- County clerks are elected officials who serve four-year terms and oversee the daily operations of their office.
- The office manages motor vehicle services, property and legal records, and elections, making it a central hub for residents.
- Clerks play a critical role in customer service, record-keeping, and local governance, affecting the daily lives of nearly every resident in the county.
Boone County Clerk Justin Crigler believes the clerk’s office is the front door of a county’s administrative operations.
Whether registering a car, recording a property deed or casting a ballot, residents interact with the clerk’s office more frequently than almost any other county department.
“I consider the County Clerk’s Office essentially the face of the county,” Crigler said. “We get hundreds of people coming into our office daily, so we’re kind of the front door for the county. Customer service is imperative.”
County clerks are elected officials who serve four-year terms. Crigler, currently in his second term, said he plans to run again in 2026. The office is unique in that it combines government functions with high-volume customer service, requiring clerks to manage records while interacting directly with the public.
“Most people don’t visit the jail or the PVA every year, but almost everyone comes to get a car tag, record a deed, or get a marriage license at some point in their life,” Crigler said. “Our work affects the daily lives of residents more than any other county office.”
The county clerk oversees three main departments, each with distinct responsibilities.
The Motor Vehicle Department manages vehicle registrations, license plates and ownership transfers for cars, trucks, boats and ATVs. It also supervises rentals, commercial vehicles, and specialized registrations such as 18-wheel trucks and airport rentals. Furthermore, the department issues lien releases and maintains other vehicle-related records of ownership.
The Real Estate and Records Department manages property records such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and encumbrances. In addition to real estate, it issues marriage licenses, notary commissions and liquor licenses for local businesses. The department also handles delinquent tax records and other legal filings, such as peace bonds.
The Elections Department administers voter registration, party changes and new registrants moving into the county. It conducts elections from the setup of polling stations to tallying votes and ensures compliance with all state and federal election laws.
Each of these critical functions makes a county clerk’s office a central hub for residents.
“It’s more than just real estate or vehicles, it’s a lot of different responsibilities that affect people’s daily lives,” Crigler said.