Elkhart County adopts ordinance increasing pay and allowances for vote-center board members
March 31, 2026 | Elkhart County, Indiana
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Elkhart County commissioners on March 30 adopted an ordinance that raises per-diem pay and clarifies allowances for precinct election officers, whom the county refers to as vote-center board members.
County Clerk Patty Pickens presented the ordinance and staff-level details. The ordinance establishes daily per-diem amounts and modifies early-voting pay differentials: clerks who serve as vote-center board members are set at $150 per day; the role described as 'facilitator' (the county's label for the position commonly called sheriff under state law) will be paid $150 per day except when that facilitator is of the opposite political party of the supervisor and responsible for returning precinct supplies and results — in that case the facilitator receives $160. Supervisors are set at $200 per day.
The ordinance incorporates early voting pay into county code §34.16 and distinguishes pay by day: the record lists example rates such as $122 for certain Monday early-voting days and $110 for Tuesday through Saturday early-voting days, with adjusted higher amounts for staff who return ballots ($132 and $120 in examples given). The clerk also requested a food allowance increase to $20 per day (except the abbreviated Monday before election day) and training pay of $30 per approved training session.
Patty Pickens told commissioners the changes are intended to correct discrepancies and make pay more competitive with neighboring jurisdictions. The board approved the ordinance by unanimous vote.
What happens next: The ordinance will be codified into county code §34.16 and payroll/contractor classifications will be updated to reflect per-diem, food and training allowances. The clerk asked anyone who has outstanding pay issues from prior work to contact her office for facilitation.
Why it matters: The change affects compensation for the county’s election workers ahead of upcoming elections and clarifies pay for different early-voting schedules and special duties such as returning ballots.
County Clerk Patty Pickens presented the ordinance and staff-level details. The ordinance establishes daily per-diem amounts and modifies early-voting pay differentials: clerks who serve as vote-center board members are set at $150 per day; the role described as 'facilitator' (the county's label for the position commonly called sheriff under state law) will be paid $150 per day except when that facilitator is of the opposite political party of the supervisor and responsible for returning precinct supplies and results — in that case the facilitator receives $160. Supervisors are set at $200 per day.
The ordinance incorporates early voting pay into county code §34.16 and distinguishes pay by day: the record lists example rates such as $122 for certain Monday early-voting days and $110 for Tuesday through Saturday early-voting days, with adjusted higher amounts for staff who return ballots ($132 and $120 in examples given). The clerk also requested a food allowance increase to $20 per day (except the abbreviated Monday before election day) and training pay of $30 per approved training session.
Patty Pickens told commissioners the changes are intended to correct discrepancies and make pay more competitive with neighboring jurisdictions. The board approved the ordinance by unanimous vote.
What happens next: The ordinance will be codified into county code §34.16 and payroll/contractor classifications will be updated to reflect per-diem, food and training allowances. The clerk asked anyone who has outstanding pay issues from prior work to contact her office for facilitation.
Why it matters: The change affects compensation for the county’s election workers ahead of upcoming elections and clarifies pay for different early-voting schedules and special duties such as returning ballots.
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