Cole County Commissioners reminded county officeholders Tuesday that they need to stay open for normal business hours prior to a holiday weekend.
The commissioners' reminder came during Tuesday's commission meeting, after County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer closed his office in the Courthouse Annex around 2 p.m. Christmas Eve.
Korsmeyer said his employees took leave time, so the closing didn't cost the county any money.
In past years, other county officeholders had closed their offices early for various holidays, despite complaints commissioners said they had received from local residents.
The officeholders said state law gives them leeway to open or close their offices as they see fit.
However, in the case of the county clerk's office, Jill LaHue - the commission's attorney - said Korsmeyer technically violated a state law and the sheriff could have arrested him and Prosecuting Attorney Mark Richardson could have prosecuted.
LaHue cited state statue 115.057, which deals with election authority offices being open and when.
The law states each election authority "shall maintain an office or offices sufficient for its purposes," and each election authority office "shall be kept open during regular business hours on all election days and on all other weekdays, except legal holidays."
The crime would be classified as a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of a year in the county jail, a fine of $2,500 - or both.