State of Maryland

An Election Program Trainee performs the entry level of work for specialized data processing, technical, and clerical services in a local election office. Employees in this classification learn election laws, regulations, policies and procedures of the election office and all election related programs. Employees in this classification develop a thorough understanding of one or more of these programs by performing a variety of duties utilizing one or several election related software systems. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from an Election Director, Election Deputy Director or other designated administrative staff and are expected to exercise considerable tact, discretion and judgment in all areas of work. Matters of confidentiality are given close attention by their supervisor. The work may require travel to schools, nursing homes or other facilities to perform the tasks related to their job assignment(s).  Employees may be required to work evenings and weekends, particularly prior to and following an election.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Election Program Trainee, Election Program Assistant I and Election Program Assistant II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.   The Election Program Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Election Program Assistant I performs duties under moderate supervision.  The Election Program Assistant II may lead other support staff in a particular area or perform advanced level duties under general supervision.

Learns to perform accurate data entry following the processes and procedures of the Statewide Voter Registration System;

Learns to prioritize work to assure timely completion of data processing tasks in accordance with office policies and procedures;

Learns to identify and report discrepancies and issues;

Learns to register voters and how to respond to voter registration inquiries;

May learn to assist in recruitment of election judges to staff polling places;

May learn to assist in organizing and implementing training sessions following established policies and procedures;

May learn to assist with voting equipment maintenance, inventory and preparation;

May learn to assist with identifying polling place facilities to comply with election laws, regulations, policies and procedures;

May learn to assist in maintaining inventory and office supplies;

May learn to assist in accepting and processing candidate and committee filings;

May provide the full range of specialized clerical work in a local election office;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of word processing, personal computer, Microsoft office and other office equipment and related software applications;

Skill in maintaining accurate and detailed records;

Ability to learn and apply State and Federal election laws, regulations, policies and procedures;

Ability to remain organized while performing multiple functions or tasks;

Ability to maintain workflow despite frequent interruptions and changing priorities;

Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully and maintain confidentiality;

Ability to develop and use independent judgment in applying and explaining election laws, rules and procedures; 

Ability to meet time sensitive deadlines and demands.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Six months of general office experience including data entry, record filing and maintenance, multiline phone use, general computer skills and email software. General clerical, data processing, technical or administrative experience is defined as  work performing a variety of duties which are clear-cut and typically found in office settings, such as filing, copying, inputting data, general computer skills, and directing telephone calls.

Note: Candidates may substitute thirty credit hours from an accredited college or university for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification are required to be registered voters in the State of Maryland in accordance with the Election Law Article, Section 2-207(d), Annotated Code of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification may not hold or be a candidate for any elective public or political party office or any other office created under the Constitution or laws of this State in accordance with the Election Law Article, Section 2-301(b).

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.