In Focus This Week
New kids on the block
Meet the new chief elections official in 13 states
By M. Mindy Moretti
Electionline
A new year means new faces in 13 state election offices around the nation.
They come from a variety of backgrounds including county elections offices, social work, and the business community. They are lawyers and Army veterans. Many have served in their state Legislatures.
As they ramp up their new offices, there are plenty of new faces, but also some faces familiar to the elections world serving as staff or on transition teams.
They’ve got big plans for their offices in the coming years, but before we get to that, let’s meet the 13 newest kids on the block.
Alaska — Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer is in charge of elections in Alaska, although the bulk of the work and oversight is done by the Division of Elections. As part of his duties, Meyer gets to appoint who runs the Division of Elections and in December he appointed Gail Fenumiai to serve as director. Fenumiai has 17 years of experience with the Division of Elections and previously served as its director from 2008 to 2015. “Gail has the skills, wisdom, experience and judgement to restore Alaskan’s faith and trust in our elections process and that is exactly what we pledge to do.” said Meyer.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/akelections
Arizona — Former State Sen. Katie Hobbs (D) was elected in November. Before being elected, Hobbs was a social worker for 25 year and was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2010 before elected to the Senate in 2012 where she served as Minority Leader. In her inauguration speech this week, Hobbs vowed to “restore faith and confidence” the secretary’s office. “You never again want to arrive at a polling place to see long lines and wait times so lengthy you’re disenfranchised as a voter simply because you had to get to work or school or home and could wait no longer,” she said according to the Arizona Republic.
Twitter: @SecretaryHobbs
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretaryHobbs
Arkansas — John Thurston (R) will be sworn into office as Arkansas’ new secretary of state on January 15. Thurston previously served as the state’s Commissioner of Lands for two terms. Shortly after his election, Thurston told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that one of his top priorities in office would be streamlining the office itself. “The governor wants to consolidate and streamline,” Thurston told the paper. “I think that’s just good government, and every constitutional office and state agency should be doing that.” According to the paper, Thurston said his first order of business will be to develop a management structure that supports his style and encourages a healthy work environment.
Colorado — New Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold was sworn into office this week. According to the state’s website, she is the youngest elected secretary of state in the country. This is her first elected office and before her election Griswold practiced international anti-corruption law and worked as a voter protection attorney. “I am honored to serve the people of Colorado as secretary of state. I will protect our elections and increase voter turnout…. Our state and our country deserve a democracy that we all can believe in.”
Twitter: @COSecofState
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ColoradoSoS
Florida — Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel (R) was appointed by newly elected Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to serve as the state’s 34th secretary of state. Ertel was first appointed to serve as the Seminole County supervisor of elections in 2005 and was subsequently elected and re-elected in 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2016. Prior to that he worked as a journalist and served in the Army for eight years. In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Ertel said being secretary of state is “a very big job that goes beyond just elections….” But, he acknowledged, “the most high-profile thing we’ll really focus on in the beginning is help establish trust in the [election] process among Florida voters.” On his first full day in office as secretary, Ertel was spotted putting together is own office chair so we look for him to be very hands on!
Georgia — Following a December runoff election, Brad Raffensperger was elected as secretary of state and will be sworn in on January 14. Raffensperger was the CEO and owner of a specialty contracting and engineering design firm before being elected. He also served two terms in the Georgia General Assembly. According to NBC News, Raffensperger said he would make preventing voter fraud his priority, pledging to continue former Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s practice of strictly enforcing voter ID laws and pruning registration rolls of inactive voters. Following his election, Raffensperger was appointed to the SAFE Commission that is reviewing the state’s voting equipment and procedures and is soon expected to make recommendations on how the state elections should move forward.
