SB 278

This bill requires the Elections Commission to reimburse counties and

municipalities for certain costs incurred in the administration of special primaries

and special elections for state office. Current law defines “state office” as the

following: governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney

general, state superintendent of public instruction, justice of the supreme court,

court of appeals judge, circuit court judge, state senator, state representative to the

assembly, and district attorney.

A cost is eligible for reimbursement under the bill only if certain conditions are

met, including that the Elections Commission determines the cost is reasonable and

the rate paid by the county or municipality for the cost does not exceed the rate

customarily paid for similar costs at a primary or election that is not a special

primary or election. Under the bill, only the following costs are reimbursable:

1. Rental payments for polling places.

2. Election day wages paid to election officials working at the polls.

3. Costs for the publication of required election notices.

4. Printing and postage costs for absentee ballots and envelopes.

5. Costs for the design and printing of ballots and poll books.

6. Purchase of ballot bags or containers, including ties or seals for chain of

custody purposes.

7. Costs to program electronic voting machines.

8. Purchase of memory devices for electronic voting machines.

9. Wages paid to conduct a county canvass.

10. Data entry costs for a statewide voter registration system.