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November 1, 2018

In Focus This Week

Election 2018 Preview: What to watch on Election Day
Ten things to watch on November 6

By M. Mindy Moretti
electionline.brinkdev.com

This is it. The end is finally nigh…well at least (we hope) for the 2018 election cycle.

Although millions of voters have already cast their ballots in record number either through early voting, absentee voting or vote-by-mail, millions more will head to the polls on November 6 and cast their ballots in what has become, for a variety of reasons, one of the most watched elections of our time.

It’s been a very busy two years since the last nationwide election to say the least. Federal, state and local officials have spent thousands of hours and dollars beefing up election security. In addition to that, voters will face new laws, new voting machines and new voting sites on Tuesday.

There’s a lot to watch on Tuesday and electionline will be doing Election Dispatches through the day. And while we will not doubt be following everything, these are 10 things we will be paying special attention to.

Good luck and may the gods of democracy have mercy on our souls!

Oh, and as Agatha Christie said in Death Comes at the End, “Sometimes what you think is an end is only a beginning.” November 3, 2020 is only 728 days away!

Election Security —While all eyes are already on the midterms in anticipation of the outcome, everyone will also be keeping a very close on election security. Counties and states have worked tirelessly since the 2016 to bolster their election security, especially cybersecurity. Will it be enough? Also on the security front, tempers are running high in America and there have already been several instances of minor violence and intimidation at early voting sites, will everyone remain calm on Election Day?

Voter Registration —Hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people registered to vote in the waning days of the 2018 election cycle. Some counties struggled to get the voter registrations processed before early voting began. Come Election Day, will all those registrations be processed and voters find their names on the rolls? And in Georgia, will the thousands of suspended voters be able to cast their ballots without issue?

Voter ID — Issues with voter ID arise every election, but this year, Iowa and Missouri will see the first, large-scale, statewide roll out of their voter ID laws. Missouri’s was mired in litigation till about two weeks before the election. Are poll workers prepared to know what to ask for? Are voters prepared to show the required IDs? And in North Dakota, after the U.S. Supreme Court failed to take up the case, the state’s voter ID law, which requires a valid street address is on the books. Many Native Americans living on reservations may be impacted. Will they get the necessary ID in time?

Turnout — Americans have turned out in record numbers for early voting this year. Will that impact overall turnout? Will voters turnout in record — for a midterm — numbers on Election Day as well? Are elections officials prepared for crowds? Will there be lines? Will polls have to stay open late?

Displaced Voters — Voters in several states, including North Carolina, Florida and Texas are displaced from their homes due to natural disasters. While the voters in Texas have been displaced for a year now, the displacement only recently occurred in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and other states. Will these displaced voters be able to cast a ballot? Will they face issues if they show up at their designated polling places on Election Day? How will the counties in the Florida Panhandle, especially Bay County, pull off Election Day?

New Machines/Technology — Thousands of voters will be using new voting machines for the first time this election. Are voters and poll workers ready? Will this slow down or speed up the process of casting ballots? Will the voting booth technology help speed up election night? Some voters encountered problems with electronic voting machines during early voting, will those problems persist? Additionally, jurisdictions in several states are using e-poll books for the first time. How will roll out go?

Litigation — It seems like, in the lead up to the 2018 midterm election, there was a lawsuit filed almost every day. From polling place location to voter ID, to absentee ballot acceptance. Will all these suits be settled by Tuesday and if so what impact may they have? Will more lawsuits be filed as a results of Tuesdays’ process or outcomes?

Secretary of State Races — There are 24 secretary of state seats up for grabs this election cycle with eight of those being open seats. In addition to those 24 seats, there are several governor’s races that may determine the future of the state’s election authority.

Ballot Measures — As we reported a few weeks ago, there are eight statewide ballot measures that will cover voter ID, ballot harvesting, election-day registration, automatic voter registration, citizens-only voting, ex-felon voting, and no-excuse absentee voting. There will also be at least 10 local elections-related measures covering everything from voting rights for 16-year-olds, approval voting, instant runoff voting and non-citizen voting.

Vote by Mail — More and more people are choosing to cast their ballot via mail. Will those ballots get to elections officials on time? Will there be issues with signature matches? How long will processing and counting all those ballots take?

And finally there are the unknown unknowns.

As Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said back in 2002,  “But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don’t know we don’t know. And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tend to be the difficult ones.” There are things that may happen on Election Day that no one could anticipate happening and elections officials live by the unknown unknowns rule. Will there be any unknown unknowns on Election Day 2018 and if so, what impact may they have and at what level?

 

ADA Compliance at the Polls

ADA Compliance at the Polls
What Everyone Needs to Know about Accessible Elections and Voters’ Rights

Tammy Patrick, Senior Advisor to Democracy Fund’s Election Program
Michelle Bishop, Disability Advocacy Specialist for Voting Rights at the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)

With more voting options than ever before—early voting centers, in-person absentee, and postal delivery of ballots—millions of Americans have already weighed in on the 2018 midterm elections. It is certainly an exciting time and we’re inspired by the work that elections officials, administrators, and poll workers across the country are doing to ensure that our elections systems are secure, and that all votes are counted accurately.