Kansas — Monday, January 14 will mark the first day on the job for new Secretary of State Scott Schwab (R). Schwab was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 2002. During his time in the House Schwab served as chairman of the House Elections Committee. Although as chair of the House Elections Committee, Schwab helped shepherd through some of Kansas’ more controversial election laws like proof-of-citizenship and voter, in an interview with Associated Press he pledged to make the office less visible. “People want things to calm down,” Schwab told the AP. Adding, “Every time you have a person take over an office, it’s going to have somebody else’s, somebody new’s, fingerprints,” he said. “We want folk to know there’s a new secretary of state and things will be handled differently.”
Michigan — Jocelyn Benson (D) was sworn in as Michigan’s 43’rd secretary of state earlier this year. Prior to her election she served as CEO and President of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) and dean of Wayne State University Law School. She is co-founder of Military Spouses of Michigan, a network dedicated to providing support and services to military spouses and their children. In her inaugural speech, Benson talked about beginning her career in Montgomery, Alabama and being impacted by the civil rights movement. “And now, as your Secretary of State, I will work every day to bring that same commitment as our state’s chief election officer to protect your vote, your voice, and our democracy.”
Twitter: @JocelynBenson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MichiganSoS
Nebraska — Bob Evnen, who is set to be sworn in at press time is replacing John Gale who served Nebraska as secretary of state for 18 years. Evnen has a background in business law and has served on the Nebraska State Board of Education for eight years. In an interview with the Omaha World-Herald before his swearing in, Evnen said voter ID will be one of his main focuses as secretary of state, although it won’t be the first thing he introduces. He told the paper he would spend the next year looking at voter ID laws in other states before drafting and introducing his own legislation in 2020. “Having integrity in your voting system is absolutely fundamental in our democracy,” Evnen told the paper.
Ohio —Frank LaRose will serve as Ohio’s 51st secretary of state and will be sworn into office on January 12. Before being elected secretary, LaRose served in the Ohio Senate from 2011-2018. While in the Senate he sponsored a bill to eliminate six days of early voting and prohibit county boards of elections from sending unsolicited absentee voting applications. Before running for Senate, LaRose earned a Bronze Star as an Army Green Beret. “I’m humbled by the outpouring of support I received in this election, and it will be my honor to serve as your next Secretary of State. My vision is an Ohio with a thriving democracy and a prospering economy for everyone,” LaRose said on his transition website. “I plan to bring new ideas to this office and work harder than ever before to streamline the services we provide to businesses, be an advocate for entrepreneurs, and ensure that our elections remain secure and accessible.”
Pennsylvania — Kathy Boockvar was appointed acting secretary of the commonwealth on January 5. Boockvar is an attorney with a background in public interest law and policy, election administration, and nonprofit healthcare administration. Most recently, she served as senior adviser to the governor on election modernization, leading and managing initiatives to improve security and technology in Pennsylvania’s elections and voting systems, in collaboration with federal, state, and county officials.
Twitter: @PaStateDept
South Dakota — Steve Barnett was recently sworn in as South Dakota’s newest secretary of state. Before being elected to secretary of state, Barnett worked in the constituent services office for Sen. John Thune. He also served two terms as state auditor. “I always enjoyed public service…The secretary of state’s office will give me a chance to visit with constituents. I look forward to the opportunity to do that,” Barnett said in an interview with SDPB. In the interview Barnett said he was looking forward to getting involved with the National Association of Secretaries of State noting that it is important to know what other states are doing in the field of elections, especially when/if problems arise.
Texas — David Whitley is the 112th Texas secretary of state. He was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in December 2018. Before being appointed secretary, Whitley served as deputy chief of staff and appointments director for Abbot. Whitley also worked with Abbott when he was attorney general. “I am confident that in his new role as Secretary of State, David will continue to safeguard the integrity of our elections and maintain Texas’ standing on the international stage,” Abbot told the Caller Times. In remarks while opening the legislative session Whitely said he would make election integrity one of his top priorities and vowed to work with counties. “Whether it’s a local, state, or national election, our county officials are at the vanguard of defending our democratic process,” Whitley said. “I would like to extend a hand in partnership and offer the Secretary of State’s office as a steadfast resource as we continue to work together to protect and preserve our most cherished civic institution Our democracy is only as strong as the electoral process that maintains it, and I look forward to working with all of you to make it even stronger.”
