Committee approves $60,000 for congressional special election; carries over grants, adds poll books and approves device donations

The Legislative Rules and Governmental Operations Committee approved a $60,000 appropriation on Jan. 30 to cover anticipated costs of a congressional special election and took several related administrative actions including carrying over unused 2024 election grants, amending a poll-book support contract to add three devices and approving the donation of older poll-book tablets to nonprofit organizations.

Committee members said the funding is to cover the full rollout of a special election — including early voting and staffing — and that the county must be prepared even though the seat and timing depend on external federal developments.

The appropriation passed on a voice vote after the committee heard a cost breakdown from county elections staff. The request identified several line items the office expects to incur: delivery trucks ($3,000), absentee ballots ($2,600), emergency ballots ($2,100) and advertising/special mailings to notify voters ($1,000). The office described the event as a “full rollout election” with all polling locations and 10 days of early voting; officials said the county will book more than 120…