State Board of Elections Is Hiring

The State Board of Elections (SBOE) is staffing up, posting four new positions that will report to the Chief Enforcement Counsel, who assumes her position on September 1.

The positions the SBOE is seeking to fill are Elections Law Enforcement Investigator; Investigative Analyst – Strategic Planning; Associate Counsel; and Investigative Auditor.

More details on each position are below.

The Elections Law Enforcement Investigator will be responsible for:

• Developing investigation plans working as a team with auditors and investigative attorneys.
• Assessing the potential scope of illegal activities by analyzing and evaluating information from election audit reports and studies, federal and local law enforcement agencies, and other sources.
• Planning and performing investigations.
• Conducting various levels of analyses to identify illegal activities of individuals and/or patterns of widespread illegal activity and determining the feasibility of conducting investigations.
• Writing detailed evaluations of the initial indication of criminal intent, available courses of action, and tentative recommendations for the disposition of a case or broad-scale investigation.
• Conferring with the Chief Counsel, legal staff, audit specialists and other Board staff to clarify issues, potential risks, and the potential feasibility of various investigative options.
• Designing case plans that specify investigative methodologies, evidence to be collected, and analysis of anticipated legal, investigative and other issues.
• Conferring with law enforcement personnel to coordinate interrelated activities and planned actions.
• Obtaining evidence by obtaining financial and non-financial business records; obtaining and executing search warrants in accordance with the laws of search and seizure; locating and interviewing subjects and third parties; conducting surveillance, undercover operations, and other investigative activities as may be required.
• Securing and transporting evidence, and preparing all records, logs and accounts related to seized evidence in accordance with legal standards and requirements.
• Arresting individuals suspected of violating sections of the New York State Election Law and related provisions, in accordance with all applicable law enforcement standards, the Criminal Procedures Law, and other related statutory requirements and standards.

Investigative Analyst – Strategic Planning, who will be responsible for (among other things):

• Conducting comprehensive reviews of document retention and disposal policies of the Board of Elections. Advising the Chief Enforcement Counsel of results with detailed recommendations. Developing policies for the storage of electronic filings and response to subpoenaed documents.
• Developing the methodology for identifying the content and accessibility of the Board of Elections Rules, Regulations, statutes, and Board Opinions and policies.
• Assisting the Associate Counsel, Investigators and Investigative Auditors in developing strategies to obtain records from candidates, committees or their legal representatives, and third parties. Executing plans for data collection and preservation of evidence.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of campaign finance, voter fraud detection and enforcement projects.
• Conducting a comprehensive review of the Board of Elections electronic filing system of reports by candidates/committees.

Associate Counsel, who will be responsible for:

• Coordinating all phases of the investigation and referral of criminal violations of the Elections Law to ensure a successful prosecution;
• Assisting in determining case selection in addition to planning of the overall audit and investigation strategy in cooperation with Audit and Investigations staff;
• Ensuring that evidence gathered will be admissible in court;
• Ensuring candidates and witnesses constitutional rights are not violated;
• Rendering advice on current or proposed investigation and audit techniques;
• Assisting in the development of statewide projects to detect voter fraud in cooperation with the Investigative Analyst;
• Assisting in developing strategies to obtain records from candidates, committees or their legal representatives, and third parties;
• Maintaining contact with the County District Attorneys and New York State Office of the Attorney General;
• Conducting hearings before independent hearing officers of non-criminal violations of the Election Law to ensure professional litigations;
• Drafting, filing and litigating Special Proceedings in the Supreme Court.

Investigative Auditor, who will be responsible for (among other things):

• Conducting comprehensive reviews of campaign finance filings by political committees and candidates based on criteria established by the Chief Enforcement Counsel, including reviewing for completeness and accuracy.
• Auditing the books and records of political committees and candidates as may be necessary to effectuate a complete and thorough assessment of compliance with Rules, Regulations, statutes, and Board Opinions and policies.
• Conducting projects, including reviews for over contributions. Such projects shall include an analysis and application of appropriate Rules, Regulations, statutes, and Board Opinions and policies, and all correspondence and communications necessary to effectively complete these projects.
• Assisting the Chief Enforcement Counsel, Associate Counsels and Investigators in the analysis and review of campaign finance disclosures and filings relative to investigations of violations of statutes governing campaigns, elections and related procedures conducted by the Division of Election Law Enforcement.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of campaign finance and enforcement projects.