At the Bipartisan Policy Center’s recent Are We Ready to Run Our Elections? event, Matt Masterson, Director of the Election Task Force (ETF) at the Department of Homeland Security, raised an important point about accessibility, stating: “if our systems aren’t accessible to eligible voters, there is great insecurity in that.” So, let’s look at what election officials can and should be doing to make certain that polling places are accessible, and what voters need to know about their rights.

ADA Compliant Election Administration
The vote is the one right on which all our other rights depend, and equal access to that vote is vital for a healthy democracy. At the most basic level, all voters want to be treated equally and allowed the same opportunities to the information and practices offered to their friends, family, and neighbors. Administrators on the front lines of our democracy can be one of the most important  both physical access to election services and information in formats that work for all voters.

The Department of Justice sets federal accessibility standards to specifically aid election officials in making certain that their polling locations are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA checklist defines what needs to be provided: adequate parking with van access aisles, unimpeded paths, curb-cuts, entrances not requiring use of stairs so that all voters can enter and cast their vote. This checklist for polling places is the gold standard for ensuring polling place accessibility, and its requirements benefit everyone, including older adults, a parent pushing a stroller, or anyone with a temporary injury that requires crutches or a boot. In cases where accessible polling places are difficult to locate, the jurisdiction must either provide remedies such as temporary ramps and propping open manual doors, or alternatives such as curbside voting as part of a comprehensive program to service those voters who face barriers.

This is where instructions to voters and information become critical, and there are resources available like the Center for Civic Design Field Guides. Voters should be apprised of what options they have at the polls. Providing information on official websites, in mailers, and outreach campaigns need to be done in a variety of formats. Many voters utilize assistive software to navigate through websites and election information sites should allow for those interfaces to work effectively by adhering to online accessibility standards. Providing information in large print, Braille, and audio formats also expands the pool of voters who can engage in the process in a meaningful way.

Some of the best programs leverage advocacy networks in the community to help identify challenges voters may face, suggest solutions, and get information out to the electorate. No one knows more about running elections than our elections administrators, but no one knows more about what people with disabilities need than actual people with disabilities. Inviting disability advocacy organizations and voters with disabilities into the election planning process creates new solutions to vexing accessibility problems.

Understanding Voter Rights
As a Commissioner with President Obama’s Presidential Commission on Election Administration (Tammy) and a long-time disability rights advocate taking calls to voter assistance hotlines whenever polls are open (Michelle), we have heard firsthand when voters are being denied their rights at the polls. Too often there are stories of a voter’s competency being challenged, denial of voting assistance by a person of the voter’s choosing, or lack of the ability to cast a private and independent ballot as required by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Some fundamental voter rights are outlined below:

  • Voters have the right to request reasonable accommodations in registration and voting. If you are a voter who knows you may need assistance, contact your local election officials in advance to find out what options you have and what you need to do to be certain that services will be available when, and where, you want them.
  • Voters have the right to assistance in voting by someone of their choosing (with a few exceptions). Voters may bring in someone to help them in casting their ballot if that person is not their employer or union representative. You can have someone help you in reading and marking the ballot if you want.
  • Voters have the right to cast their ballot independently and privately. If you don’t want to have someone assist you, you have the right to vote independently and each polling place should be resourced with an assistive voting machine to enable you to do so. This equipment is enabled to present materials in large print, in an audio format, and also to link with many assistive devices like sip-and-puffs and paddles.

In many areas voters also have the right to voting information in an alternative language as prescribed by the Voting Rights Act. Paper ballots and the assistive machines should offer voter instructions and the ballot itself in required alternative language(s).

Americans rely on poll workers to help them understand and navigate election processes. It is important that election staff are trained in the federal and state laws governing assistance and access, but also in some basic protocols. Poll workers often truly do want to be helpful, but may not know how. Training and resources are available on chain of custody of ballots and voting equipment, security seals and locks, ID requirements and eligibility; election officials should also train on how to provide assistance effectively, how to interact with people with disabilities respectfully, and best practices to improve the voting experience.

 

eBenchbook Expands

William & Mary’s Election Law Program eBenchbook expands

Wondering what the Virginia election code has to say about ID at the polls? Want to know how Florida and North Carolina election statutes accommodate hurricanes? Curious how Nevada statutes treat third-party candidates?

In advance of the November 6, 2018 election, the  Election Law Program, a joint project of William & Mary Law School and the National Center for State Courts, is proud to add to its collection of online state election “eBenchbooks” available at https://eBenchbook.wm.edu.

The new update adds Nevada and North Carolina codes to the platform, as well as text-only codes from all remaining states. These additions present users with three stages of eBenchbook development.

