Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections

TheHillsborough County Supervisor of Elections (also known as Hillsborough County SOE or Hillsborough County Elections Office) is the county‑level government agency responsible for administering all elections within Hillsborough County. Its core duties include maintaining the voter registration roster, preparing and distributing ballots, overseeing early voting and election‑day polling places, and certifying election results. The office also provides public outreach and voter education services to ensure residents understand the voting process and their rights.

In carrying out its mission, the Supervisor of Elections manages both the voter registration system and a stand‑alone, air‑gapped ballot tabulation system that is kept isolated from external networks to protect the integrity of vote counting. The agency coordinates with state and federal election authorities to comply with applicable statutes and regulations, and it offers assistance to candidates, political parties, and voters regarding filing requirements, campaign finance disclosures, and polling place locations.

A distinguishing attribute of the office is its focus on election security; as illustrated by the May 3 2023 incident, an unauthorized intrusion into a shared network drive was detected, though the voter registration and air‑gapped tabulation systems remained uncompromised. The office promptly notified federal, state, and local law‑enforcement partners, who are investigating the breach as part of a broader effort to safeguard critical election infrastructure. This incident underscores the office’s commitment to monitoring and defending its information assets while maintaining operational continuity.

Structurally, the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections is a division of the Hillsborough County government, headed by the elected Supervisor of Elections, Craig Latimer, as identified in the agency’s May 2023 press release. The office operates under the authority of county ordinances and state election laws, and its leadership is accountable to the electorate of Hillsborough County for the proper conduct of elections.