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Residents press Lincoln County commissioners to reconsider leave for election staffer Melanie Howell after audits find no problems
Summary
At the July 1 meeting residents praised elections staffer Melanie Howell and said county and state audits produced no findings. One commenter urged her reinstatement while another raised separate allegations and said she would provide documentation; the commission took no formal action.
Public commenters urged Lincoln County commissioners on July 1 to reconsider the administrative leave of election office staffer Melanie Howell, saying recent audits turned up no problems and asking the board to reinstate or retain her.
“The state audit has no findings. Zero,” a public commenter told the board, recounting the county’s internal review followed by a state audit and describing the outcome as “outstanding.” The speaker said the county audit found two signed ballots before election day and eight signed ballots determined on election day out of about 6,000 ballots submitted, and added that historically the county sees “five to eight” signed ballots year to year.
The commenter praised Howell’s leadership and training of election judges, saying, “She’s exceptional. People trust her,” and urged the commission to bring her back to the office.
Charlotte Peterson, who identified herself during public comment, said she had conducted her own review of records and alleged a pattern of questionable activity by others around the election office. Peterson claimed individuals had signed Howell’s name on batch records and that payments appeared in records for someone who had not served as a trained election judge. She told commissioners she had filed or reviewed public-records requests and that some requested material was withheld; she said she would email the commission with additional documentation and characterized the leave as potentially “a witch hunt.”
The meeting record shows no response from the commission that changed the employment status of Howell during the session. Commissioners did not vote or direct staff to open a separate investigation on the record; public comment concluded and the meeting proceeded to other agenda items.
Clarifying details from the commenters included the audit results (county audit followed by a state audit reported with "no findings"), an estimate of roughly 6,000 ballots in the election, and a claim that eight ballots were determined to be signed on election day (two prior to election day were resolved).
The county did not announce any personnel action or next procedural steps regarding Howell at the meeting. The comments were entered into the record and one speaker said she would submit supporting documents to the commission by email.
