Elections Administrator

JOB PURPOSE
 Harris County seeks an Elections Administrator to lead and manage the Office of the Elections Administrator, created pursuant to Chapter 31 of the Texas Election Code. The Elections Administrator will act as the county voter registrar, administer all local, state, and federal elections in Harris County, and oversee Harris County’s elections operations, including voter registration, public education and outreach, and recruitment and supervision of election judges and poll workers.  The Elections Administrator will also work to modernize Harris County elections, expand access to registration and voting, and ensure voting is fair, easy, efficient, secure, and accessible for all eligible Harris County voters consistent with the Texas Election Code and Federal law.

OVERVIEW OF HARRIS COUNTY
 
Harris County is the third-largest county in the country.  Its population of more than 4.5 million is about the same as the entire population of Louisiana.  Harris County is governed by Harris County Commissioners Court.  The Court is comprised of a County Judge and four Commissioners.  Commissioners Court conducts the general business of the County and oversees financial matters.  The Harris County Judge and Commissioners oversee a $4.3 billion budget that helps fund key county services and institutions.  As the main governing body of Harris County, Commissioners Court plays a critical role that is part administrative, part legislative, and part judicial.  Its many responsibilities include adopting a budget; setting tax rates; calling for bond elections; building and maintaining county infrastructure such as roads and bridges; and overseeing county courthouses, jails, libraries, parks, and the Harris County Flood Control District.  Harris County currently has more than 75 departments with over 15,000 employees.  Pursuant to chapter 31 of the Texas Election Code, the Harris County Election Commission appoints and oversees the Elections Administrator.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
 

• Oversee and coordinate Harris County’s election and voter registration activities and operations, including by conducting ongoing registration of Harris County voters.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations governing elections and voters’ rights, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Conduct and expand public education and outreach on voter registration and election participation.
• Develop and implement protections and initiatives to modernize Harris County elections, expand access to registration and voting in Harris County, and otherwise ensure registration and voting processes are fair, easy, convenient, and accessible for all eligible Harris County residents.
• Coordinate with elections judges and workers, as well as local organizations, community stakeholders, and citizens, to enable all eligible citizens to be properly registered and informed on voting processes and procedures.
• Review voter registration records and monitor voter registration activities in compliance with state and federal laws. Track election related legislation and after bills become law, adjust procedures and practices to comply with new state laws. 
• Assemble, train, and supervise teams of election judges and workers in performing all elections for which Harris County is responsible.
• Gather and provide information to the Harris County Election Commission, Harris County Commissioners Court, election judges, election workers, and the general public regarding state and federal laws and procedures for registering voters and conducting elections.
• A quarterly check in with the Harris County Election Commission; and If possible, Commission will convene to meet with the Elections Administrator 3 weeks before election and 3 weeks after an election.
• Identify and designate all facilities/locations for each election event and ensure an equitable distribution of voting locations across county precincts.
• Provide to each voting location the required equipment, forms, records, maps, and other materials needed to conduct the election and report election results.
• Prepare and administer an annual budget for approval by Commissioners Court and monitor expenditures for the Office of the Elections Administrator.
• Audit and submit all authorizations for payments for election workers, services, and equipment according to Harris County purchasing requirements.
• Compile election results for reporting to the Commissioners Court, the Secretary of State, or any jurisdictional authority with which Harris County contracts to provide election services.
• Maintain records of election results and make them available as a public record as required by law.
• Meets regularly with the Election Administration Community Advisory Board, and regularly engage with community stakeholders regarding the elections process.
• Oversee general management and human resources responsibilities for the Office of the Election Administrator. 

• Bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field.
• Minimum of [8] years of administrative or management experience in relevant positions with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, management, supervisory, and organizational skills.
• A minimum of [6] years of experience related to or knowledge of elections and voter registration laws, procedures, practices, documentation, and equipment.
• Detailed knowledge of regulations, principles, and practices governing elections administration and voter registration, and have the ability to either personally fulfill or recruit & manage the following election skill sets/roles:

1. Team Manager
   • Knowledge of Texas Election Code
   • Experience with composition, organization, and management of county election team
   • Experience collecting, summarizing, and reporting observations of problems & potential solutions
2. Logistician
   • Knowledge of election equipment, maintenance, calibration & testing
   • Experience in field support of deployed equipment
   • Experience in identifying, qualifying, and securing polling locations
   • Experience in deployment, tracking and recovery of election equipment & supplies
   • Experience with airtight chain-of custody record set

3.   Data Systems Analyst/Programmer

• Familiarity with ballot programming
• Familiarity with L&A Test protocols and reporting
• Experience with data matches, especially voters & precincts/ballot styles
• Experience with integration of data from mobile and server-based applications
• Experience collecting, organizing, and uploading data from different media

4.   Statistician

• Experience establishing protocols for real-time identification of data inconsistencies
• Experience tracking the source of inconsistent data for remedy
• Experience reviewing and certifying accuracy of final data sets

5.   Human Resources

• Recruitment
• Training
• Deployment
• Remote support
• Objective evaluation

• Per the Texas Election Code, may not be a candidate for a public office or an office of a political party, hold public office, or hold an office of or a position in a political party.
• Ability to work with Party Chairs in recruiting, training, and supervising election workers.
• Must be able to exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with various county personnel, public officials, and the general public.
• Proven ability to meet multiple deadlines and balance numerous projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to develop and drive new initiatives, work cross-departmentally, work within multidisciplinary teams, oversee projects to completion, and measure results.

 
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
 

Per Chapter 31 of the Texas Election Code 

• Sec. 31.034:  To be eligible for appointment as a county elections administrator, a person must be a qualified voter of the state.
• Sec. 31.035.
  1. (a) A county elections administrator may not be a candidate for public office or an office of a political party, hold a public office, or hold an office of or position in a political party.  At the time an administrator becomes a candidate or accepts an office or position in violation of this subsection, the administrator vacates the position of administrator.
  2. (b) A county elections administrator commits an offense if the administrator makes a political contribution or political expenditure, as defined by the law regulating political funds and campaigns, or publicly supports or opposes a candidate for public office or a measure to be voted on at an election.  An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.  On a final conviction, the administrator’s employment is terminated, and the person convicted is ineligible for future appointment as county elections administrator.
  3. (c) In this section, “candidate” means a person who has taken affirmative action, as described by the law regulating political funds and campaigns, for the purpose of gaining nomination or election.
• Sec. 31.036. The county election commission is the proper authority to receive and act on a resignation from the position of county elections administrator.
• Sec. 31.037. The employment of the county elections administrator may be suspended, with or without pay, or terminated at any time for good and sufficient cause on the four-fifths vote of the county election commission and approval of that action by a majority vote of the commissioners court.
• Sec. 31.038. 
  1. (a) A vacancy in the position of county elections administrator is filled by the appointment of the county election commission.
  2. (b) An appointment to fill an anticipated vacancy arising from a resignation to take effect at a future date may be made at any time after the resignation is accepted.
• Sec. 31.039.
  1. (a) The commissioners court shall set the number of deputies and other persons that the county elections administrator may employ.
  2. (b) Repealed by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1272, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2005.
  3. (c) The commissioners court may allow the automobile expense that it considers necessary to the administrator and to any of the administrator’s employees in the performance of their official duties.
  4. (d) The commissioners court shall provide the administrator with suitable office space and with the equipment and operating expenses needed for the proper conduct of the office.
  5. (e) The amount initially appropriated by the commissioners court for the operating expenses of the administrator’s office may not be less than the total amount last appropriated to the county clerk and the county tax assessor-collector for the functions assigned to the administrator.
  6. (f) Except as provided by Subsection (g), a person employed on a full-time basis by the administrator’s office is subject to Section 31.035 in the same manner as the administrator.
• Section 31.035(b) does not apply to a person employed on a full-time basis by the administrator’s office in a county with a population of one million or less that has an election administrator.

HOURS:

• Monday thru Friday
• 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This position will require extended work during elections and meetings across Harris County outside normal business hours.  During election cycles, extended and irregular hours during the workweek and weekend may be required.

SALARY:
Commensurate with experience.

https://recruiting-source.com/wp-content/plugins/bullhorn-oscp/#/jobs/1439

Salary : $83,200