The first stage houses just the text of the state election code. The second stage adds browsing menus, a search bar, and supplemental materials to each statute, such as case law and regulations (see Nevada and North Carolina for examples). The final stage “full” eBenchbooks incorporate in-text annotations from a bipartisan group of in-state election experts who annotate state election statutes on an ongoing basis.

These annotations provide context for understanding how election laws operate in Colorado, Florida and  Virginia. To see an example of a fully-annotated statute that includes supplementary materials, click here.

The eBenchbook project strives to make state election law more transparent, provide judges with meaningful context for election statutes, and provide opportunities for election law experts—who often  find themselves on opposite sides in court—to clarify the meaning of state election statutes outside the context of a live election dispute. The eBenchbook project aims to provide a tangible resource to judges hearing election cases and to help journalists and members of the public understand how state election laws operate.

“Election litigation, once a rarity, has become increasingly common since Bush v. Gore. The Election Law Program’s eBenchbook is a welcomed resource for judges deciding election related cases,” explains the Hon. Terry Lewis, a Leon County, Florida circuit judge who played a central role in Bush v. Gore in 2000.

Whether you are a judge, a lawyer, a journalist, or a citizen who wants to know more about the law of  elections, we welcome you to explore the site to see how election laws help to shape the contours of our democracy.

Interested in an eBenchbook for your state? Contact us at ebenchbook@wm.edu for information about  adding your state to this resource.

(William & Mary’s Election Law Program is a grantee of The Democracy Fund.)

Federal-State Updates

Too much of a good thing? Last week, Christopher Krebs, Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs Directorate at the DHS said that elections officials are being inundated with all the free cybersecurity offerings from private companies and those offerings are causing confusion. While Krebs said the free offerings are great, it may be too many too fast, especially at the local level.

“One thing that I am seeing with a lot of these companies offering free services is that the election officials down range are being inundated and they can’t really kinda contextualize this service vs that service, [and] what does it get them,” Krebbs said the Cyberlaw Podcast.

Election News This Week

The Pew Research Center has a new survey out that says 55 percent of respondents said that they were not too or not at all confident that “election systems are secure from hacking and other technological threats.” Additionally, a 67-percent majority said either Russia or other foreign governments will likely attempt to influence various races in the midterm election. Despite their concerns about outside interference, nearly nine-in-ten (89%) have confidence in poll workers in their community to do a good job, and majorities say the same about local and state election officials. The survey of 10,600 adults was conducted between Sept. 24 and Oct. 7.

It may be 2018, but elections officials in Arizona are still working off a state-issued election procedures manual from 2014. According to the Arizona Mirror, Secretary of State Michele Reagan submitted the 500+ page manual in March, but neither Gov. Doug Ducey nor Attorney General Mark Brnovich signed off on the manual. The manual provides guidance on how county elections officials are to conduct elections and execute election-related statutes. Once approved, the manual carries the force of law. Ducey spokesman Daniel Ruiz said the governor’s decision was the result of intense criticism from county recorders, who took issue with a number of the proposed manual’s provisions. He said Ducey was also concerned that there wasn’t enough time left before the election to implement the changes it contained. “Their preference was to retain the manual in its current state,” Ruiz the Mirror.

In North Dakota, tribal activists and leaders are scrambling to get voters who live on the state’s Indian Reservations the necessary ID to vote. “Fifteen dollars for an ID could mean the difference between a single mother buying milk for her children for three days or getting an ID to go vote,” Turtle Mountain Chairman Jamie Azure told The Associated Press. Tribes are handing out free IDs in advance of the election and at polling sites on Election Day. They’re arranging special events, including a recent concert on the Standing Rock Reservation featuring musician Dave Matthews. On Turtle Mountain, about 100 people are coming in for free IDs each day, said Kandace Parisien, director of the tribe’s motor vehicle department, which is issuing them.

In other Native American voting rights news, members of several Nevada-based tribes will have their own voting location come Election Day. In 2016,Pyramid Lake Paiute and Walker River Paiute tribes filed suit against Nevada, Washoe County and Mineral County over the lack of early voting and election day polling sites. A federal judge agreed that not providing the sites was a violation of the National Voting Rights Act. Now those two tribes and nine others will have voting sites. “For the first time in our tribe’s history, our tribal members will have a site on our reservation,” said Stacey Montooth, the community information officer for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony (RSIC) and a member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe.  “Our leadership understands the importance of the election.” According to the Nevada Current, At the polling site on the Walker River Paiute tribal land, which has about 400 registered voters enrolled in the tribe, people have been enthusiastic. “It’s a big turnout, a lot of people are loving it,” said Shawna Castillo, 35, who is a member of the tribe and a volunteer for the early voting polling site.

Look what you made her do. Last month, pop star Taylor Swift broke her political silence and encouraged her millions of followers on Instagram to register to vote. Several states reported a bump in registration following the post. Now Swift has cast an early ballot in Tennessee and only time will tell if her decision to vote and share it on social media will boost voter turnout.

