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Paying For Elections - The Cost Might Surprise You

Story Published: May 9, 2012 at 4:35 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 9, 2012 at 7:55 PM EDT

When the north country voted in the presidential primary last month, they did so in small numbers. 

But it still cost big money.

In Jefferson County, 1,569 people voted in the Republican primary.

It cost roughly $42,500 - about $27 per voter.

In Lewis County, just 500 people voted.

The grand total there was roughly $45,000 or $90 per voter.

St. Lawrence County had about 1,600 voters, but couldn't provide a total cost for primary day. 

There are still 3 more elections to pay for this year.

"A lot of counties didn't budget for four elections this year. We only budgeted for three so its going to be a strain on the county budget," said Jerry Eaton, Jefferson County's Republican election commissioner.

There will be four elections this year - the presidential primary, a federal primary, a state primary and the general election.

Typically the federal and state primaries are combined, but not this year and that means double the cost.

"You could literally cut your cost of the primary in half by combining the state and federal primaries together in one primary," said Tom Nichols, St. Lawrence County's Republican election commissioner.

There was talk of doing just that, combing the June and September primaries into one big primary in August. 

But, now it looks like that won't happen.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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