Boone County election board cuts $200 late-filing penalty to $100 after filer cites health problems and urges reminders

The Boone County Election Board voted to reduce a $200 late-filing penalty to $100 and gave the filer 30 days to submit a required CFA-4 form after a meeting participant described medical and vision problems that led to a missed deadline and urged the office to add automated reminders.

The meeting participant told the board they had been undergoing eye treatments and that screen time had become difficult, and apologized for missing the filing deadline. “So I looked at this as an opportunity of how do we really kind of potentially change the process a little bit and just make it where you don't have to … candidates that are new to the process are able to navigate this without finding themselves on the wrong side of the street in this case,” the participant said.

County Clerk (the meeting's first speaker) said the clerk’s office already uses texts and emails and provides a pink pamphlet at sign-up but that “by state law, we're not obligated to send any reminders. And I'm one of the few county clerks that does. I usually send a text or an email saying, hey. Just to let you know, sometimes I call.” The clerk described a brief filing window and said the office follows up with dozens of filers: “I had over 60…I had to follow-up with in that brief time.”

During discussion, a board member asked for options and said, “I would entertain a motion to either assess the fee, reduce the fee, or waive the fee, which was listed as $200.” The board member moved to reduce the fine to $100; a second was recorded and the motion passed with board members voting in the affirmative. The clerk said she would email the filer a receipt, provide the CFA-4 with the disband mark where needed, and that the office would issue an order documenting the assessed $100 and payment.

Board members described the action as a remedy for an individual filer rather than a change to the statutory filing rules. The clerk reiterated that the office can offer reminders as a courtesy but that state law does not require them; board members encouraged filing candidates and members of the public to bring time-stamped evidence (for example, social media posts or event dates) if there are questions about reporting periods.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to reduce assessed late-filing fee from $200 to $100 and allow 30 days for payment — mover: Board member; second: Board member; vote: unanimous (three ayes); outcome: approved. Clerk to issue order and email receipt. - Acceptance of Monica White amended CFA-4 (preprimary report showing zero expenditures) — motion moved and seconded; board voted to accept the amended report and move it forward to October. - Acceptance of Justin Sparks amended CFA-4 (debt forwarded) — motion moved and seconded; board voted to accept the amendment.

The board’s action resolves the specific assessment in this case; the clerk said staff will prepare the formal order documenting the reduced assessment and the meeting adjourned.