Personnel News: Longtime Edina, Minnesota City Clerk Deb Mangen will be retiring following the midterms after 23 years on the job. Former Appalachian State University professor Thomas Marvin Williamsen has been sworn in as the new member of the Watauga County, North Carolina Board of Elections. Ron Johnson has been named to the Jackson County, Georgia board of elections.

In Memoriam: Larry Dowd, longtime Miller County, Arkansas election commission chairman has died. He was 72. “He was a very strong leader, he had a very strong belief system, and he worked hard in the election process and in the political arenas, the things that he believed in, the things he wanted to see accomplished,” Former County Clerk Ann Nicholas told the Texarkana Gazette. Dowd told the paper that Miller worked hard to help modernize the county’s elections.  “He went to lots of state training and lots of meetings and was very involved with that. And so he was instrumental in bringing Miller County into the computer age, as far as voter registration and elections are concerned.”

 

Research & Report Summaries

Research and Report Summaries are provided by Sean Greene. Greene has served as the director of research for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the Pew Center on the States Election Initiatives. He currently lives in Rome where he is studying Italian, drinking Moretti beer and still paying close attention to the administration of elections in the United States. He’s looking forward to casting his first ballot as a UOCAVA voter.

Understanding the Voter Experience: The Public’s View of Election Administration and Reform – Natalie Adona and Paul Gronke, Democracy Fund, October 2018: This report uses survey data from 2008 – 2016 to examine public opinion related to election administration and reform. It focuses on why people do not vote, how they navigate voter registration, what the voter experience is like, and levels of trust in election officials and the election process.

 

Legislative Updates

New Jersey: A trio of bills to enhance election security have been advanced by the Assembly State and Local Government Committee. The three bills would allow the state to transition to paper ballots, use federal HAVA funds to pay for the new voting machines and encourage Congress to allot more money to purchase voting equipment.

Pennsylvania: Rep. Pam Snyder has introduced House Bill 75 that would allow for no-excuse absentee voting.

Legal Updates

Arizona: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has up held a 2106 law banning groups from collecting mail-in ballots from voters and delivering them.

Georgia: U.S. District Court Judge Leigh Martin May has declined to pause an injunction she ordered that changes how Georgia elections officials evaluate certain absentee ballots.

Kansas: The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to force Ford County to open a second voting location in Dodge City for the upcoming election.

Louisiana: The state’s High Court has decline to hear the appeal of a ruling allowing the state to deny the right to vote to felons on probation or parole. Chief Justice Bernette Johnson split from her colleagues, calling the law plainly unconstitutional. She acknowledged a law passed this year allowing felons on parole or probation to vote after five years of freedom, but said that law doesn’t go far enough.

Minnesota: Former Moorhead City Council member Mark Altenburg has filed suit against the city alleging that Moorhead violated state law when changes were made to polling places after Dec. 31, 2017. The suit was dismissed for being filed in the wrong jurisdiction.

New Hampshire: On Thursday, a judge brokered a tentative deal over SB3 however on Friday, the state’s Supreme Court ruled that the law will remain in place for the 2018 midterms but let the door open for further litigation after the midterms.

New Jersey: An independent candidate for Bergen County sheriff has filed suit against the county clerk in Superior Court claiming the clerk violated state law by failing to give notice of the public drawing for the ballot order, and has created confusion and bias by putting an unnecessary gap between candidates’ names on the supplemental ballot mailed to residents.

North Dakota: The Native American Rights Fund, on behalf of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe has filed a suit against the state arguing that the “provable street address” requirement for voters is unconstitutional. The suit argues that the 911 system of assigning addresses, the state’s solution for those on Reservations is, “incomplete, contradictory and prone to errors on reservations.”

Ohio: By a 2-1 vote, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that votes cast by people purged from the rolls between 2011 and 2015 must be counted if they still live in the same county of their last registration and if they are not disqualified from voting because of a felony conviction, mental incapacity or death.

Tennessee: Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins ordered the Shelby County Election Commission to allow voters with incomplete voter registration applications to fix deficiencies and vote regularly on Election Day. According to The Commercial Appeal, it’s a system already being used during early voting, but one the commission has said is unfeasible and even inconsistent with state law if used on Election Day. On Wednesday, the Court of Appeals of Tennessee halted most of the injunction saying that those with incomplete registrations will cast provisionals.

Also in Tennessee, District Judge Thomas Parker has dismissed an effort to have the Department of Security conduct a cybersecurity assessment of Shelby County’s touch-screen voting machines.

Texas: According to The Monitor, The appeal of a judge’s ruling to void the Mission mayoral June runoff will be accelerated, the 13th court of appeals ruled Monday, allowing the case to take precedence. The original case revolves around allegations of illegal vote harvesting.

