Speakers: Matt Barreto, Lecturer in Law UCLA School of Law; Sophia Lin Lakin, Director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project ACLU; and Spencer Overton, The Patricia Roberts Harris Research Professorship and Professor of Law George Washington Law. When: April 9, 3pm Eastern. Where: Online and Los Angeles

After the Voting is Over: Counting, Results Reporting, Recounts (and More): It’s full steam ahead to 2024’s general election. What are lawmakers and election administrators thinking about now to prepare? Find out in this four-part series, hosted  by the National Conference of State Legislatures in partnership with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. We’ll focus on the elections workforce; counting and recounts and more post-voting work; the voters’ perspectives and voter confidence. The election doesn’t end when the polls close. Counting (and confirming the count) comes next—along with reporting results and, sometimes, recounts. Join us for the second installment of NCSL’s four-part webinar series on election administration to learn about what happens after voting is over. U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Donald Palmer will consider how all states address these tasks that ensure accurate and verifiable results. When: April 12, 2pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

The Misinformation and Disinformation Idea-thon: Help Solve a Major Societal Problem—Bring Your Ideas to Fight Misinformation and Disinformation Misinformation and disinformation pose a significant threat to democracy. They are spread by authoritarian state actors and malign non-state actors bent on undermining and damaging free and liberty-loving republics. Unfortunately, most solutions come internally from social media platforms or rest with governments to devise. A new grassroots strategy is needed: bottom-up rather than top-down. That is why R Street Institute and George Mason University are holding an Idea-thon to address the problem and find new solutions. Teams will form to attack misinformation and disinformation from four tracks: government, business/technology, nonprofit, and education. Winning teams will receive prizes. Examples of work products include new legislation and regulations, a business plan for a tech start-up, a mobile app, an academic course, or a new nonprofit. Be creative! Software developers are needed, but no computer science skills are necessary to participate. Just bring your best ideas for combating misinformation and disinformation. When: April 20. Where: Fairfax, Virginia

Election Center Special Workshop: The Election Center will hold a Special Workshop in Portland, Oregon with a focus on state trainings, certifications and conferences. Covered topics will include AI and election management, training new employees,  working with interns, volunteers and law students, executive staffing and working with the Legislature. There will also be presentations by the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission and CISA. The workshops will kick off with a tour of the Multnomah County elections office. Additionally several CERA classes will be held in conjunction with the workshop. When: April 24-28. Where: Portland, Oregon.

Focus on the Voters: It’s full steam ahead to 2024’s general election. What are lawmakers and election administrators thinking about now to prepare? Find out in this four-part series, hosted  by the National Conference of State Legislatures in partnership with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. We’ll focus on the elections workforce; counting and recounts and more post-voting work; the voters’ perspectives and voter confidence.  Who are the most important people in an election? The voters. In the third installment of NCSL’s four-part webinar series on election administration, U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Tom Hicks will address questions voters often ask and how states “get out the information” to voters. He’ll cover how states ensure the right to vote for people with disabilities and citizens living abroad (military and otherwise). When: May 10, 2pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

ESRA 2024 Conference: The 8th Annual Summer Conference on Election Science, Reform, and Administration (ESRA) will be held in person from May 16-17, 2024 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. Call for Proposals The 2024 conference Call for Proposals is now open through February 16! Learn more about this year’s conference and submit your proposal here. Registration: Registration to attend the 2024 conference has not yet opened. To hear the news first when it does, please sign up to join our mailing list. When: May 16-17. Where: Los Angeles

Voter Confidence: What Can Move the Needle: It’s full steam ahead to 2024’s general election. What are lawmakers and election administrators thinking about now to prepare? Find out in this four-part series, hosted  by the National Conference of State Legislatures in partnership with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. We’ll focus on the elections workforce; counting and recounts and more post-voting work; the voters’ perspectives and voter confidence.  Voter confidence is top of mind for elections stakeholders this cycle. In the final part of NCSL’s spring webinar series, U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Christy McCormick will delve into state policies that can increase voter confidence. Perfecting processes and procedures comes first: clarifying all policies before the first vote is cast; cleaning voter lists; adopting strong chain-of-custody procedures for ballots and equipment; updating emergency plans; using pre- and post-election audits; and more. The next job is to ensure all that good technical work is transparent and communicated well to voters and the public. When: June 14, 2pm 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.

