Auditor & Elections

Auditor & Elections

The office of the County Auditor was created in 1870 as part of a revamping of county government. The duties of the office covered areas that had previously been given to the County Judge in 1851, in the first Code of Iowa, and then to the Clerk of Court in 1861, with the formation of the Board of Supervisors. The State Legislature added the duties of Commissioner of Elections in the early 1970s. The County Auditor is an elected position, with a term of four years.

The Institute of Public Affairs has labeled the Auditor’s Office as the “Hub of County Government.” The Auditors and their staff are always available to help with your questions and invite you to visit their offices anytime.

Duties & Responsibilities

The following information has been prepared by the Iowa State Association of County Auditors for the purpose of acquainting you with the duties and responsibilities of your County Auditor. No attempt has been made to cover all the functions of this office. We hope you use this as a reference and an educational guide for information about the County Auditor.

The Auditor may perform a variety of duties depending on the size of the county:

• Budget Central
• Clerk to the Board of Supervisors
• Commissioner of Elections
• County Financial Officer
• County Registrar of Voters
• County Tax Accountant
• Custodian of the Courthouse
• Custodian of the Election Returns and Records
• Insurance/Bonds
• Licenses/Permits
• Overseer of the County Plats
• Payroll & Human Resources Manager
• Records and Plans

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