While counties conduct elections annually (typically, at least two each year), the state currently pays election costs only in odd-numbered years. The costs of elections are considerable, and there are more ballot items—federal, state, and local offices and ballot measures—than ever before. Senator Hunt has introduced SB 6134, which would have the state pay its fair share in all elections, and fast-tracked it for a hearing the first week of Session.
SB 6134 would:
- Have the state pay a pro-rated share of all elections, regardless of year or level. This is a considerable amount of money for the counties (about $7 million/year).
- Have the state pay for recounts associated with an election.
- Requires counties to do voter outreach, aimed at educating the public on voting and increasing voter participation.
How does this affect prepaid postage for ballots?
- Last year, the Legislature enacted (with WSAC support) SB 5063, which requires all ballots to be sent with prepaid return postage, but also provides that the state will reimburse the counties for (most) of those postage costs.
- This year’s bill includes prepaid postage within the total election costs for reimbursement. While the total money that would be available to a county for election costs would go up considerably, this bill is a step back from the prepaid postage-specific funding secured last year. Fiscally, it is a trade worth making so long as the state honors its pledge to appropriate the funds (a risk in any case).
WSAC testified in support of this bill on January 15, and the hearing can be viewed at this link.
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