Clinton County to consolidate voting districts

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February 11, 2012

JOE LoTEMPLIO Press-Republican The Press Republican Sat Feb 11, 2012, 02:28 AM EST

PLATTSBURGH — Voting districts will be consolidated this year in Clinton County, saving money on elections.

Republican Commissioner Greg Campbell and Democratic Commissioner Susan Castine told county legislators Wednesday night that they looked at districts where voter turnout was low to see if they could be merged with nearby larger districts.

In the past, districts were sized the way they are, in part, because the old lever voting machines could only handle 999 votes. The new electronic machines that were installed two years ago can handle about 2,500 votes per machine.

As a result of the consolidations, the county will go from 70 voting districts to 53, and from 41 polling sites to 34.

"We looked at each town to see where we could consolidate geographically and where it made sense," Campbell said.

CITY SITE TO CLOSE

Castine said reducing the number of polling sites will lower staffing costs. Each site must have four workers who are each paid $150 for the day.

One notable polling place that will close is City Hall in the City of Plattsburgh.

Voter turnout was low at that site, and parking and building access up the 25 front steps or via the elevator in the rear of the building was difficult for some voters.

The new site will be at the Clinton County Government Center, a block away.

"The parking is much better there than at City Hall," Campbell said, noting that county offices are closed on Election Day, leaving more parking spaces open.

In all, the city will go from 16 districts to 12.

MORE SAVINGS

Efforts last year also proved productive, Campbell and Castine told legislators.

The Board of Elections saved towns in the county a total of about $136,000 on election costs by ordering fewer ballots and shifting around personnel to eliminate some staffing costs.

The state switched to new electronic voting machines in 2010 that require expensive paper ballots.

"The first year, it was new, and we hired a lot of people to test the machines, but last year, people were more familiar with the machines and we didn't need as many, so we were able to cut some costs there," Campbell said.

The special paper ballots cost 57 cents each, and the state required counties to purchase three ballots for every registered voter, plus a 10 percent cushion. The extra ballots were in case mistakes were made and a voter needed a fresh sheet.

Campbell and Castine said they ordered fewer ballots last year because they simply did not need as many as the state required. They used voter turnout in each town as a guide.

"We ordered between 65 and 75 percent of what we had and that cut our printing costs a lot," Campbell said.

PRIMARY CONCERNS

One potential cost item commissioners are worried about is the chance that they might have to hold three primaries this year instead of two. The presidential primary is set for April 24, and the federal primary will be June 26.

The state primary is scheduled for Sept. 11, but state lawmakers are considering moving it to the June 26 date to coincide with the federal primary.

"If we have to have three primaries, that will cost us more, but I still think we will save money in 2012 with the changes," Campbell said.

County legislators said they were pleased with the modifications.

"I commend you on saving the towns $136,000 by making good, sound management decisions and not always relying on sage advice from the state," said Legislator Mark Dame (R-Area 8, City and Town of Plattsburgh).

"I am glad to see you guys are looking for ways to save money."

Email Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com