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Maricopa County (Phoenix) AZ Recorder Helen Purcell, a long-serving fixture in the election community, lost her bid for re-election in last week’s election – bringing to an end a career spanning nearly twenty-eight years.

Election Day typically centers on polling places and election offices across the nation – but in New Jersey, it’s also a busy day for special courts set up to hear last-minute requests (some silly, some sad) from voters who wish to cast ballots. It may seem like an unnecessary step given the availability of a provisional ballot, but for voters willing to make the trip and plead their case, it can mean the chance to cast a valid ballot.

Last Tuesday, Maine voters approved a referendum requiring ranked choice voting (RCV). Now, election officials and policymakers are puzzling out how to make the change – and worrying about having it ready in time for the next elections two years away.

On Tuesday, Alaska voters approved a plan that puts a state-specific spin on the growing popularity of so-called automatic voter registration (AVR). The use of Permanent Fund Dividend data – with a high degree of reach and quality compared to data used or proposed for AVR use in other states – will certainly shape those debates for the foreseeable future.

Election Day went very smoothly for most of the nation – which is good for the country and the election community, but can be uncomfortable for any jurisdictions where problems do arise because they tend to stand out. It can be even more difficult when the problems arise in a state where results are being closely scrutinized for their political impact. Meet Durham County, North Carolina.

Most of the country, like me, is more than a little sleep-deprived this morning after a long Election Day so let’s keep it simple for now with a quick roundup. [UPDATED midday with a few I missed in this morning’s haze.]

I’ve already said a lot about this election, and there will be a lot more to say starting tomorrow. Today, we vote.

It’s almost here … at this time tomorrow, polls will be open in several states for Election Day and the long-awaited (and eagerly anticipated) close to the 2016 election campaign will be underway. Looking ahead to tomorrow, I’d like to report something I first wrote in 2012 and re-posted in 2014. It’s surprisingly still pretty fresh, and a good guide on how to watch what does (and doesn’t) happen tomorrow.

Election Day is now just four days away (raise your hand if you’re ready; yeah, me too) and electionline’s Mindy Moretti is looking ahead in this week’s newsletter with 16 things to watch next Tuesday, November 8.

With Election Day just a few days away, cybersecurity continues to be a key topic – and in Ohio, the state’s chief election official is tapping an unusual source for help: the National Guard. It’s just the latest example of how the job of election administration is changing and expanding – and proof that an election official’s list of contacts has to grow to keep pace with the challenge.