Changes Aim to Make Every Vote Count—and Cost Less

States' bottom lines increasingly are a top concern in preparing for Election Day. As the recession squeezes budgets, states are searching for ways to change their election systems–not just to improve voters' experience and accuracy in vote-counting, but also to cut costs in 2010 and beyond.

Voter registration is one major focus. The huge surge in voter interest in 2008 exposed weaknesses in state laws and procedures for building and maintaining voter rolls. As a result, states are rethinking their processes and exploring different approaches to voter registration modernization.

Nine states, led by Arizona and Washington, have moved or are moving registration online, linking voters to motor vehicle records to quickly verify their identity and eligibility. Delaware has eliminated "wet ink" signatures in favor of e-signatures. Utah and Ohio are considering substantial reforms that would use official records–not just voter application forms–to help build and maintain voter lists.

In addition, prompted by the October 2009 passage of the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE), states are developing the ability to transmit blank ballots and   information electronically to voters abroad. These measures seek not only to ensure these voters can cast a valid ballot in time for it to be counted, but also to save states time and money by no longer relying exclusively on postal mail. Massachusetts enacted legislation to comply with MOVE in November 2009, and others are expected to follow suit in 2010. States also are making other election information available online. In 2009, Virginia's official  Web site added an interactive elections "gadget," providing useful information such as polling place locations, which users can embed in other online sites. Some estimates suggest states could save up to $100 for every voter phone call or office visit avoided.

Finally, there is growing interest in early and absentee voting and voting by mail as ways to cut the cost of Election Day, while some states, such as Hawaii, are shrinking the number of polling locations to trim expenses.

Challenges remain, however, in the nation's continued transition to new voting machines as mandated by Congress after problems in the 2000 presidential election. Turnover in the election technology industry–marked most recently by the acquisition of Diebold Inc.'s election business by Election Systems & Software–has led to mounting concern at the state and local level about the cost of purchasing and maintaining voting machines.

------Doug Chapin, Director, Election Initiatives

Return to State of the States 2010.

View 2010 Election Resources:

Governorships up for Election (Adobe PDF)

Secretaries of State up for Election (Adobe PDF)

Attorney's General up for Election (Adobe PDF)

2010 Legislative Sessions (Stateline.org)

2010 Voter's Guide (Stateline.org)

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February 11, 2010 -
State of the States 2010: How the Recession Might Change States (Adobe PDF)