Satellite voting costly

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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Linn County's first satellite early voting site for the Nov. 2 election drew a grand total of 24 voters Oct. 4. Eight people staffed it. Cost per vote: $23.25.

Turnout wasn't much better at a dozen other satellite sites during the leadup to Election Day. Total turnout for the 13 sessions was 916, and average cost per vote at each site ranged from $5.80 to $25.20, according to preliminary figures from the Linn County Auditor's Office.

The cost of operating satellite stations, under present rules, is a poor value for taxpayers relative to other options.

All of Iowa's county auditors, who serve as local commissioner of elections, are obliged by state law to set up and staff a requested satellite voting site if 100 people sign a petition. The law's intent is worthy: Expand voter access in hopes of getting greater participation.

But we question whether satellite access for early voting is driving any significant increase in vote totals or is simply another option with a much higher overhead cost.

While the state does not require counties to report the number and cost of the satellite stations they provide, unofficial results from the Nov. 2 election show about 28,000 voters cast ballots at satellite locations. That's 2.5 percent of the total 1.1 million-plus ballots recorded. And for all early voting, which includes increasingly popular absentee ballots, satellite voters accounted for just more than 10 percent. Linn County percentages were even lower.

Thus, it appears satellite voting in Iowa generally is relatively expensive. Compare it to the alternatives:

l Absentee ballots - cost is about $1 each when the voter goes to the auditor's office, or $3 when the ballots is mailed in.

l Voting at Election Day sites - in Linn County's general elections since 2000, cost has ranged from $1.53 per vote to $3.11.

We're not advocating elimination of all satellite voting sites. We support broad access to voting opportunities. But the state law needs review and revising. Perhaps require 500 signatures on a petition to ensure there's enough interest to justify a site, as some county auditors have discussed.

Iowa legislators rightly have been focused on reducing state government costs. But revamping the satellite voting law would help local governments save, too.