Elections Office asks for
25 more precincts

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By Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com

The redrawing of political district lines last year has created the need for 25 more precincts and polling places beginning with next fall's elections.

As a result, the Office of Elections' budget will need to be increased to fund the additional workers needed for those sites, the office reported yesterday in testimony before the Senate Ways & Means and House Finance committees.

The Elections Office is asking the Legislature for an additional $429,710 for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to increase staff and services for both the primary and general elections.

The additional workers will also be needed to provide adequate service to voters.

During the past two election cycles, the Elections Office said it found an increased demand for curbside voting, assisting senior and disabled voters, assisting in registration problems and answering voter questions.

The Elections Office is asking for 436 more poll workers at a cost of $77,870.

Additional delivery and collection teams -- those responsible for securing ballots and related documents as they are transported from ballot distribution sites, polling places and counting centers -- will also be needed at a cost of $18,000.

The office is also asking for $100,000 for a voter education campaign that could include advertisements, public service announcements and Web site expansion.

The education is needed to assist voters with the registration process and the "how to vote" process ahead of time as well as letting voters know ahead of time of changes to new district boundaries and polling places as a result of reapportionment.