Ordinance 2008-308 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Honorable Bruno A. Barreiro, Chairperson, and ~y18mbsr81 Board of County Commlsalonais Page 2 translation, printing, tabulation, equipment delivery, poll worker pay and overtime costs are passed onto the municipality In this scenario. Option 2: Consolidated, not In conjunction with a countywide election Municipalities share the same election date, which Is dIfferent from a countywide election date. The costs incurred by each municipality to hold Its election on the same day Is significantly reduced because the costs stated above are divided among the municipalities and are calculated by using the municipality's percentage of total registered voters. - Option 3: Consolidated, and In conjunction with a countywIde election Municipalities share the same election date as a countywide election. The cost Incurred by each municipality to hold Its election In conjunction with a countywide election Is most dramatically reduced because the County Is responsible for the costs associated with that election. The municipalities Incur minimal costs associated with ballot programming, translation, and ballot printing only. All other costs are absorbed by the Elections Department. Table 1 (attached) shows the cost comparison of the three scenarios stated above. Not Included In Table 1 Is the cost for Early Voting. Should a municipality opt to offer Early Voting during option 1 or 2, the cost would be Increased accordingly. In contrast, municipalities can offer Early Voting at no additional cost when held In conjunction with a countywide election (option 3), should the municipality utilize the County's 20 predetermined Early Voting locations. This Is a service already offered and paid for by the County. The municipalities denoted with an asterisk will only realize a cost savings If their elections are consolidated onto a countywide election (option 3). ThIs Is due to the formula used to calculate election costs, which Is based on the number of registered voters In each municIpality. For Instance, these cities may not require additional support such as truck rental and seasonal personnel costs during their stand alone election. However, In a consolidated election, not In conjunction with a countywide election (option 2), this support Is required and these additional costs are divided among all the participating municipalities. These municipalities would stili realize a benefit from JoIning a consolidated calendar because of the higher voter participation. While the cost associated with conducting the election Is higher, the actual cost per voter Is less. The County will also benefit from a consolidated elections schedule. A cost savings will be realized as the only cost not passed onto municipalities for conducting their elections Is for personnel during regular County office hours. Currently, seasonal staff must be hired for varying Intervals throughout the year In order to conduct the numerous stand-alone elections. If the elections calendar Is consolidated, the number of staff needed and duration of their employment will be significantly reduced. Subsequently, the Elections Department personnel budget would be reduced accordingly. This approach makes sense from an operational and logistical perspective. While the department Is accustomed to conducting various elections, continuing to hold elections In this manner will become more complex due to the recent mandate to convert to optical scan technology. The planning and preparation that Is required to hold an election will be more extensive and will require additional time to print paper ballots. This will become extremely challenging considering the short time frames between currently scheduled elections. The Increase In voter turnout that will result from a consolidated elections calendar Is another compelling factor. Historically, municipalities holding elections In conjunction with countywide elections experience higher turnout. The successful experiences of our neighborIng counties. as well as those across the countryl prove the same will occur In Miami-Dade County. There are many Instances within our county where these results repeatedly occur. ThIs Is apparent from lookIng at voter turnout In 2006. Table 2 (attached) shows the comparIson of voter turnout In stand-alone elections versus countywide elections that contained municipal questlon(s) only months apart. cJ