The Dallas County, GOP has filed a lawsuit targeting an unknown number of mail-in ballots saying that they are likely fraudulent. According to the Dallas Morning News, the reason, Republicans allege in a lawsuit, is that Democratic former state Rep. Terri Hodge, a felon, assisted voters on a large number of absentee ballots.

West Virginia: Jeffrey Hartman, 73 of Westminster, Maryland pleaded guilty to voting illegally in Morgan County, West Virginia.

Tech Thursday

Website Security: A new study by McAffee found that counties in more than a dozen swing states have elections websites that lack basic security measures and are not identified as government related. “We found that large majorities of county websites use top level domain names such as .com, .net and .us rather than the government validated .gov in their web addresses,” the study found after examining 20 swing states. “Our findings essentially revealed that there is no official U.S. governing body validating whether the majority of county websites are legitimately owned by actual legitimate county entities.”

Social Media: Pizza to the Polls uses social media to determine if and where there are lines forming at voting locations and then they will send pizzas to those folks waiting in line to vote. In 2016 the group raised about $40,000 to send pizzas to voters in line.

Digital Assistants: Alexa, tell me where my polling place is. Amazon announced this week that it is beefing up the Alexa’s knowledge base of including where to vote, real-time results, and even explanations of ballot measures. Now you’ll be able to ask Alexa where your polling place is or who’s leading in any particular race, and it’ll respond with a real answer instead of just kicking you to a web search.

Oregon: Oregon Elections Director Steve Trout met with officials from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security this week over a “huge increase” of phishing attempts in the elections office. “I probably had one or two phishing emails last year and I’ve probably had 12 to 15 in the last three or four months,” he told reporters during a news conference on Tuesday. Trout remains confident in the process though. “This election is the most accurate and secure that we’ve ever had in Oregon,” Trout said.

Texas: A group of University of Texas professors enlisted the help of their students to create the BeVote app to help students register to vote, find their polling places and be informed about election information. According to Alcalde, English Professor Hannah Wojciehowski, Associate Professor of Game Development Paul Toprac, and Strass Institute Director Susan Nold decided to find a way to engage students to vote. The trio signed up students in Natural Sciences, the School of Information, Fine Arts, and others to design and program a mobile app to enhance the voting experience for UT students.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: Student voters | Voting rights, II, III, IV, V, VI | Get out the vote, II, III | White hat hacking | Election Day reform | Native American voters | Election security, II | First time voters | Voter fraud

Alaska: Ranked choice voting

California: San Mateo County

Colorado: Secretary of state race, II, III, IV, V

Connecticut: Election Day registration

Delaware: Paper ballots

Florida: Ex-felon voting rights, II, III

Georgia: Absentee ballots | Get out the vote | Secretary of state race | Voter suppression

Illinois: Sangamon County

Iowa: Linn County

Kansas: Kris Kobach | Election reform

Kentucky: Election reform, II

Louisiana: Voter fraud | Secretary of state race

Maine: Ranked choice voting

Maryland: Get out the vote | Election Day registration

Massachusetts: Secretary of state race, II

Michigan: Election reform, II

Missouri: Voter access | Early voting

Montana: Ballot mailer | Secretary of state’s office

Nebraska: Vote-by-mail

New Mexico: Native American turnout

North Carolina: State board of elections, II | Polling places

North Dakota: Secretary of state race

Oregon: Lane County

Pennsylvania: Ex-felon voting rights | Election reform

South Carolina: Election reform | Voter access

Texas: Early voting problems | Polling place decorum | Waller County

Vermont: Election Day | Election system

Virginia: Student voters | Election security

Clearie Awards Deadline Extended

EAC Extends Deadline for Third Annual Competition for Best Practices in Election Administration

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has extended the deadline for submissions for its third annual “Clearie” awards, a national competition for best practices in election administration, until Friday, November 30, 2018. This year, the Commission will present awards in the categories of best practices related to voting accessibility, outstanding innovations in elections, and recruiting, training and retaining election workers. All entries must be received no later than Friday, November 30, 2018.

This year, the Clearie awards are dedicated the life and legacy of Wendy Noren and R. Brian Lewis. Wendy Noren served as Boone County Clerk for over three decades and was a member of the EAC’s Board of Advisors before passing away in July 2018 following a long battle with cancer. R. Brian Lewis served as Counsel to the office of the Senate Majority Leader before his passing and was an early and steadfast proponent of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and election officials. Both were luminaries in the field of election administration who will long be remembered for their work and friendship.

“Election officials are known for their commitment to the values expressed in the EAC Clearie awards: excellence, innovation, maintaining accuracy and integrity in the election process and ensuring all eligible citizens can cast a ballot,” said EAC Chairman Thomas Hicks. “The Clearies are a testament to their work and dedication and highlight best practices other election administrators can emulate.”