Advocacy Campaign Strategist, Elections and Government Program, The Brennan Center– The Elections and Government Program is looking to hire an experienced campaign strategist. The Advocacy Campaign Strategist position reports to the DC-based Deputy Director of the Elections and Government Program. Responsibilities: Contribute to planning and execution of advocacy campaigns to achieve Elections and Government Program goals, including: Provide project management, organization, logistical solutions, and administrative support, as needed. Identify tools and methods to increase effectiveness and efficiency of team’s work. Coordinate communications between program staff and internal/external stakeholders. Engage in field advocacy, including: Participate in coalition meetings, convenings, briefings. Develop and maintain productive relationships with election officials, grassroots allies, civic partners, government staff, elected officials, and other outside stakeholders. Identify and create opportunities to advance program goals in the field, as well as to improve the program’s advocacy with learning and perspectives from the field. Conceive and execute advocacy products, such as blog posts, digital media products, public comments, FAQs, and other assets, in collaboration with communications colleagues where appropriate, with focus on broadening and increasing partner engagement with program’s work. Contribute research and writing for policy and empirical research reports that will form the basis of advocacy campaigns. Contribute to program’s media and public education work, including strategy, talking points, and speaking engagements. Help to train new program support staff, including program associates, and serve as their first point of advice on routine matters. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Chief Electoral Officer, Government of Nunavut, Canada– Applications are invited for the position of Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut. This is a seven-year, full-time statutory appointment. The Chief Electoral Officer is an Independent Officer of the Legislative Assembly. The office-holder is appointed on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, pursuant to the Nunavut Elections Act. The position exercises a range of powers and responsibilities under the Nunavut Elections Act and the Plebiscites Act. Copies of the statutes are available at: www.nunavutlegislation.ca. The Chief Electoral Officer is responsible for the conduct of territorial general elections and by-elections, as well as elections to municipal councils and other bodies. The next territorial general election is scheduled to be held on October 27, 2025. The successful candidate will be an experienced senior manager with proven professional success in managing complex administrative operations. Knowledge of electoral administration and legislation is essential. This position requires a high degree of attention to detail, including the ability to accurately interpret, administer and explain complex statutes and regulations. The successful candidate will possess the ability to communicate clearly and consistently with the general public, stakeholder groups and the news media. Excellent writing skills, including the ability to draft comprehensive annual reports to the Legislative Assembly, are required. Understanding of Inuit societal values, language and culture is a definite asset. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (Elections Nunavut) is located in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. A detailed Position Profile is available from the Office of the Legislative Assembly and may be downloaded from the Legislative Assembly’s website at www.assembly.nu.ca. Salary: $145,094.00 to $207,277.00 per annum. Deadline: March 22. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

City Clerk, Palos Verdes Estates, California– The City of Palos Verdes Estates is a 4.75 square mile city in southern California, offering beautiful ocean and hillside views, urban forest, and recreational opportunities. With approximately 13,500 residents, the City is known for being a planned community with tranquil neighborhoods and is the oldest of four cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Residents enjoy magnificent views of the Los Angeles Basin and Pacific Ocean, low density, rural character, preserved open space, low crime, and excellent schools. The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for coordination and preparation of City Council meeting agendas and back-up materials, maintenance of the Municipal Code, and election administration, along with publishing legal notices, ordinances, and resolutions, as required by law. The City Clerk also receives, and processes subpoenas, prepares, and coordinates responses to public records requests, prepares and certifies Certificates of Residency (pensioners), and administers the Oath of Office. The City is seeking a collaborative, organized, and highly motivated individual to serve as the next City Clerk. The ideal candidate will bring record-keeping experience, problem solving capabilities, and a proven track record of exercising confidentiality. An honest, ethical, and technically savvy team builder who is cooperative and flexible is essential. The incoming City Clerk should be adaptable and politically astute, promoting a culture of transparency and integrity. Salary: $99,756 to $125,028. Deadline: March 24. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Counsel, Elections and Government Program, The Brennan Center– The fight for a more secure, responsive, and equitable democracy has never been more urgent. The Brennan Center seeks a talented early career attorney to join its team in the Elections and Government Program, working on a range of issues related to defending the security of our elections, breaking down barriers to political participation, restraining campaign finance abuses, countering disinformation, and bolstering the integrity and responsiveness of government. The Brennan Center’s methods include legislative and policy advocacy, legal and empirical research and writing, litigation, media communications, and public education. This is an in-person position based in New York City or Washington, D.C. It will require occasional travel. Responsibilities Include: Assisting with policy advocacy, sometimes through work in coalitions, to change policies and laws at the local, state, and federal levels. Participating in litigation, including research, brief writing, and strategy development, with team members, allied organizations, and/or pro bono law firm counsel. Authoring and otherwise supporting the preparation of written work (including articles, opinion pieces, speeches, reports, policy proposals, and organizational materials), with opportunities for named authorship. Providing research support for reports and policy proposals, including research (legal, social science, and news-based), fact checking, legal cite checking, and proofreading. Representing the Brennan Center in meetings and other interactions with external stakeholders, including government officials, allies, donors, and journalists. Helping to supervise and mentor program associates and legal and undergraduate interns. Taking on special projects and other duties as assigned. