State of Maryland

An Election Director I is the supervisory or managerial level of work directing elections in local jurisdictions within the State. The work of this classification may require travel throughout the State to exchange information regarding the election process and promote voter registration. Employees supervise office support staff which may include subordinate supervisors.

Employees in this classification receive managerial supervision from the State Administrator or Deputy State Administrator of Election Laws.  Employees may be required to work evenings and weekends.

Position allocation to the Election Director series is determined by the size of the local jurisdiction as reflected by the number of registered voters. Copies of this supplemental job evaluation standard can be found in the Offices of the State and local Boards of Elections and in the Department of Budget and Management’s Office of Personnel Services and Benefits.

The Election Director I-III is differentiated from the Election Deputy Director I-III in that the Election Director I-III is responsible for the entire operations of local election board offices and the conduct of elections for those offices while the Election Deputy Director I-III assist the Election Director I-III in the office operations and the conduct of elections for local election board offices and has the authority to act in the absence of the Election Director.

Directs the conduct of elections in compliance with federal, State and local laws, regulations and statutes;

Conducts elections in compliance with federal, State and local laws, regulations and statutes;

Oversees and coordinates the day-to-day operations of a local election office to include voter registration program, absentee balloting program, provisional ballot program, Same Day Registration, redistricting precinct boundary program, candidate filing, ballot preparation, voting machine purchase, maintenance and site delivery, acquisition of polling places and early voting sites, and the recruitment and training of election judges;

Supervises, directly or through subordinate supervisors, election office staff, temporary office associates, election judges, per diem staff to conduct canvasses and nursing home and assisted-living facilities absentee and voter registration programs;

Supervises the Performance Evaluation Program for State employees and the administration of interview and hiring of new staff;

Directs the dissemination of information pertaining to election policies, procedures, laws, and regulations to the general public, candidates and political parties by utilizing social media and managing the local board website;

Prepares and coordinates the release of statements to the media;

Prepares and administers the annual budget for the local election office;

Manages and administers procurement of services, supplies and materials for the local election office;

Develops and revises policies, procedures and training manuals related to the administration of the local election office;

Reviews proposed federal, State and local legislation to determine the impact upon the conduct of elections;

Testifies at federal, State and local legislative hearings to support or oppose proposed legislation related to the election process;

Analyzes census data and existing congressional, legislative and councilmanic districts and recommends new precinct boundaries;

Implements approved precinct boundaries to include developing maps and street directories, acquisition of polling places, and notification of voters;

Secures and coordinates services provided by local jurisdictions such as employment of temporary staff, printing and publications, lease of polling places, payroll functions, data processing support and telecommunications;

Participates in task force committees, conferences and workshops throughout the State in order to exchange information related to the conduct of elections;

Prepares operational and statistical reports and records;

Keeps abreast of technological advances in equipment and data tracking systems in order to more effectively direct the conduct of elections;

Oversees and conducts monthly audits, post-election audits, manual audits and recounts;

Implements new voting systems and other processes, such as Same Day Registration, as required by the Maryland General Assembly;

Manages insurance policies, warehouse and security specifications, including the acquisition of new office space when needed to store voting equipment and sensitive documents;

Conducts risk assessments and creates operation plans for Election Days, Early Voting and the daily operations of the election office;

Prepare contingency plans, power management plans and disaster recovery plans for daily operations, Election Days and Early Voting;

Manages security systems and coordinates with security services to effectively follow all cybersecurity and physical security rules;

Attends and is present for all Early Voting and Election Day activities including the opening and closing of the centers;

May coordinate voter registration activities for local municipalities in accordance with the Universal Registration Code of State election laws;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of federal, State and local election laws, regulations, statutes processes and procedures;

Knowledge of policies and procedures applicable to preparing for and conducting elections;

Knowledge of principles of budget management;

Knowledge of cybersecurity policies as a governmental entity to participate in trainings and seminars that pertain to elections role in the critical infrastructure under the federal Department of Homeland Security;

Skill in application of federal, State and local election laws and regulations;

Skill in maintaining workflow despite frequent interruptions and changing priorities;

Ability to train staff, election judges, per diem staff and volunteers in the application of election laws, regulations, processes and procedures;

Ability to analyze and compile statistical data;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to plan, organize and direct elections;

Ability to testify in legislative hearings;

Ability to supervise the work of others;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected and governmental officials, political and community groups, and the general public;

Ability to meet time sensitive deadlines and demands.

Experience: Eight years of experience applying federal, state, and local election laws and regulations applicable to conducting elections, which must have included at least one presidential or gubernatorial election, and an additional four years of supervisory or management experience.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and five years of supervisory experience or project management experience for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for four of the eight years of required experience applying federal, state, and local election laws and regulations applicable to conducting elections, which must have included at least one presidential or gubernatorial election.

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 as 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 from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.