This year’s entries will be judged using the following criteria:

  • Efficacy
  • Innovation
  • Sustainability
  • Outreach efforts
  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Replicability

All submissions should be sent to the EAC via an email to clearinghouse@eac.gov. Nominators should use the following subject lines based on entry category: Election Worker Competition, Accessibility Competition or Outstanding Innovations Competition.

All entries must include a brief summary of the election program nominated and attach relevant documents, images and links that can be used to assess the entry. Submissions should also include contact information for the person submitting the program for consideration. Each entry must be submitted in a separate email.

For more information about this year’s competition, please contact Patrick Leahy at pleahy@eac.gov.

 

Upcoming Events

Council of State Governments Annual Conference — The Council of State Government will hold its 2018 National Conference in the Northern Kentucky, Greater Cincinnati area in December. Keynote speakers are J.D. Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy and Story Musgrave who started life in the Marines and finished is public service at NASA where he spent more than 1,200 hours in space. The conference will include a 2.5 hour session on election cybersecurity communications mapping. Where: Cincinnati, Ohio. When: December 6-8.

Election Audit Summit—The Election Audit Summit will provide a space for participants from across the scientific, policy and legal worlds to discuss new developments in the field of post-election auditing, and engage in the ongoing conversation on the current status and future directions of the election audits in the United States. Where: Cambridge, Massachusetts. When: December 7-8.

International Association of Government Officials — IGO’s 2019 mid-winter conference will be held in Irvine, California, January 6-11, 2019. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.

Joint Election Officials Liaison Conference (JEOLC) —The Election Center’s Joint Election Officials Liaison Conference (JEOLC) will be held in Arlington, Virginia, January 10-11, 2019. Watch this space for more details and agendas.

National Association of State Election Directors — The NASED Winter Conference will be held in Washington DC, February 1-4, 2019. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.

National Association of Secretaries of State — The NASS Winter Conference will be held in Washington, DC, February 1-4, 2019. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.

Election Center Special Workshop — The Election Center will hold a special workshop that will include: Course 7 (Facilitating Voter Participation); Course 8 (Implementation of New Programs); and Renewal Course 31 (Election Storytelling ). Where: Birmingham, Alabama. When: February 25-26.

Election Center Special Workshop —The Election Center will hold a special workshop that will include: Course 9 (Enfranchisement, Enhancement, Enforcement ); Course 10 (Constitution, Courts & Cases to 1965); and Renewal Course 14 (Crisis Management). Where: Virginia Beach. When: April 24-28.

International Association of Government Officials — IGO’s 2019 Annual Conference will be held in Houston, Texas, July 11-17. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.

National Association of Counties — NACo’s 2019 Annual Conference will be held in Clark County (Las Vegas), Nevada July 11-15, 2019. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.

National Association of State Election Directors — The NASED Summer Conference will be held in Austin, Texas, July 14-16, 2019. Watch this space for more details about agendas and registration.

 

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.brinkdev.com.  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.

