Election Administration Manager

Career Guide

An Election Administration Manager oversees the planning and delivery of elections to ensure voting is secure, accessible, accurate, and compliant with laws and procedures. The role coordinates people, processes, vendors, and logistics across the full election cycle, including registration support, ballot preparation, polling place operations, and results reporting.

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Key Responsibilities

Build and manage election project plans, timelines, and checklists for each election cycle
Lead hiring, training, and scheduling for election staff and temporary workers
Coordinate polling place setup, accessibility needs, and equipment delivery
Manage ballot design, ballot proofing, and printing coordination
Oversee chain of custody practices for ballots, equipment, and sensitive materials
Maintain election procedures, documentation, and compliance with state and federal rules
Coordinate voter registration operations and data quality checks
Manage relationships with vendors for voting systems, printing, and logistics
Run risk planning for disruptions, including staffing shortages and facility issues
Support public communications such as voter information, polling place changes, and election updates
Coordinate election night operations, results reporting workflows, and post election audits
Track budgets, purchasing, and expense reporting for election activities

Top Skills for Success

Project Management

Process Improvement

People Management

Stakeholder Management

Budget Management

Clear Written Communication

Public Service Mindset

Conflict De-escalation

Risk Management

Training Design

Election Law Literacy

Election Operations Planning

Polling Place Logistics

Chain of Custody Controls

Voter Registration Systems

Ballot Design Review

Election Results Reporting

Audit Coordination

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Elections Director

County Clerk

City Clerk

Director of Administration

Operations Director Compliance Manager Emergency Management Coordinator

Transition Opportunities

Program Manager Operations Manager

Public Sector Project Manager

Grants Manager Policy Analyst

Government Communications Manager

Vendor Implementation Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Formal Project Management MethodsCybersecurity BasicsVendor Contract ManagementData Quality ManagementCrisis CommunicationsAccessibility Standards KnowledgeAudit PlanningProcess Documentation

Development SuggestionsBuild a repeatable election playbook with checklists and owners, take a project management course, partner with security teams to learn essential controls, and practice tabletop exercises for high pressure scenarios such as polling place disruptions and equipment issues.

Market Intelligence Report

Election Administration Manager is part of the Business Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 55,000 to 75,000

Mid LevelUSD 75,000 to 105,000

Senior LevelUSD 105,000 to 140,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand. Hiring rises around major election cycles and increases in jurisdictions modernizing voting technology, expanding vote by mail programs, and strengthening security and audit practices.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

County Election OfficeCity Clerk OfficeSecretary of State OfficeState Board of ElectionsRegional Election AuthorityElection Assistance CommissionElection Systems and SoftwareDominion Voting SystemsHart InterCivicGranicus

Industry Sectors

Local GovernmentState GovernmentFederal GovernmentElection TechnologyCivic TechnologyPrinting and Mail ServicesLogistics and Facilities Services

Recommended Next Steps

Map your current experience to the full election cycle and identify gaps in registration, polling place operations, and results reporting

Create a portfolio of process documents such as training guides, checklists, and incident logs

Earn a project management credential or complete a practical project management course

Take training on accessibility requirements and inclusive voter services

Learn the basics of election security practices such as access control, logging, and chain of custody

Strengthen vendor and procurement skills by assisting with an equipment, printing, or logistics contract

Join professional associations and attend regional election administration trainings

Request opportunities to lead a mock election, audit drill, or election night reporting rehearsal