May 2, 2007 - County seeks money help for additional election

Paper: Coalinga Record (CA)
Title: County seeks money help for additional election
Date: May 2, 2007

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors has officially asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for financial support to assist the implementation of Senate Bill 113. The bill, recently signed into law, creates a separate presidential primary election to be held on Feb. 5, 2008.

Consequently, all 58 California counties will be required to conduct three separate statewide elections in 2008: The February presidential primary election, the June statewide direct primary election and the November general election.

The passage of SB 113 now forces counties to expend time and resources for each election including vetting candidates, designing, printing and mailing voter pamphlets and absentee ballots, securing polling places and recruiting poll workers. This will be followed by post election activities such as processing election-day absentee ballots, verifying provisional ballots and conducting an official canvass prior to certification.

The cost statewide is estimated to be $105 million. It is estimated that California counties will expend $90 million and the secretary of state will spend $15 million.

The cost for Fresno County is $1.5 million for each of the three elections.

(April 25, 2007)

By Record Staff

Section: News