DeKalb County officials weigh handbook changes after Indiana law closes clerk offices on election days and guarantees paid poll-worker leave

DeKalb County commissioners on July 7 discussed how to update local personnel rules after two new Indiana laws that took effect July 1 require circuit court clerk offices to close for non-election business on election days and give county employees job-protected paid leave if they serve as precinct election officers.

The change will require edits to the county’s employee handbook and local schedules of paid holidays, county human-resources staff said. "They are actually mandated now by Indiana code that they will be closed to all other business except for election business," Dottie, human-resources staff, told the commissioners.

Why it matters: The new requirement affects operations in multiple county offices — the clerk’s office, courts, probation and the public defender — and could create coverage gaps on election days if county work sites are closed. The law also says employees who request leave to serve as poll workers may be paid both their regular county rate and the poll-worker pay, which county HR said will require handbook language to avoid conflicts with existing rules about working for multiple departments.

Details of the discussion

Dottie briefed the board on two parts of the new statutory changes: a provision that the circuit court clerk’s office must be closed to non-election business on election days, and a separate provision granting paid leave to local government employees serving as poll workers. "The employee is entitled to a day of paid leave from us if the employee requests leave to serve as a precinct election officer," Dottie said. She added that the statute specifies the employee is entitled to receive their poll-worker pay as well.

Commissioners urged caution about operational impacts. Commissioner Rick noted that closing the clerk’s office could affect probation, the three trial courts and the public defender’s office, saying, "If the clerk’s office is closed, that will restrict what business they can do." Several commissioners suggested consulting the judges, prosecutor and public defender to determine whether those offices want courthouse access on election days or expect to be excused.

No formal policy change was adopted during the meeting. The board asked staff to research options and report back. Commissioners also discussed the separate personnel issue of whether election days should remain county-paid holidays or be handled through paid leave for poll workers, and whether to permit employees to be paid both county wages and poll-worker pay without taking PTO.

What commissioners directed

- Staff research and present handbook language clarifying paid leave, dual pay (county wages plus poll-worker pay), and whether election-day status remains a paid county holiday.
- Commissioners asked that the county executive follow up with the judges, the prosecutor, the public defender and the probation office to gather preferences and operational constraints for upcoming budget meetings. Dottie volunteered to coordinate outreach to those offices and to return with recommended handbook edits.

Context and next steps

County HR said clerks statewide have reported difficulty recruiting poll workers; the paid-leave provision is intended to make it easier for county employees to serve. Commissioners said they want clear handbook rules before the next election cycle and noted that many other Indiana counties historically have treated primary and general election days as paid holidays. Staff will return with draft policy language for commissioners and, if needed, the county council to consider ahead of future elections.

Ending

Commissioners did not vote on any personnel policy changes; they instructed staff to report back with proposed handbook language and with feedback from judges and other affected offices as part of the normal budget-review schedule.