Spencer County approves expanded early voting, mail‑ballot processing and funding steps for Nov. 3 election

Spencer County Fiscal Court on Sept. 9 approved a set of measures to prepare for a likely large increase in mail‑in ballots and new early‑voting requirements for the Nov. 3 general election. County Clerk Lynn Hesselbrock told the court the county could process between 8,000 and 11,000 absentee/mail ballots and must provide Saturday early‑voting hours under a recently adopted emergency State Board of Elections regulation.

Hesselbrock said the county’s August primary — when the office processed about 3,500 mail ballots — showed how much additional time and expense absentee voting can produce. “We will most likely process between 8,000 and 11,000 mail‑in ballots,” she said, and asked the court to approve staff and logistical steps so ballots can be handled promptly and securely.

The court approved hiring 12 precinct election officers (eight regular and four alternates) at $14 an hour to staff early‑voting locations; renting a room in the Chamber building for ballot processing at $200 a month; adding $5,000 immediately to the Clerk’s postage meter for outgoing ballots; authorizing up to $1,000 for targeted election advertising; and hiring an eight‑person ballot processing committee at $14 an hour. The clerk said the county will open at least two early‑voting centers and host required Saturday hours (Oct. 17, 24, 31) with voting 8 a.m.–noon, and that the county is planning multiple “countywide voting center” locations so voters can cast ballots at any site.

Hesselbrock said the county will need extra ballots because there are eight distinct ballot faces in the county and each early‑voting center must be supplied with every ballot face. She also asked permission to use short‑term help from Parks Department staff for quick logistical tasks without waiting for formal authorization, citing the speed needed to deploy supplies and signage. The court approved her requests by roll call.

The court’s actions were procedural approvals to fund staffing, postage and venue rental; they do not change ballot rules or ballot‑face allocations, which the clerk said are governed by state election administration and the emergency regulation. Hesselbrock said the county will continue public outreach, including flyers, radio and social media, to direct voters to early‑voting options and ballot‑request portals.