“I think there’s a perception these leadership roles have more power than they do,” she said.

That said, if elected, Swoboda said she would refrain from participating in the logic and accuracy tests that are done on ballot-counting machines, arguing it’s not a good look. And she would seek legislative scrutiny of any “significant” changes to the state’s Elections Procedures Manual that could affect the secretary of state race.

Her Republican challenger, state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, did not return requests for comment.

The focus on the secretary of state’s office often obscures scrutiny of conflict issues at the county and local levels, where the elected officials actually run elections.

“That can be a particular issue in rural counties, where there aren’t big staffs,” Patrick, of the election center, said.

If the elected official running the office has a conflict, who handles the work, she asked. She cited a 2022 report from Reed College in Portland that found 34% of election offices nationwide have no full-time staff dedicated to elections.

The Election Center has suggested standards for dealing with conflict issues, encouraging election officials to create guardrails to guide situations where they are on the ballot. Recusal from decisions that directly impact their own race should be one of those guardrails, “to the extent feasible,” according to the center’s report.

Another organization that is working to reduce partisanship in elections has suggested that election officials take a cue from the judiciary when it comes to dealing with potential conflicts.

Federal law, as well as many state and local laws, require judges to recuse themselves in potential conflict situations.