CNCounty News

Podcast: Election officials talk shop

Boone County, Mo. Clerk Brianna Lennon joins us in studio for the first episode of the County News Podcast.

Key Takeaways

In late 2020, Brianna Lennon and Eric Fey were commiserating that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, throughout one of the most technically challenging elections in American history, election officials weren’t able to get together to talk about the minutiae in election worker recruitment, ballot design or have the casual conversations that switched on the lightbulbs in their heads.

And that’s when they needed that information exchange the most.

Then Lennon, the Boone County, Mo. clerk, asked her colleagues nationally if they knew of any podcasts for people like them, and within a few months, she and Fey, of the appointed directors of elections for St. Louis County, Mo. were producing their own podcast, titled "High Turnout, Wide Margins."

They recently joined NACo for the inaugural episode of the County News Podcast, to talk about how they combat staffing challenges during election season, what county leaders should know about their election departments and the guests they’ve had a chance to talk to over nearly 100 of their own podcast episodes and more.

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Top image: Boone County, Mo. Clerk Brianna Lennon joins us in studio for the first episode of the County News Podcast.

County News Podcast

Take a deep dive on issues impacting local governments across the country, share in lessons on leadership from county leaders and their counterparts in Washington, and learn more about what it takes to strengthen America's counties on the County News Podcast.

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Upcoming Events

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Webinar

The Importance of Funding Election Infrastructure

County governments play a crucial role in maintaining the smooth operation of our communities, and the security and efficiency of election infrastructure is no exception. Election infrastructure is a rapidly evolving field, with new challenges such as cybersecurity threats, resource and personnel shortages, and shifting voter expectations.

Staying informed on these developments is important for all county leaders, not just election officials. This webinar will provide valuable insights on how robust federal funding of local election offices can bolster county operations, build public confidence, and help your community navigate these modern challenges.