By Secretary of State Phil McGrane
Highlights from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office
February 27, 2026
Idaho’s Collaborative Model Takes the National Stage
Last week in Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to share something I believe Idahoans do exceptionally well: we work together.
As I joined Idaho County Clerk Kathy Ackerman — Idaho’s representative on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the NACo Elections Subcommittee — on stage at the NACo conference, I was reminded that the collaborative approach we often take for granted here at home is anything but common.
A State-County Partnership That Works
Since taking office, I have had the privilege of working closely with all 44 of Idaho’s County Clerks, who represent every corner of this great state. Many of these community leaders were colleagues during my time as a County Clerk.
During our NACo panel discussion, I once again found myself on a national stage sharing what Idaho does right. The response was striking. The room was genuinely impressed by the collaborative model we’ve built here, a strong, functional partnership between our office at the state level and county offices on the frontlines.
At the state level, we support counties as they carry out the essential work of registering voters, training poll workers, and counting votes. In return, county officials support our work in managing and maintaining the statewide voter registration system, standardizing voting practices, and safeguarding the election process. It is a partnership built on communication, trust, and shared purpose. While we may sometimes take that collaboration for granted, it draws attention because it is unusual.
Investing in Ongoing Training
That same spirit of partnership was evident as my team recently completed the first round of our quarterly regional trainings for 2026, visiting counties across Idaho to meet with local election teams.
Ongoing training is critical in the elections space. It requires intentional effort to ensure every county has access to accurate information, updated resources, and consistent procedures. We take these trainings on the road so county offices can send as many staff as possible.
Grateful for Idaho’s Election Leaders
I am deeply grateful to the clerks and election teams across Idaho who consistently show up, engage thoughtfully, and recommit themselves to conducting elections that are secure, accessible, and transparent. Their dedication reflects the very best of public service, and it is an honor to work alongside them.
Phil McGrane
About Phil McGrane
Phil McGrane was elected Idaho’s twenty-eighth Secretary of State and took office on January 2, 2023. McGrane served as elected Clerk of Ada County from 2019-2022. McGrane holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, a juris doctorate, and a Master of Public Administration. As a fourth-generation Idahoan, Phil has dedicated his career to making elections in the state of Idaho accessible, secure and transparent.
