Van Zandt County creates full-time elections administrator position

Van Zandt County Commissioners Court voted to create a full-time county elections administrator position, a role the court and county staff said is intended to centralize election administration and keep the county current with new election laws.

At the hearing the county clerk said she and her staff will continue to perform hands-on election work but will report to and take direction from the new elections administrator on election day and during early voting. The clerk said the office plans to close on election days to ensure staff can assist with election operations, equipment and logistics. The clerk and the judge told the court the position was budgeted for fiscal 2026.

A member of the public, Anne Nelson of the Van Zandt County Democrats, spoke at the public hearing and expressed support for creating an elections-administrator position, citing the countys population growth and the need for accurate paperwork.

The court voted to approve the order establishing the position; the motion was made and seconded and the vote carried. The court directed staff to incorporate the change in the countys personnel and budget materials and to proceed with the hiring process per applicable county hiring procedures.