Auditor proposes moving absentee-voting operations downstairs, estimates ~$58,000 remodel

Courtney, the county auditor and elections commissioner, told the Board of Supervisors she wants to relocate in-person absentee voting and centralize election records to the courthouse Ground Floor to improve accessibility and secure ballot handling. "The current location does not adequately support absentee voting," she said, adding that the upstairs space used during high-volume early voting lacks privacy, blocks an elevator and makes ADA-compliant voting difficult.

Courtney said the county recorded roughly 3,200 in-person absentee voters in a recent 20-day early-voting period and that the current layout can create crowding and accessibility problems. She presented a rough plan and an initial cost estimate of about $58,000 to build a counter and reconfigure space downstairs. "Having everything centralized reduces risk, improves service, and supports election integrity," she said.

Supervisors discussed cheaper alternatives, including hiring temporary staff for the busy early-voting window (20 days) and trying to reconfigure the existing upstairs space. Courtney said hiring 20-day temporary workers might cost roughly $6,000 but expressed concern about recruiting reliable, party-balanced staff for daily absentee operations. She raised a procedural concern that moving absentee voting off the auditor's floor could create a "gray area" for how absentee operations are classified and preferred party-balance safeguards.

Board members also raised the practical question of what to do with the remodeled upstairs office space if the auditor moved downstairs. One supervisor suggested a short brainstorming site visit to determine whether records and cabinets could be better consolidated upstairs to avoid the expense. Several supervisors offered to help evaluate available space and operations before committing to a remodeling appropriation.

Courtney asked the board to authorize staff to proceed with an office-relocation plan and return with finalized costs. The board did not take a funding vote at the meeting; supervisors asked staff to explore options and suggested a follow-up visit and proposal ahead of the next general election cycle.