Lincoln County elections office praised for security, asks for one full-time staffer as voter rolls swell

Lincoln County election officials told commissioners on Dec. 10 that the county received praise from federal election authorities for its handling of overseas and military ballots and for election‑security practices.

The elections administrator said the office has grown to about 13,500 active voters and is now the eighth‑largest voting county in the state while operating with a two‑person staff. The office highlighted two cybersecurity assessment items and said persistent electrical and internet outages from its basement office are operational vulnerabilities.

Staff asked the board to authorize one additional full‑time position (an election clerk or secretary) so the office can meet upcoming demands: list maintenance starting in January, candidate filing, multiple school and district levies, and a primary and general federal election cycle that could amount to 15 or more elections in the next cycle. The administrator said grant funding for staff is limited, and short‑term temps require lengthy security training that limits their effectiveness during busy periods.

Commissioners discussed possible grant opportunities and operational fixes (battery backups, GIS boundary deadlines tied to a Feb. 18 statutory cutoff for boundary moves) and asked staff to continue researching funding options. The Secretary of State's office offered to provide assistance and outreach to help the county address staffing and operational needs.

Next steps: the elections office will continue to seek grant support and the board will review options for adding personnel or reallocating resources.