VOTE411 Voter Guide

The clerk of the circuit court (commonly called the county clerk) is a constitutional officer voted at-large for a four-year term. The clerk is prohibited from serving more than eight years within a period of 12 years. Functions of the clerk include the following: Attending, either in person or through a deputy, sessions of the circuit court and any other county courts; Clerks must file, record and enter orders pertaining to civil, juvenile and criminal mattersIssuing testamentary letters, letters of administration and letters of guardianship; recording wills, inventories of estates, sale bills, inheritance tax orders, final accounts and reports of distribution in probate proceedings; and keeping money to be held in trustServing ex officio as a member and secretary of the county election board and the county commission on public records; Clerks must also appoint nominees from the two major political parties to the county election boardReceiving filings of candidacy from people seeking certain elective offices and issuing certificates of election to successful local candidatesNotifying the custodian of alien property in Washington, D.C., of any court action involving alien propertyNotifying the clerk of the county in which the case was begun of any court order or judgment related to divorce actions within the county Preparing budget estimates of the amount required to pay expenses of cases tried in other counties and the amount required for operations of the clerk’s office, the courts and for conducting electionsOther important functions of the county clerk relate to voter registration and the implementation of elections for the county. The clerk is responsible for filing registrations from new or eligible voters. The clerk can appoint and supervise deputy officers which are divided between the two major political parties to help with election tasks and to ensure polling location are ready and accessible for voters.