State to help pay for elections, potential new costs for cities

After years of cities and counties shouldering the costs of administering elections, the state looks to pay their fair share of expenses.

HB 2421 establishes the state as a partner in covering the costs of administering elections. Under the bill, the state would pay a proportional amount of costs to administer state and federal elections and ballot measures. In addition, the bill establishes a fund for counties to conduct voter outreach and education.

It appears the bill is beneficial for cities as it adds an additional entity that will share the costs of administering elections. However, cities will be responsible for covering their share of the costs for return postage on ballots. Prior to 2018, voters were responsible for including postage or utilizing a ballot drop box. For the past two years the state provided funds to cover the cost of return postage.

HB 2421 requires each entity with a ballot measure to pay the costs of covering their portion of mailing costs.

At this point in time, it is difficult to say if the cost savings from the state paying their share of election costs will offset the cost of paying for return postage. The intent is to reduce costs across the board with more participants paying their proportional share.

If passed, the bill would require a funding appropriation to take effect.

HB 2421 received a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and now awaits a committee vote.