How Much Does An Election Cost?

Medfield held its annual town election on Monday in which all 10 races were uncontested and only 539 of the town's 8,403 voters went to the polls. 

That raised a question from one of our readers:

What does it cost the taxpayers of Medfield to hold this unopposed election?? Couldn't this have been combined with the April election? Do the bylaws require it to be held before town meeting??? Doesn't make sense...

So we went to Town Hall.

Cost

Town Clerk Carol Mayer says the cost of Monday's election was approximately $5,000 but it varies by election.

The costs that hold standard are those associated with programming the town's five voting machines (four standard, one handicapped) which run about $1,500 per election.

The costs that vary are related to ballots and payroll.

Based on elections past, Mayer will guess how many ballots she needs to order. She typically orders 3,000 ballots but if there's a big issue, and she expects a large voter turnout, she will order more. She does not order one ballot per voter -- Medfield has 8,403 registered voters -- as some towns do. 

And if the election is a state issue (such as filling a Senate seat) and not a local town election, the state will pay for the ballots, but the town must still pay the other costs (machine coding, payroll, etc.).

Personnel costs for an election are about $2,000 which include the poll workers, and the staff that sets up and dismantles the election equipment.

For a state election, the town must also pay for two police officers (one in, and one out) for 14.5 hours and that rate varies depending on the officers' pay scales.

The hourly rate for a police Sergeant would be higher than a regular officer which would be higher than a special officer.

So, it varies but Mayer says she budgets $5,000 per election per year.

"But if we have extra 'specials' that I don't have money for, things get a little difficult. This fiscal year I didn't plan on the two special primaries and two special elections from the state...," she says, noting there is a chance the town could be partially reimbursed from the state.

Mayer says town clerks across the Commonwealth are in a similar situation and they are all fighting hard for reimbursement. 

Timing

According to Article 7-1 of the Medfield Town Charter, an election must be held each year: 

Regular town elections for the elective offices specified in this charter and for other elective offices as required by the General Laws shall be held the last Monday in March. 

Mayer notes that, "Whether it's contested or not, every city and town has to have an election because the terms end so when the terms end, they have to run for re-election or not."

You Ask, Patch Answers: Do you have a question you would like answered? Leave it in the Comment Box below and we at Patch will do our best to track down an answer as soon as possible.