One of the many problems with Forbidding Paper Ballots...

[Melissa G]

This article is about the excessive cost of runoffs in small rural counties who are NOT allowed to use Paper Ballots and Have to use expensive voting machines...

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/apr/03/waste-money/#comments
Wichita Falls Online

Waste of money?
Low voter turnout has clerks questioning runoff efficiency
By Lara K. Richards
Thursday, April 3, 2008


What if you held an election, and nobody voted?
That's a reality small counties in North Texas are facing as they gear up for the April 8 runoff election.

The statewide runoff between Democrats Mark Thompson and Dale Henry for railroad commissioner means that all counties are required to hold a runoff election, regardless of whether they have a local runoff race or not.

Only Foard, Montague, Wilbarger and Wichita counties have local runoffs on their ballots.
As of Wednesday afternoon, just two people had cast ballots in early voting on the railroad commissioner race in Hardeman County, according to County/District Clerk Linda Walker.
"By the end of this early voting session, I'd be greatly surprised if we have five," she said. "I'll be ecstatic if we have five."

snip
"We expect a very low turnout. I'm sure single digits," she said.
Projected low voter participation has several county clerks questioning the efficiency of the runoff election, particularly the taxpayer dollars being spent.
Walker said she expected the runoff election to cost about $5,000 in her county.
"I think it's a big waste of money. In big cities, big counties, I can understand. But in smaller counties, you have to get your (voting machines) programmed, you have to get your ballots, you have to get everything set up," she said. "I think it's a great waste of money for the state of Texas."
Regardless of the turnout, Walker said she must go through the same steps as if it were a major election or had a local race.

[Wilms]

1. Good point.

Thanks!