Town clerk staff said new election‑related costs that arose this cycle include programming for state‑provided ADA voting devices and additional ballot printing and shipping expenses for town ballots. Candy (town clerk) explained the state provides ballots and pays for state election ballots, but the town pays for local ballot printing, programming of ADA devices and any town‑specific shipping or programming fees.
Officials noted an ADA device (an iPad‑style interface) required vendor programming on a per‑election basis; that programming cost about $800 in the recent cycle and was an unexpected printing/programming expense for the towns that opted to offer the ADA voting machine. The clerk also noted that the town purchased ballot machines last year and the state paid for one machine in a recent allocation; the town paid for the other units. The town clerk recommended budgeting for higher election supplies and worker costs (food, staffing) because state election law changes and greater staffing requirements are increasing administrative work and training.
Board and staff discussed whether changing polling hours (for example starting at 7 a.m. rather than 6 a.m.) would require voter approval and a warrant article; staff said changing town voting hours typically requires a warrant article and voter approval and that state rules limit unilateral local changes for state election hours. Candy said she will return with a clearer list of election costs and any necessary warrant‑article language if the board wants to propose a change in polling hours.