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Counsel, Elections and Government Program (Research and Policy), The Brennan Center– The fight for a more secure, responsive, and equitable democracy has never been more urgent. The Brennan Center seeks a talented attorney to join its team in the Elections and Government Program, working primarily on empirical research and policy advocacy around campaign finance and related money in politics issues (for examples of the type of work this position would do, please see here, here, and here), with opportunities to work on a range of other matters that are the focus of the program’s work. The Brennan Center’s methods include legislative and policy advocacy, legal and empirical research and writing, litigation, media communications, and public education. This is an in-person position based in New York City or Washington, D.C. It will require occasional travel. This position will report to the directors of the Elections and Government program, and work under the supervision/in close collaboration with a senior attorney who leads campaign finance research initiatives. Responsibilities Include: Designing and executing empirical research projects involving campaign finance and similar data, in collaboration with social scientists and other researchers. Advocacy, sometimes through work in coalitions, to change policies and laws at the local, state, and federal levels. Authoring and otherwise supporting the preparation of written work (including articles, opinion pieces, speeches, reports, policy proposals, and organizational materials), with opportunities for named authorship. Public speaking and other representation of the Brennan Center in meetings and other interactions with external stakeholders, including government officials, allies, donors, and the media. Legal strategy, research, and writing. Helping to supervise and mentor junior lawyers, program associates, and legal and undergraduate interns. Taking on special projects and other duties as assigned. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Departmental Analyst, Michigan Department of State– This position is a lead analyst for the Training & Election Assistance Section. As a lead analyst, this position will be responsible for guiding the work of employees within the section related to the integration of procedural and technical training documents and serve as the liaison with relevant sections of the Bureau. This position will also assist the Training & Elections Assistance Section handling complex issues that arise within the section, creating and implementing new training programs based on best practices in education and training technologies. This position will also develop and adapt training materials for Michigan election officials, conduct training sessions (both online and in person) covering election administration and related technologies/tools, and educate and oversee the performance of Michigan’s over 1,600 county and local election officials to ensure proper practices and procedures. Salary: $49,712.00 – $84,115.20 Annually. Deadline: March 20. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Deputy Director, Swain County, North Carolina– The Swain County Board of Elections is now hiring for its Deputy Director of Elections position. An employee in this position performs clerical functions, voter registration procedures, and other election-related tasks in the daily operations of the Swain County Board of Elections, as may be assigned by the Director or Chair/members of the Board of Elections. This position is open until filled. Desirable Experience and Training: 1. Graduation from high school/GED or higher. 2. Considerable experience in one of the following fields: elections, public administration, clerical work involving public contact, or another field related to this position. OR 1. An equivalent combination of education and experience. Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Swain County is an excellent place to live and work and is a popular destination for tourists across the Southeast. It contains nearly half of America’s most-visited national park and is home to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, Fontana Lake, and the vibrant communities of Bryson City and Cherokee. Apply to join us today! Salary: $38,850 – $51,445 per year. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Deputy Director, Miami County, Ohio— The Miami County Board of Elections is looking to fill the position of Deputy Director. The position of Deputy Director, under the direction of the Director, is responsible for overseeing, directing and managing the Board of Elections staff; conducting fair and impartial elections; managing operational procedures; devising, recommending and adhering to the annual budget; implementing changes required by the Ohio Secretary of State, federal legislation, and Ohio Revised Code, implementing policies of the Board of Elections, and reporting to the Ohio Secretary of State. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Director Board of Elections/Voter Registration, Bucks County, Pennsylvania— Are you ready to play a pivotal role in the election processes in Bucks County, the fourth largest county in the State of Pennsylvania? Are you committed to ensuring the efficient and accurate administration of elections while also maintaining the integrity of vital records of 470,992 registered voters? If so, we invite you to consider the role of Director of the Bucks County Board of Elections/Voter Registration. The Board of Elections office is at the heart of our community’s election governance, overseeing critical functions that impact every Bucks County resident. As a member of our team, you will collaborate with a dedicated group of 20 full-time and 40+ seasonal part-time employees, working under the direction of the Board of Elections/Voter Registration Director. Bucks County has an excellent benefits package including medical, vision, dental, and prescription as well as an employer-matched retirement program. Bucks County is a wonderful community to live, work, and play and is uniquely located along the I-95 Corridor. Directs operation of the offices of Board of Elections, Voter Registration, and Voting Machines. This includes planning and conducting elections, voter registration management, and ensuring compliance with election laws and regulations. The Director is responsible for training election staff, overseeing technological security measures to safeguard voting integrity as well as creating an annual budget. Communicates election information to the Board of Elections, County administration, and the public. Addresses any issues or concerns that may arise during the election process. