State Funding
A small number of states pay for virtually everything related to administering elections. Alaska and Delaware, for instance, have centralized election administration (Alaska Statutes Title 15 Elections, Delaware Code Title 15 Elections). The states’ departments of elections are responsible for conducting elections and bear the cost of election administration almost completely. Oklahoma is also very centralized, with the state purchasing voting equipment, reimbursing counties for the salary of their chief election official, training poll workers, and paying for some supplies. However local jurisdictions are often still responsible for covering the costs of renting polling places, as well as providing ballot boxes, voting booths, and various other supplies necessary for the operation of polling locations.
It is much more common for states to pay for a portion of election management. Here are some examples of ways that states help:
Pay for a portion of all elections. In Kentucky and Rhode Island, the state bears a portion of the costs of all elections. In Kentucky, the state reimburses counties for the cost of elections at a set rate of $225 per precinct annually (Ky. Rev. Stat. §117.345), and in Rhode Island, the state pays for everything other than poll workers and polling sites, which are the responsibility of municipalities (R.I. Gen. Laws Title 17 Elections). Minnesota established a Voting Operations, Technology, and Election Resources (VOTER) Account with annual appropriations from the legislature to be distributed to counties and local units of government for expenditures directly related to election administration (Minn. Stat. §5.305).
Pay for state candidates or issues on the ballot. In Alabama, the state will pay all expenses of the election if there are only statewide candidates or issues on the ballot, or half of the expenses if there are both state and local candidates and issues on the ballot (Ala. Code §17-16-2 to §17-16-7). In Colorado, the state reimburses counties for 45% of election costs if there is state-certified content on the ballot. When Hawaii moved to mostly mail ballot elections, it passed a law requiring all election expenses, except those related to voter registration, to be split in half between the state and county when both county and state or federal offices are on the ballot. If a particular expense is shared statewide each county pays a proration of expenses as a proportion of registered voters at the time of the general election (Haw. Rev. Stat. §11-110).
Pay for primary elections or statewide special elections. Many states choose to pay for special statewide elections that don’t coincide with regularly scheduled elections, or for statewide primary or presidential primary elections. Arizona, for example, reimburses counties for presidential primaries at $1.25 per active registered voter (Ariz. Rev. Stat. §16-250). Arkansas reimburses counties for political party primaries, presidential primary and general primary elections, statewide special elections and nonpartisan general elections. After each legislative session, the State Board of Election Commissioners establishes an estimated average cost per voter by county (Ark. Code Ann. §7-7-201, 7-5-104, Ark. Admin. Code 108.00.5-501). Michigan reimburses localities 100% of the actual costs of statewide special elections and presidential primaries (Mich. Comp. Laws §168.487, 168.624g). In Washington the state assumes a prorated share of costs when state officers or measures are voted on in a state primary or general election in an odd-number year, and for a vacancy election to fill the position of U.S. senator or representative (Wash. Rev. Code §29A.04.410, 29A.04.420, 29A.04.430).
Share costs with local jurisdictions. Local jurisdictions often run elections that include local questions (municipal, school and special district races, or ballot questions) and state and federal races and questions. In some states, the cost of running elections is shared by all the entities (local and state) that have races or questions on the ballot. States can require this type of cost-sharing arrangement and dictate how costs are allocated. For example, in Louisiana, if there are both state races and ballot questions as well as local candidates or questions on the ballot, the state pays for half of the election expenses. The other half is shared pro rata by the local entities by “real estate” on the ballot. The share that local entities, such as school boards or special districts, pay is determined by dividing the entity’s number of offices, propositions or questions on the ballot by the total number of all offices, propositions or questions on the ballot (La. Rev. Stat. §18:1400.1, 18:1400.5). In Missouri, when more than one political subdivision has candidates or issues on the ballot, they share costs based on the number of registered voters in that subdivision as a percentage of the total number of registered voters eligible for the election (Mo. Rev. Stat. §115.063).
Statewide purchase of voting equipment or paying for a portion of voting equipment. Some states have chosen to purchase all voting equipment at the state level, taking advantage of economies of scale and state procurement policies to get effective pricing for voting systems throughout the state. Georgia, for example, uses the same voting equipment vendor and voting systems throughout the state, and the contract is negotiated at the state level (Ga. Code §21-2-300). In Maryland, the state pays for 50% of the purchase cost and counties pay for the other 50% (Md. Election Law Code §9-106, 9-101). Minnesota has a Voting Equipment Grant Account to help local jurisdictions replace aging voting equipment (Minn. Stat. Ann. § 206.95) and Nevada allows the Secretary of State to purchase voting systems and lease them to counties (Nev. Rev. Stat. §293B.125, 293B.122).