Twitter: @TXSecofState
Facebook: www.facebook.com/txsecretary
Election News This Week
New Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman is hitting the ground running and that includes a proposal to move Texas’ largest voting jurisdiction to a vote center system. “Life gets in the way; you’ve got to pick up the kids, or go to another job,” Trautman said at her office Monday. “But if people actually had a choice of when and where to vote, I think you would see a big difference in turnout.” According to the Houston Chronicle, 52 Texas counties, including some neighboring Harris, use vote centers. Harris County currently uses 46 vote centers for two weeks of early voting. Trautman told the paper she would begin by using those 46 sites as well as neighborhood-based polling sites and the review the resulting data to determine where and how many vote centers to have.
On Tuesday, nearly 1.5 million formerly incarcerated residents of the state of Florida became eligible to register to vote and hundreds, if not thousands took advantage of their right on day one. We’re not going to lie, some of the stories coming out the Sunshine State on Tuesday were truly heartwarming. Registrants cried and hugged after they filled out their forms. They were greeted by bands and cheering supporters. All over the state, supervisors of elections came out of their offices and stepped up to the counter to greet the new voters and help them fill out their forms. Some counties even gave out “Future Voter” stickers! There were great stories from counties all over the state, here are just a few: Alachua, Bay, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Ocala, and Sarasota. It really was a good day.
The battle of wills in Franklin County, Ohio between the county commission and the board of elections continues. Last year, the board of elections refused to authorize money to pay for GOTV efforts around early voting. County commissioners pushed back and forced the BOE to do limited advertising. Now, the commission has approved funding for the BOE through the end of January, but will not approve any additional funding, including cost-of-living and merit raises for elections board employees until an MOU is signed regarding advertising. “Either they’re going to agree to voter education or I’m not going to vote for this,” said Commissioner John O’Grady according to the Columbus Dispatch. “I’m not going to play this game all year.”
Congratulations to the South Carolina State Election Commission which is celebrating 50 years of overseeing elections in the Palmetto State. The General Assembly approved legislation creating the independent agency in 1968 with the first SEC taking office on January 1, 2019. Prior to the creation of the state election commission, the state’s elections were overseen by a secretary of state. In 50 years, the election commission has only had four executive directors. The current state commission consists of five board members, an executive director and 26 staff. “With the level of technology in elections today, the cyber security required to protect the state’s election infrastructure, and the public scrutiny of the election process, the election environment has changed dramatically,” current executive director Marci Andino said in a statement. “But through all that, we’re still working towards the same goal, making sure voters are able to register and vote and have confidence the process is fair and impartial.”
Personnel News: Iowa Elections Director Dawn Williams has retired and we’ll have an exit interview with her in the coming weeks. Mike McMurry, Harrison County, Texas elections administrator has submitted his resignation. He will be joining Hart InterCivic in late January. Bruce Saferin has been suspended from the Lucas County, Ohio board of elections. Fritz Schoen has been appointed to replace Saferin. New Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab recently announced that Brian Caskey will remain as the state’s elections director. Former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams has officially announced his run for the Colorado Springs city council. Rebecca Lawson has retired as the Cooke County, Texas clerk. Nancy Sheer is retiring as the Madison County, Nebraska clerk. Michael Winn has stepped down as the Travis County, Texas elections director and will taking on that role in Harris County. Phil Giavasis has resigned from the Stark County, Ohio board of elections. Christine Pellegrino has been hired by the Suffolk County, New York board of elections. Dale Manzo, a businessman has announced that he will seek the Republican nomination for Missouri secretary of state in 2020. Sam Deiwert has resigned from the Carroll County, Indiana board of elections. Daniel Shults has been named the director of the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners. Sambo “Bo” Dul has been appointed director of elections for the state of Arizona. Don Bell has been appointed voting machine technician in Greene County, Tennessee. Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor. Sonja Buffa has been appointed Warren, Michigan city clerk. Bill O’Neill has been appointed registrar of voters in El Dorado County, California.