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Election Protection Hotline Specialist, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law– Are you passionate about safeguarding democratic processes? Join us as an Election Protection Hotline Specialist! This pivotal role involves collaborating with hundreds of legal volunteers to address voter concerns reported to the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline. As part of our dynamic hotline infrastructure team, you’ll be at the forefront of managing day-to-day operations. Expect a fast-paced environment, multitasking, and a commitment to early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Embrace the opportunity to learn and employ cutting-edge technology. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law stands at the forefront of national racial justice legal advocacy. Established in 1963 at the behest of President John F. Kennedy, our organization employs legal advocacy to champion racial justice. We strive, within and beyond the courtrooms, to ensure that Black individuals and people of color have a resounding voice, equal opportunities, and the power to materialize the promises of our democracy. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Election or Senior Outreach Coordinator, Arapahoe County, Colorado– Election Outreach Administrator: 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. Senior Outreach Administrator: The Senior Outreach Administrator performs senior 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. Salary: $51,771.20 – $85,367. Deadline: Mach 25. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Election Services Representative, Fort Orange Press— The Election Services Representative is an onsite position at our Albany, NY facility. It acts as a liaison between clients and internal Fort Orange Press teams (i.e., Estimating, Sales, Prepress, Production, Shipping, etc.). The primary focus is gathering election details, and artwork from numerous clients across the United States while coordinating all aspects of day-to-day processes to ensure a successful election cycle. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills and thrive in a high-pressure environment. Providing timely solutions for clients’ ever-evolving needs while building/maintaining quality relationships. Identifying new business opportunities within assigned accounts. This role is a brand ambassador to both current and prospective clients and requires an energetic personality, the ability to multitask, manage multiple clients and elections at the same time and serves as the internal client advocate. Salary: $23– $32 per hour.  Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Election Training Coordinator, Denton County, Texas– The Elections Training Coordinator performs professional level work organizing, managing, developing and implementing training for all Denton County Elections Administration (DCEA) employees, temporary staff, and election workers.  Employee is responsible for assessing the training needs within the DCEA and implementing a curriculum to meet those needs.  Employee is responsible for coordinating, managing, implementing and executing training with minimal supervision with specific deadlines in place. Examples of Duties: Develops, manages, and/or coordinates required training for all election workers. Prepares, schedules, coordinates, and teaches election training for election workers (Election Judges, Alternate Judges, Elections Department, clerks, etc.). Manages CERA, REO, IGO, and other professional election certifications and reporting requirements. Prepares and schedules CERA, REO, and IGO approved training classes for employees of DCEA. Manages the training of help desk personnel and other temporary employees. Schedules, announces, and conducts registration for training classes.Researches changing laws and trends and modifies or revises existing training programs as necessary, based on the need for new material. Manages and maintains training material and tools used for the various types of training and makes recommendations for additional resources. Prepares all necessary handouts for the attendees. Regular and punctual attendance is required. Performs other related duties as required. Salary: $53,909.00 – $62,534.00 Annually. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Elections Accessibility Specialist, Colorado Secretary of State–The work unit has the dual responsibility of overseeing and assisting counties to improve their election security and working to improve the Department’s physical and technical election security. This unit’s major external function is to develop and implement a plan to identify county election security vulnerabilities, as well as working with counties to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for county election facilities. A major internal function is communication of major security-related ideas and ADA responsibilities, both to elections officials, as well as the public. The work unit interacts directly with the Colorado security community, including Colorado Department of Homeland Security, the Colorado National Guard, the Colorado Governor’s Office, and other groups to improve the Department’s security standing among those stakeholders. It also interacts directly with Colorado’s ADA compliance community, including Disability Colorado, the federally designated agency that oversees election ADA compliance. This work unit partners with major stakeholders, including County Clerk and Recorder Offices, County Commissioners, agencies that provide or consume election data, ADA compliance agencies, and political parties. As the ADA Support and Elections Compliance Specialist, you will be a valued member of the Elections Security Team, which oversees and assists counties to improve their election security and works to improve the Department’s physical and technical election security. You will be responsible for accessibility assessments and compliance monitoring, coordinating with election officials and county authorities, providing issue response, serving as the Title II ADA Coordinator for the Colorado Department of State (CDOS) Elections Division, creating and delivering training related to election office, polling place, and drop box accessibility, and serving as the division liaison for Disability Advocacy groups and public outreach communications. Salary: $56,028 – $68,000 Annually. Deadline: March 17. