Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB76 by Hall (Relating to elimination of the countywide polling place program.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB76, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,772,880) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026
($4,772,880)
2027
$0
2028
($4,772,880)
2029
$0
2030
($4,772,880)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2026
($4,772,880)
2027
$0
2028
($4,772,880)
2029
$0
2030
($4,772,880)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Election Code to eliminate the countywide polling place program, which authorizes certain counties to allow voters to vote in any polling place rather than only at a specifically assigned precinct. According to the Secretary of State (SOS), elimination of the program would result in higher levels of reimbursable costs to certain political parties for the conduct of primary and primary runoff elections due to the increase in the number of voting locations that would require staffing.
Methodology
According to the SOS, 99 counties currently participate in the countywide polling place program and estimates that 3,788 additional polling locations would be required. SOS estimates that assuming that four poll workers would be required for each location and would be employed for fifteen (15) hours on election day at $12.00 per hour for an estimated increase of $2,727,360. For counties that do not conduct joint primaries, the estimated increase in election-worker compensation using the same formula is $681,840. The resulting increase in cost to the state for primary elections would be $3,409,200.
The SOS estimates that increased additional reimbursement costs for primary runoff elections, using the same methodology, would be $1,363,680.
Technology
No additional state technology costs are anticipated.
Local Government Impact
The bill could result in significant costs to counties for increased equipment and poll-workers due to the expansion of voting locations to all precincts during general elections and any required runoff elections.