Research and Report Summaries
The Economist Intelligence Unit released its Democracy Index 2018 report on January 9. Beginning in 2006, the index has scored and ranked 165 countries and 2 territories based on 5 categories: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture. The report characterizes the United States as a “flawed democracy,” ranking 25th overall in 2018 (down from 18th place in 2008). The 2018 report gives the highest scores to Norway, Iceland, and Sweden and the lowest to North Korea, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively. Canada (tied for 6th), Uruguay (15th), Costa Rica (20th), and Chile (tied for 23rd) are the only countries in the western hemisphere to rank ahead of the United States in the 2018 index.
(Research and Report Summaries are written by David Kuennen.)
Legislative Updates
Federal Legislation: Not long after gaveling open the new session of Congress, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Maryland) introduced HR1, the For the People Act. Among other things, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct threat assessments ahead of elections, creates security standards for voting machine vendors, addresses online voter registration, list maintenance and allows the EAC to provide grants to states for improving their election systems.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) have each introduced legislation The Vote-By-Mail-Act was included in HR1 and would require state to register to vote any resident who provides personal information at a local motor vehicle administration as well as allowing for vote-by-mail nationwide.
Connecticut: Rep. Kurt Vail (R-Stafford Springs) has introduced legislation that will repeal a law that allows the state to participate in the National Popular Vote.
Florida: Sen Joe Gruter (R-Sarasota) has introduced a bill that would have local supervisors of elections enter into an agreement with local courts to get a list of jurors who identified themselves as noncitizens. The bill would also require the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide a monthly list of “persons who identify themselves as aliens” to the Department of State to crosscheck those names with state voter registration database.
Illinois: According to the Peoria Star Journal, Knox County board member Jared Hawkins was about 300 signatures short to put a referendum on the 2019 ballot that if approved would have eliminated the Galesburg Election Commission.
Indiana: Indiana Senate Bill 9 went into effect on January 1, allowing individuals seeking mental health treatment in an institution the ability to register to vote at the institution’s address where they reside.
Also in Indiana, Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) has filed House Bill 1256 that would extend polling hours to 8 p.m. and allow residents to register to vote up until 12pm on Election Day.
Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) is sponsoring legislation that would change how elections in Porter County are handled. The bill would increase the number of officials on the county’s election board from three to five and all absentee and early voting ballots would be counted at a central local. There is also an anti-nepotism clause.
Maryland: After Maryland voters approved election day voter registration in November, members of the General Assembly will now have to work out the details of implementation. The bill would all but eliminate the use of provisional ballots for election day registration.
Also in Maryland, the General Assembly will consider a bill to allow the Baltimore City Council to establish ranked choice voting for city elections.
Missouri: Rep. Dan Stacy (R-Blue Springs) has introduced a bill that would move the state to an ranked choice voting system.
New York: A number of bills have been introduced by members of both parties that would eliminate altogether or severely limit the use of schools as polling places.
North Dakota: In a unanimous 90-0 vote, the House has a approved a bill that will allow poll workers to work half days.
Ohio: The Lucas County Commission has unanimously approved a request from the county’s board of elections to extend the Precinct Election Official Leave Program for 2019. This will mark the 14th year the county has allowed county employees to take paid time off to work the polls on Election Day.
Pennsylvania: According to The Reading Eagle Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to introduce more than 20 bills this session that would reshape the state’s election rules. Among the bills is one for pre-registering 16-and 17-year-olds, one to allow curbside voting for voters with disabilities, one that would create a secure, online system for military voters to cast their ballots, and bills for early voting and easier absentee voting.
