www.thereporter.com/news/ci_5494241 -
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Published on: 3/22/2007
Last Visited: 3/23/2007
Solano County Elections Manager Deborah Seiler said the impact locally will be administrative, as well as fiscal if the measure is never funded.
"The bill did not contain an appropriation, and we estimate the cost to be somewhere over $1 million for Solano County," Seiler said.While the legislature has indicated its intent to pay, Seiler said there is no word when funding will become available.
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Seiler anticipates that the change will max out the department's overtime hours while possibly having other effects.Recruiting poll workers is difficult in June anyway, she said, and could be even harder this time around.
"When you take out the glamor of the presidential component, it could be a less exciting election for a lot of people," Seiler said, adding that turnout might be negatively impacted as well.
In spite of these concerns, Seiler said she sees the value in moving the primary.
"I think it certainly gives California more of a voice in selecting presidential candidates," she said."This is not to say it's a bad policy; we just see administrative challenges surrounding it."As for the fiscal issue, she said, "I'd expect that issue to be taken up during budget negotiations within the legislature."