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Elections Compliance Officer, Pima County, Arizona— Are you an experienced professional specializing in elections? The Pima County Elections Department is looking for you! Join our team and bring your expertise to the forefront of our mission. Your background in city, county, state, or federal agencies, coupled with your in-depth knowledge of election processes, will make you an invaluable asset. Be a part of our dedicated team, shaping policies, and ensuring the integrity of our electoral system while making a lasting impact on our community. If you’re ready for a rewarding challenge, apply today! (Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s needs and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor) Independently plans, coordinates, monitors and participates in administrative and operational activities required to maintain compliance with state and federal election regulations; Verifies department director and staff operate within full compliance regarding any and all applicable legal regulations and timelines; Maintains a listing of legally required deadlines for the unit via a cyclical timeline; Manages campaign finance, including correspondence for late filings and violations; ensures candidate filing compliance, including challenges; Ensures federal and state voting equipment compliance; Responds to public records requests; Assures separation of duty compliance required by Pima County; Completes periodic compliance audits and provides findings with recommendations to the Director and Deputy Director; Prepares requisite drafts of new procedures or processes for preclearance by regulatory agencies in compliance with state or federal laws or other regulatory requirements;  Coordinates the compilation and submission of required reports to regulatory agencies; Ensures Department compliance with all poll worker regulations; Determines Department compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with respect to facilities utilized in the elections process; Assists with grant requests; Develops and maintains public feedback tracking systems to capture voter complaints and concerns, allocate them to the appropriate division for resolution and record actions taken to rectify issues identified. Salary: $57,607 – $63,367. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Equipment/Operations Analyst, Jackson County, North Carolina— This position performs intermediate skilled technical and operational support work assisting the Director with planning, directing, coordinating, and supervising the elections process. Duties and Responsibilities: Assists in Implementing changing election laws, coordinating elections, and supervising activities of the office. Oversees set up of One-Stop voting sites and network. Sets up all E-poll books according to polling place. Assists in machine logic and accuracy. Administers Campaign Reporting schedule. Provides requested information such as registration analysis, voting analysis, lists of precinct officials, precinct locations, precinct political committees, and campaign reports to the various candidates, campaign committees, party chairs, news media, and the general public. Provides requested information   regarding the North Carolina Campaign Reporting Act to prospective candidates, candidates, elected officials, media, and the general public, provides and notices of required reports to Candidates. Assists with audits submitted campaign reports, reviews, and verifies records to ensure that required information is provided and correct. Assists with polling sites database. Prepares campaign reports for public viewing. Assists with planning for and coordinating all early voting site, including the set up and close out of all sites.  Assists in training of one-stop workers.  Assists in canvassing the returns of all elections. Explains policies, laws, rules, regulations, and procedures to the public and other inquiring parties. Assists with voter registration verification procedures. Assists in ADA compliance and Campaign zones at polling places. Assists in processing and verifying petitions. Assists in preparing and conducting elections. Assists with state reporting requirements. Interacts with elected officials, candidates, the North Carolina Campaign Reporting Office, the general public, and the media. Performs other related job duties as assigned. Salary: $40,694. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Operation Manager, Pima County, Arizona— Pima County Elections Department is actively seeking a highly qualified candidate with a unique blend of skills and experience to join our team as an Elections Operations Manager. The ideal candidate brings extensive expertise in voting equipment and e-poll books, ensuring the seamless functioning of critical election infrastructure. Your familiarity with online inventory systems will be instrumental in maintaining accurate and efficient inventory management. Additionally, your proven ability to collaborate with political parties and high-ranking officials sets you apart. Your past interactions with these stakeholders have showcased your exceptional communication and diplomacy skills, essential in the realm of elections. If you’re ready to leverage your expertise and contribute to the democratic process, we encourage you to apply. Join us in shaping the future of elections, where your skills and experience will make a significant impact. This classification is in the unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules. Duties/Responsibilities: (Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s needs and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.) Develops program goals, objectives, policies, and procedures, and establishes short- and long-range program performance plans subject to management review; Manages and administers program activities and evaluates program effectiveness and success; Manages the activities of professional staff and evaluates their performance; Develops, negotiates, monitors, and administers contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and/or financial and service agreements for the