SATELLITE VOTING
Satellite Voting Let's make every vote count!
Anesta
Web
CNN.com - Politics
RSS FEED!
AnestaWeb does not endorse any specific service, product or treatment.
Anesta
Web
October 5, 2010, 11:39 am
By Dave Franzman/SourceMedia Group News
CEDAR RAPIDS- Linn County voters have a choice of 13 early satellite voting locations to cast a ballot early before the November 2nd general election day.
But Linn County Auditor Joel Miller was not pleased about the turnout at the county’s first satellite location on Monday. That’s because practically nobody showed up in half a day of voting and the auditor was not happy at all the time, effort and expense for little result.
By Dave Franzman/SourceMedia Group News
CEDAR RAPIDS- Linn County voters have a choice of 13 early satellite voting locations to cast a ballot early before the November 2nd general election day.
But Linn County Auditor Joel Miller was not pleased about the turnout at the county’s first satellite location on Monday. That’s because practically nobody showed up in half a day of voting and the auditor was not happy at all the time, effort and expense for little result.
Linn County Auditor Ticked at Satellite Voting Turnout
The Linn County Auditor said auditors statewide have talked about tightening the satellite voting rules, perhaps requiring 500 signatures, to insure groups that ask really do intend to use it. But Miller said it’s unlikely state lawmakers would agree to any rule change that appears to cut voting opportunities—even if it costs much more than normal.
County records show the cost of voting in a general election, on election day, has ranged from $1.53 per vote in 2000 to $3.11 per vote in 2008.
The auditor hopes groups who requested the upcoming satellite voting locations use the opportunity rather than let it go to waste. The next satellite voting opportunity is Tuesday, October 5th from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Marion Public Library. There is also a satellite location set for Wednesday, October 6th at the Wilson Avenue Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. The last satellite voting opportunity is set for October 21st at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Marion.
County records show the cost of voting in a general election, on election day, has ranged from $1.53 per vote in 2000 to $3.11 per vote in 2008.
The auditor hopes groups who requested the upcoming satellite voting locations use the opportunity rather than let it go to waste. The next satellite voting opportunity is Tuesday, October 5th from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Marion Public Library. There is also a satellite location set for Wednesday, October 6th at the Wilson Avenue Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. The last satellite voting opportunity is set for October 21st at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Marion.
The first satellite voting for Linn County took place Monday afternoon at the River of Life Church, 3801 Blairs Ferry Rd. N.E. in Cedar Rapids. Eight county election officials spent a total of six hours manning the satellite voting location. But Miller said a grand total of 24 voters showed up in the six hour time period. That means county taxpayers spent $20.83 per vote—or almost seven times what it typically costs per vote on a general election day.
Miller said “there was no one who showed up for the first 90 minutes when I walked in. I was expecting a few people to have gone through.” He added “I was disappointed we take the time to set up a satellite location, and people petition to do that, and we’re required to do it once they present the petition to me and no one shows.”
Miller said a better value for taxpayers, when it comes to early voting, is those voters who come in person to the Auditor’s Office at Westdale Mall to cast an absentee ballot. That works out to about a $1.00 per person for the materials. It doesn’t count salaries of workers who are already staffing the office. Miller said he has to spent about $3.00 per person on those who request an absentee ballot by mail—but even that’s a better value than satellite voting when only a handful of people show up.
State law requires the auditor to set up a satellite voting center if people gather 100 valid petition signatures requesting it. The only exceptions are locations requested that don’t meet handicapped accessibility rules or locations where the owner won’t give permission for satellite voting. As a rule, Miller said church locations typically draw far fewer early voters than other public spaces like libraries or grocery stores.
Miller said “there was no one who showed up for the first 90 minutes when I walked in. I was expecting a few people to have gone through.” He added “I was disappointed we take the time to set up a satellite location, and people petition to do that, and we’re required to do it once they present the petition to me and no one shows.”
Miller said a better value for taxpayers, when it comes to early voting, is those voters who come in person to the Auditor’s Office at Westdale Mall to cast an absentee ballot. That works out to about a $1.00 per person for the materials. It doesn’t count salaries of workers who are already staffing the office. Miller said he has to spent about $3.00 per person on those who request an absentee ballot by mail—but even that’s a better value than satellite voting when only a handful of people show up.
State law requires the auditor to set up a satellite voting center if people gather 100 valid petition signatures requesting it. The only exceptions are locations requested that don’t meet handicapped accessibility rules or locations where the owner won’t give permission for satellite voting. As a rule, Miller said church locations typically draw far fewer early voters than other public spaces like libraries or grocery stores.