Virginia: Del. David Toscano (D-57th) has introduced a bill that would allow cities and counties to move to a ranked choice voting system if they chose to.
Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is proposing legislation that would repeal the state’s voter ID law. The bill will be patroned by Sen. Mamie Locke and Del. Kaye Kory. Northam has also thrown his support behind Locke’s legislation that would create no-excuse absentee voting.
Wyoming: Senate File 65 would implement ranked choice voting for Wyoming primary and general elections.
Legal Updates
Federal Litigation: The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals has turned down the Democratic National Committee’s attempt to reopen discovery in a case aimed at keeping in place a consent decree that limited the Republican Party’s use of poll-watching and ballot security efforts.
Alaska: The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Bart LeBon in the race for House District 1. The election was challenged by Kathryn Dodge who disputed the certified votes in the election LeBon won by one vote.
Arizona: The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said that a larger panel of judges will review an appeal of a trial judge’s denial of a challenge to the state’s ballot harvesting law.
California: Judicial Watch and state elections officials have reached an agreement over how the state handles records for inactive voters. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said the state adheres to federal rules, and the settlement “will not lead to unnecessary removal of active and eligible voters. Safeguards remain in place to ensure … procedures are followed before canceling any voter registration records.”
Also in California, Deidra Vrooman of Nevada County has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor fraud charge in a case alleging that she voted twice in 2016.
Connecticut: Registrars in Wallingford have agreed to a consent order with the State Elections Enforcement Commission acknowledging that security procedures at schools that serve as polling places violate state law on voter identification requirements.
Florida: In a 4-3 decision, the Florida Supreme Court has ruled that Orange County may continue to hold nonpartisan elections for offices such as sheriff and tax collector as long as those races are decided only in the general election.
Also in Florida, this week U.S. District Judge Mark Walker heard from both sides in the case over whether former Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes should be reinstated to her position. On Wednesday Walker found that former Gov. Rick Scott exceeded his authority when he suspended Snipes. Walker refused to reinstate Snipes, but he did order current Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue an order by the end of January explaining why Snipes was removed from office and grant Snipes a special hearing before March 31.
Hawaii: The State Supreme Court has ordered the Office of Elections and the Honolulu city clerk to provide more information about how mail ballots were collected for the November 6 election.
North Dakota: The state’s Attorney General is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Spirit Lake Sioux over the state’s voter ID law. According to KNOX, The attorney general’s office wants the lawsuit dismissed on several grounds, including that tribal members named in the complaint weren’t impeded from voting on Election Day.
Opinions This Week
National Opinions: Election reform | Voting rights, II, III | Electronic voting machines | HR1, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII | Cybersecurity | Fair elections | Suffrage
California: Napa County
Delaware: Election reform
Florida: Ex-felon voting rights, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X | Seminole County | Vote-by-mail |
Iowa: Absentee voting
Minnesota: Voting system
Nebraska: Secretary of state, II
North Carolina: Election fraud, II, III | State Board of Elections
Ohio: Turnout | Franklin County | Lucas County
Oregon: Turnout
Pennsylvania: Same day registration, II, III | Voter access
Tennessee: Barriers to voting | Voting rights
Texas: Harris County
Virginia: No-excuse absentee voting | Late ballots
FVAP Update
New voter registration/ballot request and back-up ballot forms on Federal Register now
The current draft Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) forms are available for review and comment on the Federal Register until January 22 at regulations.gov.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requires that the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) prescribe two standard federal forms. Both forms require review and public comment every three years. The FPCA (SF-76), can be used to register to vote, request an absentee ballot and update contact information, while the FWAB (SF-186) serves as a backup ballot if the voter doesn’t receive a requested ballot in time.
FVAP leveraged feedback from voters and election officials to update the forms to clarify their use and requirements.
The revised forms simplify instructions for voters and include:
- Clarification of National Guard classification for use of the form.
- Alterations to the list of states requiring additional information.
- Clarification of registration and ballot request instructions.
