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Board opposes proposed election constitutional amendment as written over unfunded tabulator mandate
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Summary
The board instructed staff to oppose a proposed constitutional amendment requiring voter‑ID and on‑site tabulation rules as written, citing an estimated $600,000 local cost for additional tabulators and the absence of state funding for that equipment.
Yuma County officials on April 6 directed staff to oppose a state constitutional amendment (as drafted) that would tighten several election requirements — including voter identification, restrictions on certain types of outside election spending, shortening the early‑voting window and requiring on‑site tabulation equipment for early ballots — because the proposal, as written, would impose an unfunded cost on counties.
Economic development director Alejandro Figueroa summarized key bills the county is tracking at the state level and flagged a constitutional amendment that, among other changes, would require counties to field on‑site early‑ballot tabulators. County elections staff briefed the board on implementation implications: deploying tabulators to vote centers would likely require purchasing multiple mobile tabulators (estimated at roughly $50–55,000 each) and additional staffing; the county estimated a minimum one‑time equipment investment in the ballpark of $600,000 depending on configuration and spare/back‑up units.
Assistant County Administrator (elections acting lead) explained that Yuma County currently programs and tabulates early ballots centrally at county facilities; changing to on‑site tabulation would require equipment to be deployed and managed at each vote center and could create operational complexities. Multiple supervisors voiced support for election integrity measures such as voter ID but said the county cannot absorb the implementation cost without state funding. The board voted to oppose the amendment “as written” and asked associations and legislative partners to seek funding or to separate provisions so that funding and operational mandates are addressed separately.