Assistant Inspector General for Audit, U.S. Election Assistance Commission —The Assistant Inspector General for Audit (AIGA) directs or conducts performance audits, evaluations, inspections and reviews of EAC programs, functions, and operations. The incumbent maintains personal contact with key senior officials within and outside of EAC, such as management and officials of CIGIE, OMB, GAO, other Federal and state agencies, contractors and educational or research groups. Participates with the IG in developing the annual audit plan; determining the scope of each audit; developing and adjusting audit guides when necessary to meet special or unusual circumstances; and participating in entrance and exit conferences with auditees (city, county, state, and/or EAC officials). The AIGA supervises the work of subordinates, if any, and monitors the work of contractors. Salary: $119,5897-$141328. Deadline: November 30. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Certification Manager (Denver, CO) – Dominion Voting Systems — Dominion Voting Systems is seeking a Certification Manager to join our team in Denver, CO! This position is a cross -functional leader playing a key role in managing certification efforts for Dominion Voting products. In this role, you will act as a representative of the company with State and Federal certification officials, test labs, and other key internal and external stakeholders throughout the certification process. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Certification Project Manager, Hart InterCivic — The Certification Project Manager manages state and federal certification projects of our Hardware and Software products, under the direction of the Certification Program Manager. The Certification Project Manager must be able to exercise sound judgment and interact with regulatory authorities in a professional manner, particularly in high-pressure situations. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Customer Relations Manager (Phoenix, AZ) – Dominion Voting Systems — Dominion Voting Systems is seeking a Customer Relations Manager to join our team in Phoenix, AZ! This position will be responsible for effectively and proactively managing the day-to-day relationship, administration and technical/product support of one or more assigned customer accounts. Additionally, the CRM will serve as project manager for specialized projects such as pre- and postelection day support, new product implementations, and/or product upgrades/updates. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Director of Government Affairs, Hart InterCivic — The Hart InterCivic Director of Government Affairs oversees all aspects of support services for Hart’s government relations activities for state and federal government entities. These include: identifying and engaging critical stakeholders at the federal, state, and county level, researching and providing consistent and proactive communication of company’s regulatory strategy, partnering with key internal cross-functional departments, participating in industry forums ensuring active engagement where most critical, and developing monitoring/measurement tools to provide visibility and transparency. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Elections Program Manager, CIS— the Elections Program Manager is assigned to the Elections Infrastructure ISAC (EI-ISAC) at the Center for Internet Security. Reporting to the Director of the EI-ISAC, the Elections Program Manager will partner with other cybersecurity team members to promote the CIS mission and help support our growth. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a subject matter expert on and represent the EI-ISAC in public forums regarding election infrastructure issues. The Elections Program Manager will work with the EI-ISAC Director to build relationships in the elections community and identify tools, products, and initiatives that meet the security needs of election officials. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Field Sales Director, Hart InterCivic — the Field Sales Director works primarily on the road and from a home office when he/she is not on business travel. The Field Sales Director is responsible for creating news sales with prospects and existing clients in a defined region. Today, this role is a single contributor and does not directly manage people. This position will report to the VP of Sales. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Full Stack Architect / Senior Software Engineer, Clear Ballot— Clear Ballot is looking for an accomplished, Boston MA based Architect/Senior Software Engineer who wants to bring their technical and leadership skills to bear on a hugely consequential problem: Bringing transparency to democratic elections. The successful candidate will implement new products and features under tight deadlines. You will be using primarily Python and MySQL that interface with front-end web applications implemented in JavaScript and HTML5. The ideal candidate should have strong technical and leadership skills and a good working knowledge of the latest concepts in security, performance, and resilience. You will be working with a small team of highly skilled individuals to build and enhance a platform that is changing the elections industry. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Full Stack Software Developer, Clear Ballot — The successful candidate will build and enhance enterprise-level, highly available applications using primarily Python and MySQL that interface with frontend web applications implemented in JavaScript and HTML5. The ideal candidate should have strong technical skills and a good working knowledge of the latest concepts in performance, security and resilience. One of the hallmarks of our system is its emphasis on new visualization techniques made possible by sophisticated data structures that enable high-performance in a multi-user environment. You will be working with a small team of highly skilled individuals to build and enhance a platform that is changing the elections industry. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

General Counsel, Campaign Legal Center— CLC’s General Counsel provides advice and guidance regarding legal issues involving the organization’s work and operations. This includes advising on best ethics practices, legal compliance with applicable laws and advising on risk management. CLC’s General Counsel will also serve as a senior litigator in the Voting Rights & Redistricting programs which engage in litigation around the country, both to ensure the constitutional implementation of existing laws and to defend new reforms against legal challenges. CLC also participates in trial and appellate cases through friend-of-the-court briefs, engages in educational efforts (such as know-your-rights trainings) and provides legislative drafting assistance to legislatures and organizations seeking to improve election law. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Inside Sales Representative, Runbeck — to support our desired growth and market expansion, we continue to hire outstanding talent in multiple departments. We are looking for highly motivated, dedicated and talented individuals who will be able to contribute significantly to the success of the company while receiving great opportunities for professional growth and financial benefits. Responsibilities include: Contact potential or existing customers to inform them about a product or service; ability to present solution and its value to a prospect over the phone; answer questions about products or the company; ask questions to understand customer requirements and close sales; enter and update customer information in the database; keep records of calls and sale and note useful information in the CRM; process orders in an accurate manner; and go the “extra mile” to meet sales quota and facilitate future sales. Application: In order to apply, please send a resume to Tammy White: twhite@runbeck.net.