Form usability is an essential part of the redesign process. To help ensure the form is easy and intuitive from a voter’s perspective, please download and complete it as if you were registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot or voting the FWAB. Provide usability comments via the links below.
To view the FPCA Federal Register Notice:
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOD-2018-OS-0092-0001
To view the Draft FPCA Form:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=DOD-2018-OS-0092
To view the FWAB Federal Register Notice
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOD-2018-OS-0091-0001
To view the Draft FWAB Form:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=DOD-2018-OS-0091
To submit comments and suggestions online: Comments and usability feedback should be submitted on the Federal eRulemarking Portal using the links above or https://www.regulations.gov by January 22, 2019.
Submit comments and usability feedback by mail at the address below by January 19, 2019:
Department of Defense
Office of the Chief Management Officer
Directorate for Oversight and Compliance
4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24 Suite 08D09
Alexandria, VA 22350-1700
Please do not send comments directly to FVAP.
Upcoming Events
A Practical Guide to Risk-Limiting Audits — With the spotlight on election security, election administrators need tools to provide voters with confidence in all stages of our electoral system. Join election officials, cybersecurity experts, policy makers, and others for a practical overview of cutting-edge post-election audits, which provide statistical confidence in election outcomes. As election officials across the country continue to look for opportunities to make their systems and procedures more secure before the 2020 election, what should election officials know about risk-limiting audits? What are they? What tools are necessary? How do they work in states with different voting systems? How much do they cost? We’ll tackle these topics and more. Sponsored by Microsoft, Brennan Center For Justice, Common Cause, National Election Defense Coalition, and Verified Voting. Where: Washington, DC. When: January 31.
National Association of State Election Directors — The NASED Winter Conference will be held in Washington DC, February 1-4, 2019. Sessions on the agenda include: Engaging White Hat Hackers, Beyond Risk Limiting Audits, Engaging Minority Populations, Voter Registration Modernization and updates from Congress and the EAC. Where: Washington, DC. When: February 1-4.
National Association of Secretaries of State — The NASS Winter Conference will be held in Washington, DC, February 1-4, 2019. Sessions on the agenda include: Election Reform in the 116th Congress, 2019 State Legislative Trends for Election Reform, and Signature Verification and Processing Absentee Ballots: Methods, Postmarks, Processing and Tabulating Timetables. Where: Washington, DC. When: February 1-4.
The Voting Experience: 2018 and the Future— Please save the date as the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Democracy Fund analyze key moments in election administration during the 2018 midterm elections, and look ahead to what steps can be taken to improve the voting experience for all Americans in 2020. Where: Washington, DC. When: February 14.
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.
Administrative Assistant, Center for Election Innovation & Research— the Administrative Assistant will work full-time and play a critical role in managing the day-to-day effectiveness of CEIR, including our program operations, finance, and human resources functions. This person will collaborate in developing and implementing systems that increase the effectiveness and efficiency of our work, supporting our ability to grow and expand our impact. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated and detail-oriented individual who wants to make a substantial impact while gaining a broad set of experiences relevant to nonprofit leadership. The Administrative Assistant will work in the Washington, DC Metro Area, usually in CEIR’s office, although sometimes working from home may be possible. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Administrative Specialist III (Ballot Collection Lead), King County, Washington — King County Elections is recruiting for an Administrative Specialist III (Ballot Collection Lead) position. This position will provide logistical support for ballot collection, fleet, and warehouse tasks as well as lead processes, projects and temporary staff. With over 60 ballot drop box locations throughout King County, this is a work group that continues to grow and evolve. The workweek is typically 35 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is a great opportunity for a detail oriented person with warehouse/receiving experience, data entry and strong interpersonal skills. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Administrative Specialist III (Elections Specialist Lead), King County, Washington — King County Elections is recruiting for two Administrative Specialist III (Elections Specialist Lead) positions in Ballot Processing and Voter Services. These positions will lead processes, projects, and people which will include leading, coaching, mentoring, and training temporary and regular staff. Leads may also provide assistance and/or participate in long-term cross-training in multiple work areas to meet organizational agile efforts. The workweek is typically 35 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is a great opportunity for a customer service oriented person with strong communication and interpersonal skills. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Assistant Registrar, Richmond, Va.— the purpose of the class is to assist citizens in registering to vote and to assist in the election process by providing clerical assistance and customer service. The class is responsible for maintaining accurate voter registration records and for providing election information and services to candidates and the general public. The class works within a general outline of work to be performed according to set procedures under direct supervision. Salary: $24,108-$39,076. Deadline: January 20. