Could a new way to vote be coming to Hamilton County? At the April 14 meeting, Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger mentioned the idea of universal precincts.
“It would save us a huge amount of money,” he said.
The idea for universal precincts is simple: keep voting convenient and cost effective.
“It’s harder and harder to find locations within precincts,” attorney Mike Howard said.
One way to utilize universal precincts is to step up a number across the county and voters can then attend any polling place. Maybe one near your work is more convenient – or even better, you aren’t stuck at the place that always has a line out the door on Election Day.
While voting numbers are the highest during presidential years (typically 70 to 80 percent in Hamilton County), Dillinger said the county “doesn’t need 180 precincts.”
With universal precincts, the number of polling places is decreased greatly – but the smaller number means less costs.
The 2011 general election cost Hamilton County residents $86,503.47 for 15.9 percent of registered voters.
The county paid $10,117.50 for its portion of elections costs but the rest of the tab was passed along to municipalities. In Westfield, the right to vote for mayor and city council District 3 representative cost taxpayers $14,812 for 4,153 ballots (21.7 percent of registered voters).
Kathy Richardson Hamilton County elections administrator said municipal elections are the only time costs are applied to cities. Richardson said direct costs for municipalities having an election include poll workers, janitors, supply kits, rent, meals, postage for absentee ballots and poll lists – essentially anything that can be directly assessed to them.
“Everything else is pulled together and pro-rated,” she said, adding those fees include ballot counters, machine setup, MicroVote usage, legal advertising, election board and canvas board.
No changes will be made prior to May 6 but at least the ball is rolling to open discussion lines and who isn’t in favor of casting a cost effective and more convenient ballot?
