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Elections director seeks staff and contingency funding ahead of possible state‑called election
Summary
The Elections Department asked the board to approve an administrative assistant position to handle larger election ballots and to approve a contingency fund in case the state calls an additional on‑the‑ground election; staff proposed setting aside $276,000 to cover upfront costs if required.
Elections Director Lauren Custis told the board that larger ballots and increased early voting volumes make additional, trained staff necessary and that the department needs contingency cash if the state triggers an unplanned election.
Custis said the office successfully administered a 2024 primary and general election that included a two‑page ballot and that larger ballots drove substantial extra processing time. She requested a new administrative assistant to shift operational duties and reduce reliance on seasonal staff; Custis said the department could offset much of the position’s cost by reducing seasonal payroll previously used to manage poll workers.
On state timing, Custis described ongoing legislative uncertainty about the 2026 primary date and said the department worked with management to identify an upfront contingency of $276,000 so the county could conduct an on‑the‑ground election if the legislature schedules one and funds must be spent before reimbursement arrives. “We would have no money to conduct that election…working with [management] we came up with dollars 276,000 in the contingency,” she said.
Board members praised the department’s transparency and asked about certification and staffing for tabulation days; Custis said the department needs certified election officials for the tabulation room and that limited certified staffing hampered double‑shift options in 2024. She also said the department will add improved cradle points (connectivity hardware) at vote centers to reduce connectivity failures.
Why it matters: Elections depend on trained personnel, reliable IT and up‑front resources for unplanned legal or legislative changes. The contingency plan would ensure the county can run an election with immediate cash flow if the state calls one and reimbursement comes later.
