COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 4460-01
Bill No.: HB 2114
Subject: Secretary of State: Elections, Paper Ballots
Type: Original
Date: March 7, 2008
Bill Summary: Requires election authorities to provide the option of voting with a paper ballot.
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND |
|||
FUND AFFECTED |
FY 2009 |
FY 2010 |
FY 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDS |
|||
FUND AFFECTED |
FY 2009 |
FY 2010 |
FY 2011 |
State Election Subsidy |
($728,344) |
$0 |
($770,812) |
|
|
|
|
Total Estimated Net Effect on Other State Funds |
($728,344) |
$0 |
($770,812) |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 5 pages.
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS |
|||
FUND AFFECTED |
FY 2009 |
FY 2010 |
FY 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Estimated Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) |
|||
FUND AFFECTED |
FY 2009 |
FY 2010 |
FY 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Estimated Net Effect on FTE |
0 |
0 |
0 |
☐ Estimated Total Net Effect on All funds expected to exceed $100,000 savings or (cost).
☐ Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund expected to exceed $100,000 (cost).
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS |
|||
FUND AFFECTED |
FY 2009 |
FY 2010 |
FY 2011 |
Local Government |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials of the Office of the Secretary of State - Elections Division (SOS) assume this bill requires that voters who wish to vote in an election be given the choice of casting their vote on a DRE electronic voting machine or a paper ballot. This bill also requires that in order to ensure that voters are given this choice, that State of Missouri shall pay for paper ballots for state and federal elections.
By sampling several Local Election Authorities across the state, the SOS has determined that the average cost per ballot for an election would be approximately 20 cents.
In accordance with state law it is estimated that 3,641,709 ballots would be needed to be printed in FY 2009.
3,641,709 x .20 = $728,344
In accordance with state law it is estimated that 3,854,067 ballots would be needed to be printed in FY 2011.
3,854,067 x .20 = $770,812
Officials stated the ballot printing cost would be paid from the State Elections Subsidy Fund.
Officials of the Sullivan County Clerk’s Office stated this proposal would have no fiscal impact on the county; however, the state would pay printing costs of approximately $3,000 for the primary election, and $2,000 for general elections every two years.
Officials of the Platte County Board of Election Commission assume no fiscal impact.
Oversight assumes the state would reimburse local election authorities for printing of paper ballots for all elections in which a federal or statewide office is on the ballot. Costs would be paid by the state as provided in Section 115.077 RSMo. 2000.
Oversight assumes no local government fiscal impact.
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government |
FY 2009 (10 Mo.) |
FY 2010 |
FY 2011 |
|
|
|
|
STATE ELECTION SUBSIDY FUND |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost - For reimbursing local election authorities for printing of paper ballots. |
($728,344) |
$0 |
($770,812) |
|
|
|
|
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT TO STATE ELECTION SUBSIDY FUND |
($728,344) |
$0 |
($770,812) |
|
|
|
|
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government |
FY 2009 (10 Mo.) |
FY 2010 |
FY 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
FISCAL DESCRIPTION
Currently, the election authority in St. Charles County provides 55 ballots for each 50 and fraction of 50 voters who are registered in a voting district. This bill requires the election authority to provide one and one-third times the number of voters who cast ballots to either a voting district or a polling place at an election held two years prior. For general elections, the election authority will base the ballot requirement on the number of votes cast four years prior.
The Secretary of State is required to establish procedures by which election authorities are to offer voters paper ballots, which may not consist of records produced by an electronic recording device. Ballots will be counted as regular ballots unless the individual casting the paper ballot would have been required to use a provisional ballot. Election authorities must post notices that paper ballots are available, and election costs will be paid as specified in Section 115.077, RSMo.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Office of the Secretary of State - Elections Division
Platte County Board of Election Commission
Sullivan County Clerk
NOT RESPONDING
Kansas City Board of Election
Jackson County Board of Election Commission
St. Louis City Board of Election Commission
St. Louis County Board of Election Commission
Clay County Board of Election Commission
The County Clerks of:
Boone
Bates
Callaway
Camden
Cape Girardeau
Carroll
Cass
Cole
Cooper
Greene
Jefferson
Lafayette
Lincoln
Pulaski
Warren
Texas
Webster
Mickey Wilson, CPA
Director
March 7, 2008