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Campus Outreach Lead, Democracy Works— As campus outreach lead, you will sustain and grow the TurboVote higher education partnerships program. You will be responsible for renewing contracts with existing higher education partners and bringing on new partners by generating leads, carrying those leads through necessary follow up tasks, and formalizing partnerships with signed contracts. In this role, you will build relationships with key stakeholders at colleges and universities, as well as with fellow nonprofit organizations that support civic engagement at colleges and universities. You’ll become an expert in the world of higher education and cultivate a passion for promoting civic engagement. Also, you will persistently navigate the bureaucracy of external organizations. Salary: $50,000 to $65,000. 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.
Chief Departmental Operations, San Diego County Registrar of Voters, Voter Services Division — The County of San Diego, Registrar of Voters (ROV) invites résumés from qualified candidates for Chief, Departmental Operations to fill a vacancy in the Voter Services Division. The Chief, Departmental Operations is an unclassified management classification reporting directly to executive management and oversees a major functional area or several small programs including creating program policy and supervision of staff. This position provides leadership and oversight over the functions and activities of the Department’s Voter Services Division. The primary responsibilities are to direct the processing of voter registration affidavits; maintenance of voter registration records; verification of State and local petitions (i.e. initiative, referendum, recall and nomination); organization of call center functions; management of mail ballot program and mail ballot voter records, including preparation, mailing, verification, and processing of mail ballots; coordination with external organizations including United States Postal Service and ballot printing and mailing contractor; ensuring State and federal reporting requirements are completed; and coordination of San Diego County Employee Retirement Association Board Member Elections. The Chief, Department Operations provides leadership, supervision, and management of staff responsible for voter service activities. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Deputy Director, Center for Election Innovation & Research — the Deputy Director will report to the Executive Director and have a broad range of responsibilities designed to support CEIR’s mission. In this position, the Deputy Director will play an integral role in the development and execution of CEIR’s programming, strategic communications, and continued growth as an organization. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and highly motivated individual who wants to make a substantial, positive, nonpartisan impact on elections and American democracy. The Deputy Director’s primary workplace will be CEIR’s Washington, DC office. The Deputy Director also must be available for business travel as needed. CEIR believes that working alongside and understanding the diverse mix of people who are affected by elections and American democracy is key to achieving our mission. That’s why we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse, non-discriminatory work environment. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Specialist-Ballot Processing, Pierce County, Washington— the Auditor’s Office is currently recruiting for an Elections Specialist position that is assigned to the Ballot Processing area. This position is located at the Pierce County Elections Center in Tacoma, WA. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. An employee in this class is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating the activities of an assigned election area. This is a working specialist position. Work involves planning, distributing, assigning work to accommodate work fluctuations and changes; monitoring work compiled; taking corrective action to maintain acceptable quality standards; and training election workers assigned to work in their particular areas. Specialists perform day-to-day assignments specific to their assigned area. Employees are expected to perform work in all election areas as assigned including customer service and voter registration. Salary: $29.51-$37.33/hour. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Technician Supervisor, San Joaquin County, California — The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voter’s Office is looking to fill two vital Elections Technician Supervisor positions within the department and to create an eligible list which may be used to fill future vacancies. This is a fast-paced elections office with a vibrant staff and diverse electorate. In 2019 we anticipate installing a new voting system and upgrading many of our operations. There are three areas the Elections Technician Supervisor may be assigned: Precinct Operations, Voter Registration and Candidate Filing & Campaign Services. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Elections Training Administrator, Prince William County, Va.— the Elections Training Administrator role is vital to successful and smooth elections in PWC. This role will be responsible for the election training schedule, developing relevant content for Officer of Election training sessions, and conducting trainings. Candidate must be comfortable answering difficult legal questions, have experience training a range of people and have experience as a public speaker. Work is performed under general supervision of the Director of Elections / General Registrar. Salary: $55,828-$94,770. Deadline: January 10. Application: For the complete 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.