program managed; Monitors program contract compliance and takes corrective action as required; Performs as a program representative within the community, delivers informational news releases, serves as a program contact person, and participates in community awareness activities; Develops and maintains effective working relationships and coordinates program activities with other County departments, public and private agencies, organizations and groups to promote the program and its goals; Analyzes local, state and federal legislation and ensures program compliance with applicable regulations and policies; Directs organizational and management studies for the purpose of identifying problems and alternative solutions to the problems; Develops, writes and administers the program’s annual budget, prepares program-related financial forecasts, and identifies funding sources to support program activities; Reviews and analyzes routine and special reports detailing the status and/or success of the program, prepares recommendations, and/or initiates corrective action; Evaluates management problems and makes decisions regarding the proper course of action; May make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding program objectives; May direct the preparation and submission of proposals and grant applications; May access or maintain specialized databases containing program-specific information to review information or generate reports. Salary: $57,607 – $63,367. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Technician II, Pima County, Arizona— Participates in the supervision and training of elections personnel and the administration of elections activity. Duties/Responsibilities: Supervises and participates in activities involved in inventory control, ordering, receipt, delivery, and storage of election equipment and supplies; Researches election laws and regulations and prepares reports regarding impact on County election procedures; Supervises the preparation of the ballot order; Participates in preparing forms; Receives and files nomination forms; Assists in generating signature requirements necessary for the candidate or proposition to be placed on the ballot; Supervises and coordinates requisite training of election office and warehouse personnel; Coordinates the transportation and delivery of voting machines, supplies and equipment to polling places; Makes minor adjustments to voting machines to ensure functionality and operability prior to use by the public; Demonstrates voting machine operation and explains voting procedures to the public and elections workers; Participates in updating precinct and district maps; Assists State and local agencies in administering election activities; Participates in coordinating elections activities with other government agencies or departments; Assists in the training of subordinate and volunteer staff. Salary: Hiring Range: $19.14 – $22.49/hr. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Technology Specialist, McLennan County, Texas– Under supervision of the Elections Administrator, the Elections Technology Specialist performs complex and technical duties related to activities in overseeing the County’s voting equipment by creating each election’s ballot using ballot origination software, programing and testing the County’s voting equipment with each elections ballot, processing and scanning returned mail-in ballots with the Ballot Board, and maintaining the County’s voting equipment after each election. Salary: $19.92 – $31.72 Hourly. Deadline: June 20. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Field Operations Coordinator, Hays County, Texas– Reporting directly to Election Network Engineer, responsible for overseeing the inventory, distribution, maintenance, warehouse storage, and logistics of all equipment, voting ballots, and department assets for Hays County Elections Department. Responsible for identifying and reserving polling sites including overseeing the coordination of all polling site compliance and usage. Ensures polling locations follow the Texas Election Code for early voting and election day. Oversees the day-to-day tasks of the election technicians’ program. Salary: $46,378 – $50,678. Annually Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Precinct Manager, North Charleston, South Carolina— Are you passionate about democracy and civic engagement? Join us as a Precinct Manager at the Board of Elections and play a pivotal role in ensuring smooth and efficient elections! Welcome to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections, where we are not just an agency, but a dynamic force committed to excellence in democracy. As an award-winning organization, we pride ourselves on our relentless pursuit of improvement to better serve the voters in our community. A major way this is done is through the recruitment and management of those who serve as poll managers. At the heart of our mission is an unyielding dedication to organizing elections with precision, fairness, and strict adherence to the law. Salary: $64,209 – $84,146. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Registration & Elections Manager, DeKalb County, Georgia– The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned. Manages, directs, and evaluates assigned staff; develops and oversees employee work schedules to ensure adequate coverage and control; compiles and reviews timesheets; approves/processes employee concerns and problems and counsels or disciplines as appropriate; assists with or completes employee performance appraisals; directs work; acts as a liaison between employees and management; and trains staff in operations, policies, and procedures. Organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; prioritizes and schedules work activities in order to meet objectives; ensures that subordinates have the proper resources needed to complete the assigned work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; consults with assigned staff to assist with complex/problem situations and provide technical expertise; provides progress and activity reports to ; and assists with the revision of procedure manuals as appropriate. Conducts elections; manages personnel to ensure that all elections are conducted in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations; secures early voting locations and recommends schedules; appoints site managers and determines staffing requirements for early and election day voting; works with polling location personnel and county information technology and GIS staff to ensure provision of technology training and services; develops and reviews training for compliance with election