County clerk works all-night shift

The ballot sorter in the Tillamook County Courthouse processes mail in roughly half the time it used to take staff to do by hand. Christy Nyseth, the county clerk, described the machine as the best use of taxpayer money, noting that her team can handle the workload faster while remaining fiscally responsible.

Nyseth oversees the entire election process for the county, which includes maintaining voter records and conducting elections. Her office also handles marriage licenses, passports, property transactions, and dog licenses year-round. She compared the variety of duties to the story of a man with many hats. On Oct. 14, the first day ballots were mailed to voters, Nyseth spent her day ensuring that the ten secure ballot drop sites in the county were ready to accept returns.

One of these sites is located in Bay City, near the local library and city hall. The blue metal box is locked and accessed only by deputized staff. Nyseth said that using these drop sites is a safe way for voters to return their ballots. After checking the box in Bay City, she returned to the courthouse to update the voter registration system. The system pulled in just over 800 new signatures from the previous few weeks. Her team plans to run these updates every morning as the election approaches.

The ballot sorter scans barcodes and signatures on envelopes to verify them against voter registration records. It divides the ballots into the county's 29 precincts. Nyseth explained that this process ensures each vote is attributed to the correct person and that only one active ballot exists per voter. The office anticipates a large volume of voters updating their registration or requesting replacement ballots in the days before the election.

On Oct. 28, election workers will begin opening ballot envelopes and preparing them for the tabulator. They work in bipartisan teams of two, with trained observers watching the process via livestream. Nyseth said the office also invites the public to watch a test of the tabulator. She noted that one resident attends every election, driven by a strong interest in the democratic process.

Nyseth expects to start her shift at 7 a.m. on Election Day and work until 3 or 4 a.m. the following morning. The team will process ballots until the final count is uploaded to the state site. Staff typically order food and hold a potluck of snacks and desserts during the long shift. One regular worker is known for bringing a large bowl of mixed candy.

To educate the public, Nyseth started a monthly event called Coffee with a Clerk. The sessions are informal and allow residents to ask questions about the election process. She also held town halls in Tillamook, Manzanita, and Pacific City to address misinformation. She said that providing accurate information firsthand helps voters correct misconceptions they may have heard online or in local conversations.

Nyseth is a member of the Oregon Association of County Clerks, where officials share tips on handling unique situations. She noted that the role is learned on the job rather than through a specific degree program. She said the hardest part of the job is having her integrity questioned by people who draw broad conclusions about election officials. Her favorite part is interacting with the public at the counter, including seeing former teachers and neighbors.