In the great debate over mail-in voting, a key issue has gone to the wayside leading up to Nov. 3: the price tag that comes along with a pandemic-influenced election.
The 2020 presidential election will likely go down as the most expensive election in Bartholomew County history, as the need for labor and supplies have continued to increase since May.
At the conclusion of the primary, local officials started getting an idea of how much the general election will cost.
The primary cost the county $102,000 — an estimated $20,00 over budget — leaving $91,039 for the general election, which will have an even greater turnout. By contrast, the 2016 and 2012 election seasons, including primaries, were around a combined $44,700 under budget.
According to county officials, a total of $258,277 was budgeted for the 2020 election season. That figure includes around $64,777 in salaries and benefits for full-time election staff, leaving about $193,500 to run the primary and general elections.
Higher costs were linked to COVID-19 precautions, which will need to be put into place again this fall.
On top of all of the extra public health needs at the polls, a record 8,313 local voters cast ballots through the mail in the primary — more than the combined total of all absentee mail-in ballots cast in the county in every presidential primary and general election since at least 2008.
Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps recently estimated a record 12,000 to 13,000 votes will be cast through the mail this fall while thousands of others will line up in person, costing around $104,000.
While some counties are worrying about going over budget, Phelps feels confident his staff is prepared.
Bartholomew County shouldn’t go into the red, as it is receiving $31,841.73 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act assistance. The money will go towards costs such as the $33,000 for poll workers, $20,000 for postage, $15,000 for ballots and supplies, $12,000 on a voting machine maintenance agreement, $10,000 for employee overtime and Election Day employees, $10,000 on advertising and $4,000 on renting vote centers.
Not all voters in Indiana can feel as confident as Bartholomew County’s going into Election Day.
Despite having the option to apply for federal funds, not all counties put in for CARES money. During a recent interview with The Republic, Phelps said that only 50 of Indiana’s 92 counties applied for CARES aid. Had more counties applied for the help, Bartholomew County would’ve received significantly less funding.
Underfunded counties could face a slew of issues before, during, and after the election.
Local election officials are doing all they can to make sure voters can feel confident in the election process, which is important leading up to what could be the largest voting turnout in American history.
