THE CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT, EX OFFICIO AUDITOR, & RECORDER Constitutional and statutory laws have given this one elected county officer five distinct roles: clerk of the district court, ex officio auditor, recorder, clerk of the board of county commissioners, and chief elections officer of the county.
- Clerk of the District Court: As the clerk of the district court, the county clerk provides clerical management and support for the county’s district and magistrate courts. The clerk is responsible for the processing and maintenance of all court records generated and filed with the county’s district and magistrate courts (IC § 1-1001).
- Ex Officio Auditor: The county auditor is the county’s chief budget and financial officer. The Office of the County Clerk manages all county revenues and payments and prepares the county’s payroll. In the role of chief budget officer, the county clerk oversees the preparation of the annual county budget, monitors the budget’s execution, and prepares the county’s year-end financial reports (IC § 31-1602). The auditor examines and settles the debts of the county (IC § 31-2303) and keeps county accounts current with the treasurer (IC § 31-2304).
- County Recorder: As ex officio recorder, the clerk is responsible for recording, indexing, and filing certain types of documents upon payment of required fees (see Ch. 24, Title 31, IC).
- Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners: As Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, the county clerk supports the BOCC in the regular conduct of its business, such as recording proceedings of the board, its resolutions, ordinances, orders, and other decisions concerning the raising of money and allowances against the county, signing all orders made and warrants issued for the payment of money, preserving and filing all accounts acted upon by the board, and performing other duties as required by law or by any rule or order of the board (IC §§ 31-707-709).
- Chief Elections Officer: The county clerk plays a crucial role in protecting the democratic process by overseeing elections and ensuring a smooth voting experience for Idaho voters as the chief elections officer of the county (IC § 34-208). They handle voter registration, election coordination, and various administrative duties related to elections (IC § 31-5404). The statutory duties of county clerks in Idaho are outlined in multiple sections of the Idaho Code, providing a clear framework for their electoral responsibilities. Idaho Code allows the clerk (once empowered by the board of county commissioners) to appoint deputies and clerical assistants as the business of the office may require (IC § 31-3107)