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Board of Elections director Ben Borgmeyer previews four citywide elections, warns licensing costs shift from ARPA
Summary
Ben Borgmeyer presented the Board of Elections FY27 budget, saying the city will hold four citywide elections in the next fiscal cycle and that the 'vote anywhere' system's licensing, previously covered by ARPA, moves onto the department budget—raising costs offset partly by savings from eliminating preprinted ballots.
Ben Borgmeyer, Democratic director of elections for the St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners, told the Budget & Public Employees Committee that FY27 is built around four citywide elections: an August primary, a November general (midterms) and municipal elections the following March and April.
"Next year is a big year for us. We have 4, citywide election — August primary, the November general, both the midterms, and then we have our municipal elections the following March and April," Borgmeyer said, noting the surge in operational needs.
He framed the budget around the 'vote anywhere' system, now in its third year, and said the system’s initial licensing and implementation were paid from ARPA funds. "That was paid for via ARPA ... This year, it comes off the books," Borgmeyer said, explaining why licensing moves into the department’s FY27 operating request. He added that the on-demand voting platform reduces the need for preprinted paper ballots, creating some line-item offsets.
When committee members asked whether expanded early voting increased turnout, Borgmeyer said he has not seen a clear uplift in overall turnout; rather, early voting appears to shift when voters cast ballots and may reduce Election Day demand if more voters adopt early voting in future cycles.
The presentation closed with committee commendations and no budget votes recorded during the meeting.
