Any employee who is appointed by the President, the Vice President, or agency head.
What is political appointee?
The term Political Appointee refers to a government employee or official appointed by a political executive or officeholder rather than hired solely through a career civil-service process. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
What does political appointee mean in government?
In election administration, Political Appointee is applied according to its defined purpose: a government employee or official appointed by a political executive or officeholder rather than hired solely through a career civil-service process. Officials then use the relevant eligibility, filing, ballot, timing, notice, or procedural rules for that election. The exact process can differ by office, election type, and jurisdiction.
How is political appointee connected to elections?
In election administration, Political Appointee is applied according to its defined purpose: a government employee or official appointed by a political executive or officeholder rather than hired solely through a career civil-service process. Officials then use the relevant eligibility, filing, ballot, timing, notice, or procedural rules for that election. The exact process can differ by office, election type, and jurisdiction.
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Any employee who is appointed by the President, the Vice President, or agency head.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Political Appointee. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 22, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/political-appointee
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