High number of election officials leaving their jobs in the U.S.

In a troubling trend for democracy, an unprecedented number of election officials are leaving their positions, raising concerns about the stability of the electoral process. According to Edward “Eddie” Perez, a Board Member of the OSET Institute who specializes in voting technology and election administration, this exodus of personnel is unprecedented.

Officials in Rockland County, New York, have expressed their anticipation that this turnover trend will persist. Patricia Giblin, the Elections Commissioner for Rockland County, stated, “We do predict that people, after a presidential election and after how busy it is and intense, it ends up getting that people do consider retiring.”

Threats against election officials have been on the rise, leading to resignations in some cases. Teak Brockbank of Cortez, Colorado, is facing federal charges for threatening elections officials, with one social media post calling for them to be hanged. Weld County, Colorado Clerk Carly Koppes revealed that she has received numerous threats over the last four years, including personal attacks on her character.

In Harford County, Maryland, Elections Director Stephanie Taylor shared how her office has been inundated with nasty letters, with staff members being referred to as ‘Nazis.’ The stress caused by these threats has even led to people quitting their positions. In Maryland, the turnover rate for election officials was at 46% as of January 2024, highlighting the extent of the problem.

Dallas County Election Administrator Heider Garcia acknowledged the pressures faced by election administrators, stating, “There is an increase and it’s undeniable that it’s directly related to the environment that we’re subject to.” In Texas, 77 out of 254 election jurisdictions have lost at least one local election official since 2020, according to a CBS News analysis.

Edward Perez of the OSET Institute raised concerns about the departure of experienced officials creating vulnerability in how the public perceives elections, especially in a time when baseless claims about election fraud are rampant. Greg McCloskey, the Elections Director for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, expressed worries about the impact of misinformation on voter confidence.

According to experts, the increased turnover of election officials could lead to mistakes in the electoral process. The trend of turnover among elected and appointed officials in the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election in Florida, known for the infamous “hanging chad” ballots, has only intensified over time, impacting regions across the country.