By Secretary of State Phil McGrane
Idaho’s Election Brain Trust: Preparing for a Big Year Ahead
What happens when you put Idaho’s election professionals in one room?
Every January, we find out.
Clerks and elections staff from every corner of the state come together in Boise to share ideas, learn from one another, take a clear-eyed look at the year behind us, and prepare for the work ahead. It’s training, collaboration, problem-solving, and a reminder that Idaho’s elections are run by dedicated public servants who care deeply about getting it right.
This annual gathering has become one of my favorite events because everyone leaves better equipped, better informed, and more committed to ensuring Idaho’s elections are the best in the nation.
During the conference, I spent time reflecting on just how much we’ve accomplished together over the past three years:
- Stronger partnerships with counties, including regular user groups and regional trainings
- The launch of a new campaign finance system, lobbyist system, and a fully updated VoteIdaho.gov.
- New partnerships and expanded efforts surrounding voter roll maintenance
- Major improvements to election technology, including ePollbook use and election night reporting
- Continued investments in election security, audits, and cybersecurity
- Voter outreach from statewide campaigns to registration drives at Idaho’s universities
- National recognition, including Clearinghouse awards and being named one of Idaho’s Top 10 Best Places to Work
Just as important was looking ahead. We heard panels on building trust in elections, discussed efforts stemming from Governor Little’s executive order to ensure only citizens vote (which strengthened voter roll maintenance and led to prosecutions), and examined cybersecurity and emerging technologies, including AI.
But what struck me most wasn’t our accomplishments, it was what one presenter said: this level of cooperation between county clerks and the state is rare. That’s the real foundation of Idaho’s election system: the people who show up, do the hard work, and never stop improving.
Big Changes Ahead for Our Team
As we gear up for a busy election year, I’m excited to share some big changes to our leadership team. We’ve restructured to better leverage the talent we have and meet the growing demands ahead.
I want to thank Nicole Fitzgerald, Jason Lehosit, and Rob McQuade for their dedication over the past three years. They’ve moved on to great opportunities, and their leadership and dedication helped position this office for continued success.
Jesse Barcroft has joined us as Chief of Staff, Matt Reiber as Deputy Secretary of State, and Joe Parris will join our communications team as Public Information Officer in February. We’ve also promoted from within; Cody McRoberts has taken on the expanded role of Chief Operating Officer, and Megan Hill has stepped into the role of Elections Director. I’m excited about the talent and depth of experience these individuals bring to our team and looking forward to everything we can accomplish with the coming election year and beyond.
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.