IT Security Administrator (Denver) – Dominion Voting is looking for an IT Security Administrator to join our IT team in Denver, Colorado! We are looking for a security minded individual who can perform both day-to-day technical management and maintenance of IT security programs, and who can also strategically assess and enhance the overall IT security enterprise-wide. 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 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 (Toronto) – Dominion Voting is searching for an experienced and passionate Senior Software Developer to join our team in Toronto! These positions will be responsible for providing high-level technical expertise in design development, coding, testing and debugging new software or significant enhancements to existing software for our customers. You will work on a variety of our product lines and you may act as team leader on less complex projects and assists in training/mentoring less experienced software development staff. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
Software Developer III (Toronto) – Dominion Voting is searching for an experienced and passionate Software Developer III to join our team in Toronto! These positions will be responsible for providing high-level technical expertise in design development, coding, testing and debugging new software or significant enhancements to existing software for our customers. You will work on a variety of our product lines and you may act as team leader on less complex projects and assists in training/mentoring less experienced software development staff. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
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.
Staff Editor, Brennan Center for Justice— the Brennan Center seeks an experienced and confident Staff Editor to play a key role in our growing editorial team. The Staff Editor will work closely with the Director of Editorial Strategy in shaping the Brennan Center’s revamped online content strategy, ensuring that we respond quickly to news developments and helping to position us as a leading voice on the issues of democracy and the Constitution that are currently at the center of the national conversation. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.
System and Data Specialist, ERIC — Using independent judgment and delegated decision-making authority, the Systems and Data Specialist performs analysis, project management, trouble shooting, problem resolution, quality assurance, and documentation concerning mission-critical ERIC functions: 1) uploading of state data and data from secondary sources to ERIC; 2) delivery of timely and accurate reports to ERIC members; 3) hosting and maintenance of ERIC data; and 4) providing consistently high quality service and support to ERIC members. This position actively participates in business continuity planning, risk assessments, security reviews, and other efforts to protect ERIC’s system and data. Salary: $80K-$95K. Deadline: January 28, 2019. 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.
Marketplace
electionline provides no guarantees as to the quality of the items being sold and the accuracy of the information provided about the sale items in the Marketplace. Ads are provided directly by sellers and are not verified by electionline. If you have an ad for Marketplace, please email it to: mmoretti@electionline.brinkdev.com
Ballot Scanners
Ballot reader. $500. Buyer will be responsible for pick and shipping to buyer’s location. Contact Wilfred Cochico, purchasing officer City of Lakewood: 562-866-9771 ext. 2640 or via email: WCochico@lakewoodcity.org.
King County Elections has 17 Photoscribe DRS PS960 image-based high volume scan machines including cases, extender trays, end guides and some extra parts available, free of charge. More information about these units can be found here: If you are interested, contact Nate Valderas at nathan.valderas@kingcounty.gov by January 18, 2019. Shipping costs at the expense of recipient.
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
Voting Machines
King County Elections has approximately 150 Diebold TSx units that are available free of charge. Each DRE unit has a touchscreen, base with folding legs, printer component, and keypad. All units are in working condition. Includes additional parts such as privacy doors and leg brackets. If you are interested, contact Kortney Kinzer at kortney.kinzer@kingcounty.gov by January 18, 2019.