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Election Data Dispatches

Election Data Dispatches provides data, research and analysis about election administration in the U.S.

The Cost of the 2012 General Election in Wisconsin

Last year, we noted Wisconsin’s extensive efforts to provide and share data on the costs to administer elections in the state. Recently, the state provided updated figures showing that the November general election cost slightly more than $10 million.

Voting Equipment Costs in Massachusetts

Replacing old voting equipment does not always mean buying new machines. In Lawrence, MA, voters cast paper ballots that are then counted by optical-scan technology. The voting booths where they fill in their ballots can wear out, too.

The Cost of Eliminating Election Day Registration in Wisconsin, Part Two

The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board recently released its final report on the cost of ending Election Day registration in the state. The study estimated the price tag at $14.5 million, almost three times as much the initial projection provided in a preliminary report last December.

St. Lucie County, Florida, Election Costs Double

St. Lucie County, Florida, which had a number of problems this past Election Day, paid twice as much for elections in 2012—$760,000—as they did in 2004 and 2008—approximately $375,000 per year.

Cost of Eliminating Election Day Registration in Wisconsin

Recently, several Wisconsin legislators have discussed drafting legislation to end Election Day registration, which the state has allowed for more than 35 years.

Voting Systems in Anoka County, MN

Voting machines don’t last forever. Some experts say these systems last about 10 years. And replacing them, of course, costs money.

After Election Day Confusion, Hawaii Gov Pushes Full Mail-In Voting

On the heels of an Election Day plagued by long lines and mass confusion, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie says he’s pushing for major changes to voting on the islands —mainly, the elimination of the traditional Election Day altogether.

Wisconsin Election Costs

Democracy does have a price tag—at least for the costs of running elections. In Wisconsin, the Government Accountability Board (GAB), the state’s election agency, has made a concerted effort to collect cost data. Why?

Pennington County, South Dakota Election Costs

In Pennington County, South Dakota, election costs rose between 2010 and 2012. The change in cost, a jump from $6.21 per vote in a 2010 election to $7.10 per vote in the 2012 June election, may be partly attributable to an increase in absentee voting.

Cost of Cutting Polling Places in Nebraska

Recently, some election jurisdictions have taken to reducing the number of precincts and polling places, at least in part to save money.

Cutting Election Mailings to Save Money

Election jurisdictions on different coasts are using the same approach to save money during these fiscally challenging times – getting rid of certain mailings to voters.

Report: Cost of Walker Recall Effort Topped $80 Million

Wisconsin’s unprecedented 15 recall races for governor, lieutenant governor and state senate in 2011 and 2012, prompted a record amount of campaign spending, according to a report released Wednesday (July 25). Candidates, groups and committees spent a total of about $137.5 million on races, including about $84.5

The Cost of Voting Technology

Cost information on election administration is challenging to find. However, over the past decade election officials, academics, and advocates have made efforts to quantify the costs of one significant part of elections—voting technology.

New York’s Three Primaries Cost Counties, Confuse Voters

New York State is holding primaries three times this year. Hardly anyone is happy about it.

Precincts or Vote Centers

When policy makers and election officials have to make choices about how to run elections, cost considerations are often an important part of the process.

The Cost of Ranked-Choice Voting in St. Paul, Minnesota

In November 2011, St. Paul, Minnesota used ranked-choice voting (RCV) for the first time. This system lets voters choose candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate gets a majority of the vote, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and those votes go to those voters’ second choice.

Election Costs in New York

Four major elections in just over seven months may cost New York state taxpayers more than $100 million according to recent reports.

South Dakota Vote Centers

Recently, Sioux Falls, South Dakota held its second election using vote centers, which allows residents to cast ballots at any voting location, regardless of where they live.