laws; monitors early voting traffic; recommends changes in procedures to resolve issues; conducts election night precinct check-in, election audit and preparation of precinct statistics; monitors election tasks lists; monitors election software programming; and oversees financial filing process. Implements, monitors and maintains registration functions and processes; reviews registration functions and processes including felon registrations, duplicate voters, citizenship verifications, jury summons questionnaires, provisional voting, election night precinct check-in and election audit; monitors and ensures compliance with established protocols and procedures; and updates protocols and procedures as needed. Prepares and completes a variety of registration, production and election reports; compiles and/or tracks various administrative and/or statistical data; generates and prepares data; submits all mandated reports to local, state and federal regulatory agencies or others as required; and maintains related records. Maintains training and procedure manuals; and develops, updates, and revises procedural manuals for voter registration and election functions. Interprets, applies, and ensures compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations; maintains comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations and pending legislation that may impact department operations; and maintains an awareness of new products, methods, trends and advances in the profession. Assists in developing and implementing department budget; reviews budgetary needs and makes recommendations to executive management; and monitors expenditures against approved budget. Salary: $66,132 – $106,473. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Senior Director, Election Law Program, William & Mary–The Election Law Program (ELP), a joint initiative of the William and Mary Law School and the National Center for State Courts, has a mission to provide resources for judges deciding election disputes. This vacancy is for an experienced attorney to serve in the role of Senior Director of the Election Law Program. The Senior Director will be an attorney with experience in election law. Reporting to the ELP Co-Directors, the portfolio of responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: Developing resources for judges deciding election cases; Supporting projects that enhance understanding of federal and state election laws and the role of courts in resolving election disputes; Sharing research findings and legal resources through a variety of mechanisms such as publications and educational programs (e.g., webinars, presentations, and conferences); Overseeing ELP project implementation; Identifying and capturing trends in election litigation; Engaging in collaborative projects with trusted partners; Supervising student research; and Participating in fundraising efforts to support existing and future ELP initiatives as required. NOTE: If interested, an opportunity for appointment as an adjunct professor to teach a relevant course within the field of election law is available. Salary: $110,000 to $125,000, commensurate with experience. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Senior Policy Associate, Verified Voting– As we head into an election year, the SPA will play an integral role on Verified Voting’s programs team, helping the organization ramp up work in priority states and respond effectively to new developments as they arise. The SPA will lead our engagement in several priority states related to Verified Voting’s key issue areas, including robust tabulation audits, ballot accounting, chain-of-custody documentation, and other best practices that support public confidence in elections. (The states will be determined in coordination with other team members who serve as state leads.) The SPA will not lobby, but will advocate for improved policies in priority states, engaging with various stakeholders. They will also collaborate closely with election officials, providing procedural and technical assistance related to implementation of risk-limiting audits and other best practices. The SPA will also provide election officials with strategic messaging support to help them effectively communicate the impact of their work to voters. The SPA will work closely with team members on other policy work and may lead research and writing projects. In particular, the SPA will help develop new materials and resources to capitalize on the upcoming conclusions of a new messaging research project. We are a fully remote organization — the only requirements are that you are eligible to work in the US, that your location is in the US, and that you have a workspace that allows you to complete the demands of the position. Verified Voting’s official operating hours are 9am-5pm Eastern Time, but we work together to accommodate team members’ various time zones, circumstances, and work styles. Occasional in-person meetings and travel opportunities are possible. Salary: $85,000–$90,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here

Temporary Elections Staff Attorney, Public Rights Project— Public Rights Project (PRP) is a public interest legal nonprofit, headquartered in Oakland, with a remote team based throughout the United States. Our mission is to close the gap between the promise of our laws and the lived reality of our most vulnerable communities. Since 2017, we have been working at the intersection of community organizing and state and local government enforcement to build a scalable, equitable community-based enforcement model to protect civil rights and advance economic justice. In the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, PRP is launching its Elections Hub to stand with progressive state and local governments, especially local elections officials, as they fight to protect the voting rights of their residents and secure safe and fair elections. PRP is building a rapid response litigation hub to support up to 200 election officials across 12 or more states. The goal of the hub is to provide training, technical assistance, and legal backup to election administrators to enable them to respond to election threats quickly and effectively. Public Rights Project seeks to hire a Temporary Staff Attorney to join the new Elections Hub. The Temporary Staff Attorney will staff PRP’s in-house efforts to represent and advise state, local, and tribal governments and elected officials in support of election administration and the expansion of voting rights.  