Director of Elections & Registration

Salary Information: Up to $180,000 (Depending On Experience)

The purpose of this classification is to plan, direct and oversee the operations and staff involved in voter registration and election processes for the County under the general oversight of the Board of Elections and Registration, including, but not limited to, conducting federal, state, county and municipal elections, registering voters, and maintaining voter lists, and to ensure such processes are carried out in compliance with local, state, and federal election and voter registration laws, rules, and regulations.

The Director of Elections & Registration oversees the operations and staff of the Elections & Registration Department that serve the over 500,000 registered voters of Cobb County. While the department is funded by Cobb County Government, it is governed by a 5-member citizen board comprised of two members appointed by the Cobb County Legislative Delegation, one member appointed the Chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners and one member each appointed by the county Democratic and Republican parties.

• The 2021 World Champion Atlanta Braves and the 2025 MLB All Star Game
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, one of the most prestigious soccer facilities in North America housing Atlanta United’s First Team, Academy, and front office staff
• One of the largest amusement parks in the country, Six Flags Over Georgia
• Second largest University system in Georgia, Kennesaw State University
• Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
• Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
• Dobbins Air Reserve Base
• Cobb County Public Schools, one of the best school systems in the state of Georgia
• Several Fortune 500 companies

The following duties represent the major responsibilities and core functions of this position.

Leadership and Administration
Provides strategic leadership and direction for the Department of Elections & Registration; develops goals, policies, and procedures consistent with federal, state, and local election laws and Board priorities.

Supervises and evaluates departmental staff; recruits, trains, and mentors employees, ensuring operational effectiveness, compliance, and adherence to County policies and ethical standards.Develops, presents, and manages the departmental budget; ensures financial accountability and compliance with County fiscal policies and procedures.

Advises and supports the Board of Elections and Registration (BOER) on election policy, legal compliance, and operational performance; implements directives and coordinates all meeting logistics and documentation.

Serves as the primary liaison with the Board of Commissioners, County Manager, Secretary of State’s Office, State Election Board, and municipalities; represents the County on election administration matters.

Election Operations
Plans, organizes, and executes all federal, state, county, and municipal elections; ensures accuracy, security, and compliance with applicable laws, deadlines, and certification requirements.

Oversees ballot design, proofing, and production; directs equipment testing, deployment, maintenance, and post-election collection and storage.

Develops comprehensive election project plans including staffing, scheduling, supply management, and contingency strategies for emergencies or operational disruptions.

Coordinates candidate qualification processes, early voting, absentee ballot issuance and processing, and Election Day activities; ensures polling sites are properly staffed, equipped, and supported.

Supervises post-election reconciliation, audits, certification of results, and retention of election materials consistent with state and federal law.

Ensures all polling places comply with ADA accessibility requirements and that facilities are equipped to support safe and efficient voting.

Voter Registration and Outreach
Directs all voter registration functions, including application processing, list maintenance, address updates, and removals in accordance with Georgia Election Code and NVRA requirements.

Ensures voter registration data integrity through ongoing database maintenance, security monitoring, and compliance with data accuracy standards.

Leads voter education and outreach initiatives to increase awareness, participation, and understanding of the election process.

Partners with community groups, schools, civic organizations, and advocacy entities to promote civic engagement and equitable access to the voting process.

Compliance, Risk, and Performance Management
Interprets, applies, and enforces all federal, state, and local election laws, administrative rules, and regulations governing elections and voter registration.

Develops, reviews, and updates departmental policies and procedures to ensure alignment with legislative changes and Board directives.

Coordinates responses to open records requests, audits, investigations, and public inquiries in collaboration with legal counsel and the BOER.

Develops and maintains risk management, emergency preparedness, and continuity of operations plans to safeguard election integrity and ensure uninterrupted operations.

Establishes performance benchmarks, tracks key operational metrics, and implements corrective actions to ensure accuracy, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Technology, Cybersecurity, and Vendor Management
Oversees all election technology systems including voting equipment, voter registration databases, and election management software.

Leads cybersecurity initiatives to protect election infrastructure, voter data, and network integrity in coordination with the County’s Information Services Department and the Georgia Secretary of State.

Manages vendor relationships and contracts for printing, technology, logistics, and election-related services; ensures compliance with County purchasing policies and service-level expectations.

Evaluates emerging election technology and implements process improvements to enhance accuracy, security, and voter confidence.

Public Engagement and Transparency
Serves as department spokesperson; provides clear, accurate, and impartial information to the public, media, candidates, and government officials.

Prepares and delivers reports, presentations, and updates to the BOER, County leadership, and community organizations.

Promotes transparency by maintaining open communication, publishing election information, and facilitating public access to data and reports consistent with law.

Performs other related duties as required to ensure the fair, secure, and lawful administration of elections and voter registration in Cobb County.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Operations Management, or a related field is required. Ten years of progressively responsible experience managing complex operations, including at least five years in a senior leadership or director-level position, is required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Must be a US Citizen.

Experience reporting to a board or policy-making body is preferred.

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Must obtain and maintain Georgia Election Official and Georgia Voter Registrar certifications within 12 months of hire. 

Certified Elections Registration Administrator (CERA) or similar elections certification is preferred.

Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station.

Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.