Senator Malek, Missoula County strongly supports SB 305 – Specifying how election to fill U.S. representative vacancy will be conducted, before Senate State Administration this afternoon. The Missoula County Elections Office anticipates a special election conducted by polling place to be upwards of $230,000, whereas a mail ballot election would cost roughly $100,000. SB 305 provides local governing bodies options to conduct the special election. This bill provides flexibility to counties and would not be codified into future law. Election Administrators are looking for a one time exemption to have the option to conduct a federal election by mail to save taxpayer dollars. As you know from your work as a polling place manager, election administrators juggle many elements, such as integrity of the process, accessibility, and even fiscal responsibility. Please support SB 305.
Missoula County continues to strongly support SB 305 (and proposed amendments) – Specifying how election to fill U.S. representative vacancy will be conducted, on the Senate floor this morning. The Missoula County Elections Office anticipates a special election conducted by polling place to be upwards of $230,000, whereas a mail ballot election would cost roughly $100,000. SB 305 provides local governing bodies options to conduct the special election. This bill provides flexibility to counties and would not be codified into future law. Election Administrators are looking for a one time exemption to have the option to conduct a federal election by mail to save taxpayer dollars.
Representatives Hill-Smith, McConnell and Morigeau,
Missoula County continues to strongly support SB 305 – Specifying how election to fill U.S. representative vacancy will be conducted, being heard in House Judiciary tomorrow morning. The Missoula County Elections Office anticipates a special election conducted by polling place to be upwards of $230,000, whereas a mail ballot election would cost roughly $100,000. SB 305 provides local governing bodies options to conduct the special election. This bill provides flexibility to counties and would not be codified into future law. Election Administrators are looking for a one time exemption to have the option to conduct a federal election by mail to save taxpayer dollars. Missoula County will not have eight polling places available that day do to MCPS construction and other previously scheduled events, such as graduation ceremonies. This will require substantial efforts to identify alternative locations and to provide notice to polling place voters. Fewer and fewer Missoula County voters are casting their ballot at the polls. These figures, mail expenses, and poll expenses are included below. Election Polling Place Absentee Primary 2008 69% 31% General 2008 55% 45% Primary 2010 40% 60% General 2010 57% 43% Primary 2012 30% 70% General 2012 35% 65% Primary 2014 27% 73% General 2014 39% 61% Primary 2016 22% 78% General 2016 28% 72%
Mail Expenses Costs Office Supplies $1,500.00 Legal Ads $1,205.00 Fairgrounds Rent & Utilities $3,610.00 Printing & Materials $46,066.87 Polling Place Deliveries - Polling Place Printing & Materials - Computer Services $4,000.00 Postage $15,120.00 Personnel $28,810.02 Total $100,311.89
Sent on Monday 2/20:
ReplyDeleteSenator Malek,
Missoula County strongly supports SB 305 – Specifying how election to fill U.S. representative vacancy will be conducted, before Senate State Administration this afternoon. The Missoula County Elections Office anticipates a special election conducted by polling place to be upwards of $230,000, whereas a mail ballot election would cost roughly $100,000. SB 305 provides local governing bodies options to conduct the special election. This bill provides flexibility to counties and would not be codified into future law. Election Administrators are looking for a one time exemption to have the option to conduct a federal election by mail to save taxpayer dollars. As you know from your work as a polling place manager, election administrators juggle many elements, such as integrity of the process, accessibility, and even fiscal responsibility. Please support SB 305.
Sent Friday Morning 2/24:
ReplyDeleteSenators,
Missoula County continues to strongly support SB 305 (and proposed amendments) – Specifying how election to fill U.S. representative vacancy will be conducted, on the Senate floor this morning. The Missoula County Elections Office anticipates a special election conducted by polling place to be upwards of $230,000, whereas a mail ballot election would cost roughly $100,000. SB 305 provides local governing bodies options to conduct the special election. This bill provides flexibility to counties and would not be codified into future law. Election Administrators are looking for a one time exemption to have the option to conduct a federal election by mail to save taxpayer dollars.
Please support SB 305.
Sending the following this evening at 4 p.m.:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives Hill-Smith, McConnell and Morigeau,
Missoula County continues to strongly support SB 305 – Specifying how election to fill U.S. representative vacancy will be conducted, being heard in House Judiciary tomorrow morning. The Missoula County Elections Office anticipates a special election conducted by polling place to be upwards of $230,000, whereas a mail ballot election would cost roughly $100,000. SB 305 provides local governing bodies options to conduct the special election. This bill provides flexibility to counties and would not be codified into future law. Election Administrators are looking for a one time exemption to have the option to conduct a federal election by mail to save taxpayer dollars. Missoula County will not have eight polling places available that day do to MCPS construction and other previously scheduled events, such as graduation ceremonies. This will require substantial efforts to identify alternative locations and to provide notice to polling place voters. Fewer and fewer Missoula County voters are casting their ballot at the polls. These figures, mail expenses, and poll expenses are included below.
Election
Polling Place
Absentee
Primary 2008
69%
31%
General 2008
55%
45%
Primary 2010
40%
60%
General 2010
57%
43%
Primary 2012
30%
70%
General 2012
35%
65%
Primary 2014
27%
73%
General 2014
39%
61%
Primary 2016
22%
78%
General 2016
28%
72%
Mail Expenses
Costs
Office Supplies
$1,500.00
Legal Ads
$1,205.00
Fairgrounds Rent & Utilities
$3,610.00
Printing & Materials
$46,066.87
Polling Place Deliveries
-
Polling Place Printing & Materials
-
Computer Services
$4,000.00
Postage
$15,120.00
Personnel
$28,810.02
Total
$100,311.89
Poll Expenses
Costs
Office Supplies
$1,500.00
Legal Ads
$1,205.00
Fairgrounds Rent & Utilities
$3,610.00
Printing & Materials
$57,496.87
Polling Place Deliveries
$1,500.00
Polling Place Printing & Materials
$2,500.00
Computer Services
$16,000.00
Postage
$14,805.00
Personnel
$129,288.18
Total
$227,905.05
We strongly urge you to support SB 305.