By Morgan Thomas, Policy Analyst For military and overseas voters, finding the best way to cast a ballot can be challenging. Fortunately, the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) Voting Assistance Guide is a helpful tool to learn about voting as a service member under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act in your state. The FVAP Local Election Office […]
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Articles
Base to Ballot: Election Jurisdictions Surrounding Largely Populated Military Installations in the U.S
By Morgan Thomas, Policy Analyst For military and overseas voters, finding the best way to cast a ballot can be challenging. Fortunately, the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) Voting Assistance Guide is a helpful tool to learn about voting as a service member under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act in your state. The FVAP Local Election Office […]
... Advancing Access for Military & Overseas Voters: 2025 Election Team Recap
By Grace Gordon and Casandra Hockenberry January Casandra Hockenberry, program manager at The Council of State Governments (CSG), attended and presented at the Election Center’s annual Joint Election Official Liaison Conference. At the conference, she presented recently released work from the Overseas Voting Initiative (OVI) as well as work to be released later in 2025. […]
... States Help Emergency Responders Vote by Extending UOCAVA Provisions
By Rachel Wright, Senior Policy Analyst Days before the 2020 general election, Hurricane Zeta made landfall in the United States, devastating families and communities across the Gulf Coast. Mississippi, in particular, was hit hard, with significant damage to homes, businesses and polling places. Emergency responders from neighboring states were called to Mississippi to provide aide, […]
...
Common Access Cards as Voter ID: Considerations for Legislators
Photo Credit: dvidshub.net Joint base switches to appointments only service at DEERS/ID Section card officeJOINT BASE MYER-HENERSON HALL, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES10.19.2015, Photo by Nell King, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall By Morgan Thomas, Policy Analyst Verifying a voter’s identity is crucial to ensuring the integrity of the voting process and preventing fraud. The common access card […]
...
Beyond the Ballot with Karen Brinson Bell: Leveraging Teamwork and Innovation in Elections
By Morgan Thomas, Policy Associate Karen Brinson Bell is no stranger to public service. In 2019, she was selected as the North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director. Brinson Bell’s father was the mayor of her small, eastern North Carolina hometown when she was born and worked in government for most of his career, […]
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Beyond the Ballot with Wayne Bena: Flexibility is Key for Election Success
By Lexington Souers, Communications Associate Wayne Bena likes to say his best friend’s daughter’s birthday party launched his career in elections. While at the party, Bena spoke to the then Sarpy County election commissioner, who was considering retirement, about her role in local elections. Pulling from his experience in the state legislature and private practice, […]
...Articles
Advancing Access for Military & Overseas Voters: 2025 Election Team Recap
By Grace Gordon and Casandra Hockenberry January Casandra Hockenberry, program manager at The Council of State Governments (CSG), attended and presented at the Election Center’s annual Joint Election Official Liaison Conference. At the conference, she presented recently released work from the Overseas Voting Initiative (OVI) as well as work to be released later in 2025. […]
Read More
States Help Emergency Responders Vote by Extending UOCAVA Provisions
By Rachel Wright, Senior Policy Analyst Days before the 2020 general election, Hurricane Zeta made landfall in the United States, devastating families and communities across the Gulf Coast. Mississippi, in particular, was hit hard, with significant damage to homes, businesses and polling places. Emergency responders from neighboring states were called to Mississippi to provide aide, […]
Read More
Common Access Cards as Voter ID: Considerations for Legislators
Photo Credit: dvidshub.net Joint base switches to appointments only service at DEERS/ID Section card officeJOINT BASE MYER-HENERSON HALL, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES10.19.2015, Photo by Nell King, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall By Morgan Thomas, Policy Analyst Verifying a voter’s identity is crucial to ensuring the integrity of the voting process and preventing fraud. The common access card […]
Read More
Beyond the Ballot with Karen Brinson Bell: Leveraging Teamwork and Innovation in Elections
By Morgan Thomas, Policy Associate Karen Brinson Bell is no stranger to public service. In 2019, she was selected as the North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director. Brinson Bell’s father was the mayor of her small, eastern North Carolina hometown when she was born and worked in government for most of his career, […]
Read More
Beyond the Ballot with Wayne Bena: Flexibility is Key for Election Success
By Lexington Souers, Communications Associate Wayne Bena likes to say his best friend’s daughter’s birthday party launched his career in elections. While at the party, Bena spoke to the then Sarpy County election commissioner, who was considering retirement, about her role in local elections. Pulling from his experience in the state legislature and private practice, […]
Read More
Beyond the Ballot with Stuart Holmes: Digital Native Leads State Elections into New Era
By Morgan Thomas, Policy Associate Before serving as Director of Elections for Washington, Stuart Holmes grew up surrounded by technology. His mother worked as Benton County, Washington’s IT Director, exposing him to technology at a young age. “I remember the days of figuring out dial-up and AOL with her,” Holmes recalled. “Growing up around computers, […]
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Beyond the Ballot with Natalie Adona: Despite Challenges, Work in Elections is the “Best Job in the World”
By Morgan Thomas, Policy Associate Driven to serve, Nevada County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Natalie Adona started off her career in elections as a poll worker while pursuing her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Berkeley. Then, she heard that the City and County of San Francisco had temporary positions for voter registration […]
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Beyond the Ballot with Paul Pate: Election Official’s History of Public Service, Business and Political Success Led to Transforming Secretary of State Role
By Lexington Souers, Communications Associate Raised in a family focused on giving back, and pulling from a successful career in business, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate recognized the power of government action. At age 29, Pate became the youngest member of the Iowa Senate and embarked on a path toward his current role. Following […]
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