Balancing Election Costs in Hartford, Connecticut

High elections cost estimates almost caused the Republican registrar in Hartford, Connecticut to cancel the town’s Republican presidential primary. The city council had allocated $120,000 to the registrar’s office. Of that, slightly more than half was supposed to pay for

David Becker: Upgrading Voter Registration

David Becker answers questions about problems in the nation’s voter registration system and about collaboration among states to implement solutions.

Inaccurate, Costly, and Inefficient

Research in Pew's report underscores the need for registration systems that better maintain voter records, save money, and streamline processes.

Vote-by-Mail: A Moneymaker for the Postal Service?

A national election conducted solely by mail would not significantly increase revenue for the U.S. Postal Service, according to a recent study from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Cost Savings from All-Mail Balloting

A recent study found that if all Colorado counties conducted elections solely by mail in 2010 they would have reduced costs by $1.05 per registered voter.

Economies of Scale in Election Expenditures

Recent studies in California and Colorado have found that less populous counties have higher costs per registered voter.

New Report Evaluates State Election Websites

A new report from the Pew Center on the States finds that many states have improved their election sites since 2008, but there are still missed opportunities to better help and inform voters online. Being Online Is Still Not Enough assessed

Notable Counties—Tippecanoe County, Ind.

In 2007, Tippecanoe County, Ind., home of Purdue University, shifted from precinct-based elections to vote centers.

Texas Dispatch: Estimating Total Election Costs

Texas has a detailed statute obligating the Secretary of State to track the number of state elections and their administrative costs. But the statute cannot ensure that counties track data accurately.

Massachusetts Dispatch: Projecting Elections Costs

The 2009/2010 Massachusetts special elections that elected U.S. Senator Scott Brown cost approximately $7.8 million. The state auditor’s office had estimated the cost would be close to $7.2 million.

Louisiana Dispatch: The Cost of Special Elections

It’s challenging to measure election costs accurately, but Louisiana has developed an advanced auditing system that is improving the cost-effectiveness of special elections.

North Dakota Dispatch: Smaller Counties Mean Larger Election Costs

In North Dakota, research indicates that elections cost significantly more per voter in smaller counties than larger ones.

Upgrading Voter Registration

The Pew Charitable Trusts and its partners are building on cutting edge practices in some states and the private sector to bring voter registration systems into the 21^st century and improve accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

The Cost of Statewide Recounts

As part of its work to help build high-performing states, the Pew Center on the States commissioned a case study on two recent, high-profile statewide races that underwent recounts: the 2004 Washington state governor’s race and the 2008 Minnesota U.S. Senate race.

Penny Pinching at the Polling Place

State and local governments are hosting a big election season in a terrible budget year. As elections officials get creative about finding new ways to save even the smallest amounts of money, they're also going to great lengths to minimize the impact on voters.

The Real Cost of Voter Registration

This 2009 study found that voter registration in Oregon cost more than $8.8 million* during the 2008 election, a cost of $4.11* per active registered voter or $7.67* per voter registration transaction (adding new or updating existing voter records). Using this analysis as a model, other states will be able to better estimate their registration expenses and therefore identify opportunities for reform. (*The study's data were updated in 2010.)

Summary of the Indiana State of the State Address

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) boasted during his state of the state address Jan. 19 that Indiana had weathered the recession better than almost every other state, although he still called on lawmakers to make cuts in spending without raising taxes.

Data For Democracy

This 2008 report discussed how good data is the basis of good policymaking. In the elections field, a lack of data has often left policy makers and election officials without the tools necessary to assess successes and failures in the field. When data is available, it has usually been limited. With numerous changes to elections since 2002 – and a growing focus on the administration rather than only the outcome of elections – data collection efforts have been steadily increasing.

Election-Reform Funds About to Be Sent to States

States are on the verge of receiving $2.3 billion in long-awaited federal money to help them revamp their election systems in the wake of the 2000 presidential race, which was marred by unprecedented ballot problems. But voters shouldn't expect reforms to be totally in place when they go to the polls in November. Many states won't be able to enact changes in time, and some states still aren't sure what to do about their voting equipment.