County

Clerk of the Circuit Court, Elkhart County

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The clerk keeps the county's court records and collects court fees, and runs elections as secretary of the county election board.

Candidates Compare by issue

Megan A Graham

Democratic

Banking professional

The gist

Proposes searchable reference guides so procedures stay consistent
Supports dual control and separation of duties in the office
Supports judging vote centers by turnout, wait times, feedback
Proposes clearer feedback when court filings are rejected

More about Megan

View sources (1)

Proposes searchable reference guides so procedures stay consistent
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Elkhart County Circuit Court Clerk
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“there should be clear, searchable reference guides so processes are handled the same way every time”
Supports dual control and separation of duties in the office
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Elkhart County Circuit Court Clerk
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“That includes separation of duties, dual control, and consistent documentation so work is handled accurately every time.”
Supports judging vote centers by turnout, wait times, feedback
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Elkhart County Circuit Court Clerk
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Data like turnout, wait times, and voter feedback should guide decisions.”
Proposes clearer feedback when court filings are rejected
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Elkhart County Circuit Court Clerk
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“That could include clearer feedback loops so people understand why something was rejected and how to fix it.”

Patty Pickens

RepublicanIncumbent

Elkhart County Clerk of the Circuit Court

The gist

Pledges to present the election budget to the Election Board
Supports bipartisan, two-lock custody of early-voting ballots
Proposes upgraded technology and regular staff training
Pledges better customer service for residents and courts

More about Patty

View sources (2)

Pledges to present the election budget to the Election Board
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Elkhart County Circuit Court Clerk
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I am committed to presenting the budget to the Board so members understand what it includes”
Supports bipartisan, two-lock custody of early-voting ballots
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Elkhart County Circuit Court Clerk
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Ballots are placed in a secured office requiring two separate locks”
Proposes upgraded technology and regular staff training
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Elkhart County Circuit Court Clerk
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“upgraded technology to improve access and reliability; regular staff training focused on customer service and compliance”
Pledges better customer service for residents and courts
Pickens secures ballot spot for court clerk
News coverage · The Elkhart Truth · May 6, 2026 · elkharttruth.com
“I want to work on the customer services and just ensure that we are giving the best customer service to the residents of Elkhart County”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 2 issues covered in this race.