Thursday, April 26, 2012

What if cities can't afford the November elections?

Interesting question:

The U.S. economy looms large over November's general election in a basic way for strapped cities and counties: can they afford it?

In Detroit, the city clerk warned last week that the Rust Belt city would have trouble holding the Nov. 6 presidential election under a slimmed-down budget the mayor proposed to address years of deep financial problems.


In Jefferson County, Alabama, the local government was so short of cash for elections that it used road repair crews to staff the state's Republican presidential primary last month.


And in South Carolina, a $500,000 shortfall after the state's Republican primary in January led elections officials to consider a sponsorship deal with comedian Stephen Colbert, who plays a mock conservative pundit on his late-night TV show.


With cities and counties across the United States in dire financial straits, many local officials are struggling to come up with the millions of dollars they will need to hold the Nov. 6 elections. That is likely to mean fewer election workers and long lines for voters, which could reduce turnout.