Although this position does not incorporate formal supervisory responsibilities, the Temporary Staff Attorney will sometimes lead case teams and may review the work of other attorneys, alongside more independent work or work as a contributor to other case teams. This position reports to the Senior Staff Attorney and 2024 Election Hub Program  Manager. This position will also work closely with the Chief Programs Officer and the Legal Director. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Training and Education Coordinator, Pima County, Arizona— Researches, coordinates and develops materials for use in training staff and educating clients on procedures, rules, regulations, forms, requirements and equipment for area of assignment; Assists management in the identification of training needs for staff and education for clients; Collects, compiles, prepares, updates and assembles training and presentation materials and manuals; Designs new training and education materials and/or updates materials on a regular basis; Conducts initial training/orientation for newly hired staff to increase understanding of procedures and position responsibilities; Delivers training to classes and individuals through lectures, demonstrations, exercises and workshops; Conducts continuing education to comply with changes in federal, state and local regulations, policies and procedures, and to resolve specific performance deficiencies; Coordinates and investigates compliance with federal, state and/or local policies, laws and regulations and conducts quality control audits and reports on findings; Participates in the review of productivity levels for activities and staff, analyzes problem areas, identifies training needs and recommends solutions to management; Assesses implementation of policies and/or procedures and makes recommendations to management regarding changes and/or supplemental training; Provides additional training as needed, under management direction; Serves as the technical advisor for interpreting federal, state, and County policies, laws, rules and/or regulations governing are of assignment; Compiles statistical data and prepares reports for area of assignment for presentation to management and the Board of Supervisors. Develops and evaluates student surveys/assessments on training/education provided; Coordinates and maintains training/education materials, audio-visual equipment, laptops, tablets and supplies utilized for training and education; Maintains manual and computer based documentation on training and/or education conducted, competency checklists and assessment files. Salary: Hiring Range: $54,863 – $65,836. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Training Manager, Charleston County, South Carolina— Are you passionate about democracy and coaching people to their fullest potential? Join us as a Training Manager at the Board of Elections and play a pivotal role in ensuring smooth and efficient elections! Welcome to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections, where we are not just an agency, but a dynamic force committed to excellence in democracy. As an award-winning organization, we pride ourselves on our relentless pursuit of improvement to better serve the voters in our community. A major way this is done is through the training of those who serve as poll managers. At the heart of our mission is an unyielding dedication to organizing elections with precision, fairness, and strict adherence to the law. Responsibilities include: Comprehensive training development, training coordination, community engagement, year-round training program, performance tracking, new hire training, continuous improvement, collaboration with precinct manager.  Salary: $64,209 – $84,146. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Training Program Coordinator, Charleston County, South Carolina— This position is responsible for the recruiting, coordinating, and training of Election Day poll managers on the policies, procedures, and SC State law regarding the administering of fair, honest, and accurate elections within the polling places on Election Day and during early voting. This position will also train all temporary Early Voting staff. This position will be responsible for developing all instruction manuals and materials. This position reports directly to the Deputy Director of Election Operations. Salary: $53,248 – $69,784. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Work Elections Fellowship Coordinator, Campus Vote Project– Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project seeks a WorkElections Fellowship Coordinator. The Fellowship Coordinator is a key member of our team. They are charged with quickly solidifying and deploying a program to recruit students to serve as poll workers across five states ahead of the November 2024 elections. The Fellowship Coordinator will supervise a team of five Supervising Fellows who will assist them and CVP State Coordinators in training and support CVP Democracy Fellows who receive an additional stipend to complete state-specific WorkElections recruitment for poll workers.  This position reports to the CVP Curriculum and Research Manager with additional support from the National Special Projects Manager.  Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project (CVP) was launched in 2012 to expand our work on student voting issues.We work with universities, community colleges, faculty, students, and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting. CVP helps campuses institutionalize reforms that empower students with the information they need to register and vote. Campus Vote Project has three main areas of focus: institutionalizing voter engagement, providing up-to-date election information, and developing student leaders. Fair Elections Center also began WorkElections.org to address a struggle that many local election officials face: recruiting a sufficient number of poll workers – particularly those with in-demand technological and language skills, to help voters on Election Day. The online tool collects poll worker requirements and applications for thousands of jurisdictions across the country, providing a central source of simplified information for interested individuals who may not know how or where to apply.  WorkElections seeks to facilitate poll worker recruitment to ensure that this year’s elections go as smoothly as possible. This position brings these two projects of Fair Elections Center together to further the missions of both: 1) by recruiting a pool of poll workers that are more representative of the communities they will serve, and  2) reducing barriers to student voting and welcoming more young voters into the democratic process. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

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