Provide funding for upgrades and security measures for statewide voter registration databases. Centralized voter registration databases were required by the federal Help America Vote Act, passed in 2002. Prior to HAVA, voter registration information was kept mostly at the local level, in a local database or on paper forms. Now all states are required to have a centralized database at the state level that contains all valid voter registrations. Because these centralized systems are required at the state level, states generally pay for the design, upkeep and security measures to protect them from intrusion.
Paying part or all of personnel costs. Personnel costs, including professional election administrators, poll workers for Election Day, and temporary employees who assist with everything from entering voter registrations to working overtime to get ballots counted on election night, are typically the largest line item in a local election official’s budget. In most states, the counties or local jurisdictions must cover these costs.
And yet, some states offer support. In Louisiana, the state covers compensation for election commissioners and deputy parish custodians, except when there is also a local candidate or issue on the ballot, in which case the state pays half of the personnel compensation (La. Rev. Stat. §18:1400.2). In New Jersey, counties may apply for reimbursement for compensation for members of district boards of elections (N.J. Rev. Stat. §19:45-6.2). In Oklahoma, the state reimburses counties for the county chief election official’s salary as long as it is not more than 135% of the specified salary in statute, which is set based on county population (Okla. Stat. tit. 26, §2-118). In Kentucky, the state reimburses counties for personnel costs up to 50 cents per registered voter per year (Ky. Rev. Stat. 117.343). Tennessee pays $18,000 annually to counties to help cover part of the salary of certified local election administrators (Tenn. Code Ann. §2-12-209).
Paying for statewide voter information. Some states are required to produce and distribute information to voters, particularly voter information pamphlets, information on state candidates or ballot measures, or sample ballots. This often requires a mailing to every voter in the state, an expensive undertaking. Every state election agency also has a website that provides information for voters, though the information and services contained on these websites vary. Local jurisdictions also provide information. Dissemination of information at the state level is funded by the state.
In Louisiana and South Carolina, for example, the state pays for notices of elections to be published in local newspapers (La. Rev. Stat. §18:1400.2, S.C. Code Ann. §7-13-340). In other states, published notices are often the responsibility of local jurisdictions. In West Virginia, the state publishes constitutional amendments in a newspaper in every county (W. Va. Code §3-1-44). Ohio pays the entire cost of advertising in newspapers for statewide ballot issues, explanations of those issues, and arguments for or against them from the secretary of state’s ballot advertising fund (Ohio Rev. Code §3501.17(G)(1)). In Nebraska, the secretary of state is required to prepare a pamphlet that is distributed to county clerks and election commissioners, who must make them available in their office and additional public locations (Neb. Rev. Stat. §32-202). Wyoming requires the publication of proposed amendments and voter pamphlets to be paid out of the general fund of the state (Wyo. Stat. §22-20-106).
Providing ballots or other supplies. Some states, especially those in New England, provide ballots or other polling place supplies to local jurisdictions: Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. In Oklahoma, the state prints ballots for general elections, statewide primaries, runoff primaries and special elections (Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 3-102). Pennsylvania reimburses local jurisdictions 60 cents per ballot for preparing, mailing, counting and storing absentee ballots for military and overseas voters (Pa. Stat. tit. 25, §2964). In Connecticut, the state provides peripheral supplies for voting tabulators, such as forms, certificates and security seals (Conn. Gen. Stat. §9-29, §9-248). Maine and Massachusetts provide secure ballot boxes to each voting district (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21-A §607, Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 26). In Michigan, the state facilitates the procurement and distribution of absent voter ballot drop boxes, at no cost to counties, and pays for the delivery, installation, repair and video monitoring of each box (Mich. Comp. Laws §168.761d).
Paying for polling places. Polling places can be a large expense for counties. Although jurisdictions typically seek out government buildings or other facilities that have minimal (or no) rental fees, finding polling places can be difficult and expensive. Louisiana, for example, pitches in to help local jurisdictions pay for polling place location rental fees (La. Rev. Stat. §18:1400.2).
Establish ongoing funding streams. Election administration is not often thought of as a revenue generator. When funding comes from the state for any purpose, it is typically provided through general appropriations. This can be tough when there are competing priorities or when the economy takes a downturn. A few states have developed other models to ensure ongoing funding for elections. In Louisiana, proceeds from the sale of maps of precincts and election jurisdictions by the secretary of state’s office go into a Voting Technology Fund (La. Rev. Stat. §18:21). Maine permits charging fees for providing voter information or absentee list information to political parties, organizations or individuals. These fees are put into a dedicated fund to offset the cost of keeping up the statewide voter registration list (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21 § 196-A). In Nebraska, filing fees for candidates who file in the office of the secretary of state (national, state and most special district candidates) are put in the Election Administration Fund (Neb. Rev. Stat. §32-204). In Mississippi, money derived from the annual report fees imposed on limited liability companies are deposited into the Elections Support Fund (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-5). In many states, election officials wear multiple hats. The election official may also be the county recorder, for example, and fees from recording deeds could help subsidize election administration functions.