Program Manager, Overseas Voting Initiative, Council of State Governments — the Program Manager of CSG’s Overseas Voting Initiative, funded through a cooperative agreement with the US Dept. of Defense (DOD) Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), provides day-to-day management and oversight of the Initiative, including research and policy analysis of electronic absentee voting systems for military voters, and development and dissemination of educational policy programming and deliverables to state leaders in support of the cooperative agreement. The Program Manager works within CSG’s Center of Innovation and in cooperation with CSG’s policy and executive management teams as well as regional offices, affiliates and members to support, monitor and improve state elections processes for military and overseas voters. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Project Manager (Austin, TX) – Hart InterCivic — Hart InterCivic is looking for a project manager to work with our Professional Services Team.  The project manager oversees the deployment of voting systems and training to both existing and new Hart customers. The ideal candidate has experience in the elections industry, is PMP certified, and is motivated to achieve success for our customers with initiative.  Travel up to 80 percent. Reports to the Manager of Professional Services. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Regional Sales Manager, Clear Ballot— The Regional Sales Manager (RSM) position will represent Clear Ballot in a designated territory to engage prospective customers, educate them on the value of partnering with Clear Ballot, and close New Business. This position is a Hunter. The RSM will be responsible for managing and growing their assigned territory and meeting quarterly and annual sales goals. Previous sales experience in high growth organizations is a plus. RSM’s will be responsible for understanding the Clear Ballot portfolio and effectively communicating the value we bring to the market. Measures of success include: high levels of sales activity, regular and consistent reporting and communication of progress, progress toward quarterly and annual quota attainment, and overcoming obstacles to get the job done. We currently have open positions in Florida and Boston. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Sales Engineer, Clear Ballot — Our Sales and Marketing team is looking for a seasoned, hardworking and energetic Sales Engineer with proven experience and a passion for selling technology solutions. This role is responsible for being the primary technical resource for our sales force while also actively driving and managing the technology evaluation stage of the sales process. You will be required to have an in-depth technical knowledge of Clear Ballot’s Clear Vote suite and demonstrating the product capabilities to prospective customers. The ideal candidate must also be able to identify and provide reliable solutions for all technical issues to assure complete customer satisfaction. Measures of success include new customer acquisition rates, renewal rates, upselling, cross-selling, customer satisfaction and contribution to overall sales team and new customer success Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Senior Level Software Developer, BPro — We are a well-established small business that has been developing requirements and producing software for the needs of state governments since 1985 and continue to maintain and upgrade many of those systems. We have offices in Pierre, South Dakota, Fargo, North Dakota, Minnesota & Virginia. We’re currently looking for an energetic and intelligent .Net Developer to join our growing team. Our ideal candidate is one who loves to learn, enjoys working as a team, and who can multitask and meet deadlines. Skills required: .NET, VB, VBA, ASP, SQL, HTML, and JavaScript. A four-year college degree is the minimum educational requirement. All applicants must have excellent written and verbal communications skills. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Senior Researcher, Public Policy Evaluation Research, Fors Marsh Group — FMG is hiring for a researcher on the Public Policy Evaluation team which serves to address public concerns and promote the quality of the community. This is done through a) articulating the public’s needs, b) conducting rigorous evaluation to assess how these needs are being met, and c) working with our clients to improve these programs and policies. This job is best suited for an individual who enjoys research, has experience leading research team, possesses excellent attention to detail, continuously strives to learn and develop, and prefers working in a cooperative environment. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Senior Software Developer, Runbeck— Runbeck Election Services is looking for full stack enthusiasts who are comfortable tackling end-to-end and enjoy building products that solve big problems and delight customers. We’re a collaborative team who knows how to get things done (Lone Rangers need not apply). We believe that small teams focused on shipping software move the fastest and make the most impact. The ideal candidate for this position has extensive back end skills (C#, MVC, ASP.Net, SQL Server) paired with solid web and desktop skills (IIS, JavaScript, HTML 5, CSS, jQuery, WPF, Win Forms). Must have a solid grasp of our basic toolset (Jira, Visual Studio). Willing to learn new plug-ins and IDE enhancements in order to boost your productivity and are excited to introduce us to new tooling experiences that have worked for you in the past. You bring discipline and care about implementation practices. You are familiar with Agile/Scrum processes, practice common design patterns, embrace clean coding principles, and employ many other techniques in an effort to bring a high level of software craftsmanship to your finished product. Application: In order to apply, please send a resume to Tammy White: twhite@runbeck.net.

Software Product Specialist II (Phoenix, AZ) – Dominion Voting Systems — Dominion Voting Systems is seeking a Software Product Specialist II to join our team in Phoenix, AZ! This position will be responsible for delivering a wide variety of technical and non-technical customer support services related to the implementation, operation, repair, maintenance and upgrades of Dominion Voting Systems technology products. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Systems Engineer, Clear Ballot — We are looking for a talented Systems Engineer who has both a technical and services/support background which enables them to quickly assess customer needs and offer value to Clear Ballot’s customers. The Systems Engineer will gain a deep understanding of how Clear Ballot’s products operate and their optimal configuration to build a streamlined installation process of the Clear Vote election system. The ideal candidate for this position can prioritize mission critical tasks and coordinate the implementation and expansion of our systems. They will be able to work directly with customers, display innovation, think conceptually and act tactically to build consensus around system installation and enhancement and meet deadlines. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Training Associate, Center for Technology in Civic Life— When you think about elections, you might think about popular candidates, “I voted” stickers, and all sorts of paperwork and deadlines. But behind the scenes are thousands of election officials in state and local governments who are working hard to make sure ballots are counted and voices are heard. To serve every community and make democracy work, these officials need 21st-century tools and training. You can help them get it! As the CTCL Government Services Training Associate, you will develop and deliver training courses that advance the tech and communication skills of election officials. If you care about democracy, if you believe in the importance of public service, and if you love to exceed expectations, this is the job for you. Salary: $45K-$50K. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

 

Marketplace

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Voting Booths
Each aluminum briefcase contains the following: aluminum legs, privacy shield, writing base, light assembly. All units are in great shape dimensions are 22”x 18”x 3“. MFG: ESL. Election supplies Limited, Napa California. Quantity: 400 Price per unit is $50. Contact Greg Larson 408.569.1004

 

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