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Council hears low turnout and election-cost figures after May 2 election
Summary
City Secretary Laura Hallmark reported 23,984 registered voters, 1,014 ballots cast (4.23% turnout) and an estimated election cost of about $34,000; councilors discussed implications ahead of a possible runoff.
City Secretary Laura Hallmark told the council that the city had 23,984 registered voters for May 2026 and that 1,014 ballots were cast in the May 2 general election, a 4.23% turnout.
Hallmark also relayed estimated administration costs: “Our estimated cost for this election, not counting the runoff, was 34,000 plus,” she said. Council members questioned per-voter cost estimates during the discussion; after back-and-forth clarifications, participants noted that the $34,000 figure breaks down to roughly $34 per registered voter in simple terms, not $340 per voter. Hallmark added that the runoff will likely incur an additional estimated cost on the order of another $34,000, but she did not provide a final contracted amount for the runoff at that time.
Councilors also discussed registration growth year-over-year; Hallmark said the city had 1,412 new registered voters since last May, a factor councilors noted could affect future turnout and resource planning.
