(a) An election services contract may authorize the county election officer to contract with third persons for election services and supplies and may provide that the officer will pay the claims for those election expenses or that the contracting authority will make the payments directly to the claimants.
(b) If a contract provides that the contracting authority is to pay the claims of third persons, the county election officer becomes the agent of the authority and may contract with third persons in the name of the authority with respect to election expenses within the scope of the officer’s duties, and the officer is not liable for the authority’s failure to pay a claim.

(c) If a contract provides that the county election officer is to pay the expenses, the contracting authority is not liable for the officer’s failure to pay a claim.