ELECTION PROGRAM ASSISTANT I

Location: Harford County Board of Elections, 133 Industry Ln, Forest Hill, MD 21050

About the Role

An Election Program Assistant I performs specialized data processing, technical, administrative, or clerical services in a local election office. Employees in this classification learn election laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to perform entry-level duties in election office programs such as voter registration, polling places, election equipment, election judges, absentee voting, voter outreach, administrative tasks, and/or technology.

This role involves technical and administrative functions requiring a thorough knowledge of specific election-related tasks but does not involve policy decisions. Employees perform a variety of complex and non-complex duties related to one or several programs, requiring a strong understanding of election laws, rules, policies, and procedures. While this role does not involve supervising other positions, employees may provide training to other support staff.

Work is performed under the direct supervision of an Election Director, Election Deputy Director, or other designated administrative staff, with an expectation of considerable tact, discretion, and judgment. Confidentiality is emphasized. The role may require travel to schools, nursing homes, or other facilities and may include evening and weekend work, particularly before and after elections.

The Election Program Assistant I is differentiated from the Election Program Assistant II in that the latter performs duties under moderate supervision and may lead other support staff or perform advanced-level tasks under general supervision.

Responsibilities

• Performs data entry and quality checks into the Statewide Voter Registration System.
• Prioritizes work to ensure timely completion of data processing tasks in accordance with office policies and procedures.
• Responds to customer requests and generates reports from the Statewide Voter Registration System.
• Identifies and reports discrepancies and program issues.
• Compiles and maintains statistics.
• Registers voters and responds to voter registration inquiries.
• May recruit election judges to staff polling places.
• May assist in organizing and instructing required training sessions following established policies and procedures.
• May assist with voting equipment maintenance, inventory, and preparation.
• May assist with identifying polling place facilities to comply with election laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• May maintain important or confidential records, including office records of employees’ work schedules, expense accounts, and office supplies.
• May assist with the purchase and inventory of supplies.
• May accept and process candidate and committee filings.
• May perform the full range of specialized clerical or clerical work in a local election office.
• May assist in redistricting.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

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

Experience: One year of experience applying election laws, rules, and procedures in a local board of election office.

Substitution Notes:

• Candidates may substitute one year of specialized clerical, data processing, technical, or administrative experience for each six months of the required experience. Specialized experience is defined as work in an office requiring reviewing, verifying, and interpreting information to make determinations and resolve work problems in accordance with policies, regulations, guidelines, and procedures.
• Candidates may substitute two years of general clerical, data processing, technical, or administrative experience for each six months of the required experience. General experience is defined as work performing a variety of duties typically found in office settings, such as filing, copying, data entry, general computer skills, and directing telephone calls.
• Candidates may substitute thirty credit hours from an accredited college or university for the required experience.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with Microsoft Office.
• Experience with data entry.
• Experience with registration and applying Maryland election laws.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Employees assigned duties requiring the operation of a motor vehicle must possess a valid Maryland motor vehicle operator’s license.

Special Requirements:

• Must be a registered voter in the State of Maryland (Election Law Article, Section 2-207(d), Annotated Code of Maryland).
• 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 (Election Law Article, Section 2-301(b)).

Benefits

State of Maryland benefits provided.