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Elections staff previews plan to reduce precincts from 30 to 18, estimates modest savings
Summary
City election staff introduced a precinct consolidation plan prompted by higher absentee and early voting rates, proposing a reduction from 30 precincts to 18 and estimating approximately $3,500 savings per election.
City election staff introduced a precinct consolidation plan at the July 21 meeting, proposing to reduce the number of precincts to reflect higher rates of absentee and early voting and to capture operating efficiencies.
Kelly, the city’s election administrator, told council the expansion of early and absentee voting means fewer voters use in‑person precincts; about 45% of voters now vote in precincts while 55% use other voting options, she said. Her proposed model would reduce the city's existing 30 precincts to 18.
Kelly said the plan is being developed with attention to school district boundaries, elected offices and voter access. She estimated savings at about $3,500 per election from inspector wages and related costs, which she said would amount to more than $10,000 a year across three elections; she also told council the consolidation could reduce future equipment purchases by over $100,000 when the city replaces voting machines.
She said more detail and a formal resolution will return to council at the Aug. 4 meeting. Councilmembers asked whether precinct delegate counts would change; Kelly said delegates are typically allocated by precinct population and that reductions are possible under the proposal.
No formal council action was taken; the presentation was informational.
