Job Opening: Elections Assistant
Description
Employment Opportunity – Clerk and Recorder’s Election Department
Broadwater County is currently seeking a highly motivated individual for a Full-Time Elections Assistant. The successful candidate must be able to manage and maintain the voter registration system in Broadwater County; assist Election Administrator in organizing and conducting elections in the County to comply with State election laws and statutes; assist in preparing and conducting training for seasonal staff and election judges; assist in setting up for all elections; conduct related work as required; work under the Election Administrator. Understanding of local government entities and experience in elections is preferred.
Starting pay is $17.50/hr., with an excellent health benefits package. Full job description and application may be picked up in the Clerk and Recorder Office at the Broadwater County Courthouse; 515 Broadway; Townsend, MT 59644, or by emailing [email protected]. Resumes and other application materials can be sent to the same email by Thursday, June 1 at 5:00 pm. Position is open until filled. Broadwater County is an equal opportunity employer. Broadwater County shall, upon request, provide reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities. Veterans and Disabled preferences are applicable.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Develops and implements procedures for all aspects of elections under the guidance of EA;
- Ensures that all applicable regulations are met, legal notices are properly posted;
- Verifies declarations of nominations for all candidates;
- Establishes splits; calculates and orders ballot stock;
- Designs ballot layout and proper rotations; oversees printing of ballots;
- Conducts absentee voting process, receiving ballots by mail and in person;
- Sets up computer program for each election;
- Conducts public testing of ballot scanners to insure accuracy;
- Sets up test deck for public testing of ballot scanners;
- Communicates in person, by telephone, and in writing with the state and local officials, candidates, news media representatives, voters, and the general public on matters concerning department responsibilities;
- Hires and trains part-time employees as required;
- Provides state mandated election judge certification training for 40+ election judges;
- Maintains equipment for polling places in good working order;
- Tracks election costs to effectively bill different entities for their perspective elections; to include Irrigation Districts, Water Districts, School Districts, Municipalities, etc…
- Conducts extensive research of local, state and federal laws to develop an annual election calendars;
- Ensures that all local County, state and federal elections regulations are adhered to through continual consultation with various local, state and federal officials;
- Works with all media organizations in the county to provide elections information as requested; 2
- Interprets and applies departmental or division rules, policies and regulations in accordance with prescribed procedures and guidelines;
- Conducts a program of public education concerning election processes and procedures through meetings, speeches and attendance at various locations; ie – Judges Training, Townsend High School, Legislature etc…
- Conducts research to stay current on new elections technologies and to determine their applicability to County elections policies, procedures and practices;
- Participates in legislative activities to ensure that County interests are protected;
- Works closely with Secretary of State’s Office as well as the Federal, State and local officials and administrative personnel;
- Works with the Elections Administrator to establish priorities for the Department;
- Works with the Elections Administrator to establish timelines for projects once priorities have been established and oversees adherence to maintenance of established timelines;
- Provides specific and timely updates to Elections Administrator;
- Provides Elections Administrator, Department Heads, Party Officials and Candidates, as well as all other applicable parties, with specific progress reports for all projects;
- Be knowledgeable and capable of implementing new election law as set by Montana Code.
- Be knowledgeable and capable of implementing GIS sync with ElectMT total addressing laws and timelines as set by Montana Code
- Performs other duties as assigned
Required Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge and Understanding of:
- State and Federal elections laws and regulations;
- Elections Department processes and procedures;
- Modern office procedures, practices and equipment;
- Data processing programs, policies and operations as applied to elections;
- Modern office filing systems and procedures;
- The operations and functions of county government;
- The operations and functions of irrigation districts;
- The operations and functions of sewer & water districts; ? The operations and functions of school districts;
- The operations and functions of municipalities;
- Safety rules, procedures and practices;
- Safety rules, cyber security procedures and practices relating to Elections and election laws;
- Governmental code of fair practices.
Skill to:
- Operate a personal computer using word processing, spreadsheets and database applications appropriate to assigned duties;
- Operate within the GIS and Montana Secretary of State ElectMT Total Addressing to set up precinct boundaries and incorporate re-districting boundaries within Broadwater County;
- Operate within the Elections Systems and Software
- Operate within Elections computer system for uploading and reporting Elections;
- Maintain complex elections result records and prepare reports for such records;
- Communicate well with media, clients, community organizations, employees and the general public both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
- Strong people skills, business planning skills and the capacity to strategize.
Ability to:
- Organize, prioritize and motivate the election judges;
- Speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations;
- Write clearly and informatively, varying writing style to meet needs;
- Read and interpret written information; 3
- Observe safety and security procedures;
- Promptly respond and handle difficult or emotional complaints from the public;
- Work within an approved budget by developing and implementing cost saving measures and conserving organizational resources;
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County employees, supervisory personnel, subordinate staff and general public;
- Organize and coordinate a wide variety of materials, human schedules and supportive actions;
- Understand and follow complex oral and written instructions;
- Prioritize tasks, establish firm timelines for completion of tasks and adhere to timelines as established;
- Understand and make work decisions in accordance with department and/or division rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
- Use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
- Use the ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.
Minimum Qualifications
Education/Experience/Training:
- Leadership or progressively responsible experience preparing, processing, tracking and evaluating the activities relating to conducting federal, state, local and special elections; or of general office experience that includes lead responsibilities;
- A comprehensive knowledge of election laws and regulations;
Essential Physical Abilities
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The employee frequently is required to walk, stand, sit and reach with hands and arms;
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus;
- Clarity of speech and hearing that permits the employee to communicate well with elected officials, supervisors, employees, and the general public;
- Manual dexterity which permits the employee to operate a keyboard, produce hand written documents and handle presentation materials;
- Personal mobility which permits the employee to move about at election sites, visit a variety of offices and cities, and transport materials and equipment, sometimes in excess of 100 pounds;
- Personal mobility that permits the employee to enter, operate and exit motor vehicles.